ZEW Successful in International Competition
ZEW Annual Report
Despite the challenging, competitive environment, the Mannheim Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) has again performed well in the business year 2015. This is illustrated by the high proportion of third-party funding in the institute's overall budget (46 per cent), and by the more than 200 scientific projects which have been conducted in the past year of business. It is in particular on an international level, that the research institute has been able to expand its strong position and network. 21 per cent of the third-party funding received, for example, was assigned to ZEW by the European Union. This is a significant achievement, given the fact that ZEW had already performed outstanding work on behalf of the EU in previous years, which is illustrated by the institute’s excellent ranking amongst other economic research institutes in the German Research Foundation’s (DFG) "Förderatlas 2015" (Funding Atlas 2015).
A particular challenge in 2015 was the looming change of ZEW leadership. The change itself may have taken place in 2016, but it was already anticipated in the reporting year 2015. Professor Achim Wambach has been the new ZEW President since April 2016. He succeeds Professor Clemens Fuest who left the institute at the end of March 2016. Achim Wambach presents the current annual report as part of a major interview on German and European energy policy.
Stable development of third-party funding
The amount of third-party funding received by ZEW in 2015 amounted to 8.9 million euro; a roughly equivalent level to that in the previous year (2014: 9.2 million euro). ZEW was particularly successful when it came to submitting project proposals in response to tenders made by the German government, federal state ministries, and by ministries from other countries. Altogether, these projects accounted for 22 per cent of total third-party funding. With a share of 21 per cent, the EU institutions also play a significant role in commissioning ZEW’s projects. The federal states (19 per cent), companies and associations (14 per cent), foundations and the DFG (14 per cent), as well as scientific institutions (10 per cent) also contributed to the excellent level of third-party funding received by ZEW.
The DFG’s "Funding Atlas 2015" also confirmed ZEW's strong position in the business year 2015, particularly in terms of securing EU research funds. The "Funding Atlas 2015" shows that ZEW gained a total of 4.7 million euro of EU research funding between 2007 and 2013. "Our institute is therefore clearly ahead of other renowned economic research institutes in Germany. This firmly documents ZEW's strong position in completing projects commissioned by EU institutions," explains Thomas Kohl, ZEW's Director of Business and Administration.
Major research project on the EU ETS completed
Altogether, ZEW worked on more than 200 scientific projects commissioned by national and international bodies last year. Around 100 projects have been completed, including the major European research project "ENTRACTE – Economic iNsTRuments to Achieve Climate Targets in Europe". As part of "ENTRACTE", ZEW and various European partner institutions have analysed the effect of the European Emissions Trading Scheme and its interaction with complementary policy instruments, for example energy efficiency standards, the promotion of renewable energies, or the taxation of CO2 emissions.
In the reporting year, ZEW further expanded and consolidated its global connections with universities and research institutions. As well as strengthening European and North-American partnerships, ZEW has particularly intensified its contact with China. The collaboration with the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, for example, has been secured by the signing of a cooperation agreement. ZEW also hosted various scientific workshops and conferences in collaboration with its Chinese partner institutions, including the Beijing-Humboldt-Forum in Beijing.
More than 400 presentations at international conferences
ZEW staff members furthermore used conventions and workshops to share their scientific expertise with the international scientific community. In 2015, ZEW researchers gave more than 400 presentations at scientific conferences in Germany and abroad. In addition, the ZEW Lunch Debates held in Brussels in 2015 again received excellent feedback. At the five events, invited speakers and participants from the EU parliament, EU Commission, and from the fields of business, science and society participated in lively debate on European subjects of current relevance. The series will continue in 2016.
In 2015, ZEW was officially granted the title TOTAL E-QUALITY for the first time. The award is granted on an annual basis by the association TOTAL E-QUALITY Germany and recognises economic, scientific and administrative organisations and associations which make a sustainable contribution to ensuring equal gender opportunities. 30 per cent of all researchers at ZEW and 44 per cent of the entire staff are female. "We are proud that women and men have the same, and best career chances at ZEW, and that we promote a balance between professional and family life," says Thomas Kohl.
We would also be glad to send you a printed version of the ZEW Annual Report 2015. Please send your request per e-mail to Angela Haybat: haybat@zew.de
For more information please contact
Thomas Kohl, Phone +49 (0)621 1235 111, E-mail kohl@zew.de