ZEW Economist Irene Bertschek Appointed to the Future Council of the Federal Chancellor

Professor Irene Bertschek, head of the Research Department “Digital Economy” at ZEW Mannheim, has been appointed as a member of the newly established Future Council on behalf of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The Future Council is replacing the previous Innovation Dialogue between the Federal Government, industry and science. It aims to monitor developments, insights and trends in the field of innovation and to develop proposals to strengthen Germany’s resilience and technological sovereignty in key technologies and digitalisation. The council consists of high-ranking representatives from science and business.

“We are facing enormous challenges arising from the economic and social transformations that lie ahead of us. For that reason, the Federal Government has set up the Future Council as an important advisory body. Research can help to contribute the necessary know-how for raising the possible and required transformation potentials. As a renowned expert in the field of digitalisation and its impact on the economy, Irene Bertschek is a competent and prominent voice on transformation issues. We are very pleased about her appointment to the Future Council of the Federal Federal Chancellor. The appointment is not only a testament to her great work but also an accolade for ZEW,” says ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach.

Professor Irene Bertschek investigates how digitalisation changes economic processes and how it affects the productivity and innovation behaviour of companies. “Digitalisation is a central driver of innovation in all economic sectors and is thus also key for their competitiveness. That is why I am pleased to be able to support the Future Council of the Federal Chancellor in this area to address crucial issues in the transformation towards a social-ecological market economy,” says Irene Bertschek, who, in addition to her position at ZEW, is also a member of the Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation (EFI) and a professor of economics of digitalisation at Justus Liebig University Giessen.