ZEW Co-Initiator Lothar Späth Dies Age 78

Lothar Späth, who was Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg from 1978 to 1991, has died today at the age of 78. ZEW owes a great debt to Lothar Späth as he played a substantial political role in the decision to establish the research institute in 1990.

He was instrumental in driving the project "ZEW" forward and thus in strengthening Mannheim's position as a research location in the long term. The economic success and future sustainability of Baden-Württemberg had always been a matter of major concern for him. His efforts to help establish ZEW were also driven by these aims. ZEW's solid initial financial endowment was an important prerequisite for the extremely successful development of the institute in the following years. Ever since, ZEW has managed to fulfil the expectations generated by its foundation back in 1990. It has since become one of the leading economic research institutes in Europe, which is not least thanks to Lothar Späth.