25 Years Since ZEW Began its Work

25 years ago, in April 1991, the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), Mannheim, commenced its work. This was to be the beginning of a success story, which has seen ZEW become a leading European economic research institute within a relatively short period of time. The institute's 25th anniversary shall be fittingly celebrated as part of festivities held on 8 December 2016, in the company of high-ranking guests from the fields of science, economics, politics and society.

Right from the off, ZEW consistently combined the concept of qualitatively advanced scientific research, with international and interdisciplinary collaboration, and relevance to practice. ZEW has also consistently expanded the scope of its research, adding new fields to its five original Research Departments; labour economics, industrial economics, financial markets, environmental and resource economics, and corporate taxation and public finance. New areas of research include, information and communication technologies, international distribution analyses, and competition and regulation. Soon to be added to these is a further field of research, "Market Design", the scientific approach to which has been prompted by the new ZEW President, Professor Achim Wambach, PhD.  

ZEW holds an exceptional position on both a national, and international level. In 2015, the German Research Foundation (DFG) concluded that in terms of funding received as part of the seventh EU Framework Programme (FP7), ZEW is the most successful German economic research institute. This has been achieved despite strong international competition.

The festivities to mark ZEW’s 25th anniversary, to be held in December 2016 in Mannheim, shall provide an opportunity to look back on pivotal moments in ZEW's development, and to discuss the direction which ZEW shall take in the coming 25 years.