The printing press (1500s), bible distribution and gained literacy was the main reason I think, it created a knowledge culture earlier than elsewhere, basically

The printing press (1500s), bible distribution and gained literacy was the main reason I think, it created a knowledge culture earlier than elsewhere, basically an offline web. The industry in Germany has strong protestant and prussian roots. Families with a protestant background got wealthier earlier when more land and resources were up for grabs, kinda like digital entrepreneurs in the 90s or early 2000s. I think it's quite comparable to computers, Silicon Valley and the internet these days, and why it's dominated by US companies.