Abstract
Administrative data is essential for evidence-based policy, but its potential has not yet been utilised in Germany. Using the German Pension Insurance as an example, the article shows how administrative, statistical and research data is already being used, but where there are technical, legal and organisational hurdles. It discusses the need for modernisation, for example in terms of data links, legal purpose limitation and infrastructure. Political initiatives such as the NFDI or a planned German Centre for Microdata offer opportunities to make research, administration and politics data-based and future-proof.