Professor Franz’s Contract As ZEW President Extended For Another Two Years

Professor Wolfgang Franz is going to be President of the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim beyond 2011. The ZEW Supervisory Board decided to extend his contract until 2013.

Professor Dr. Peter Frankenberg, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister for Economic Affairs, and Willi Stächele, Baden-Württemberg’s Finance Minister, welcome this decision: "ZEW has become particularly successful with Professor Franz as Director of Science and Research. Today ZEW is one of the leading economic research institutions in Germany and enjoys a strong reputation throughout Europe. We appreciate that Professor Franz agreed to be ZEW President for another two years."

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Wolfgang Franz, chairman of the German Council of Economic Experts since March 2009, is one of the most renowned economic researchers in Germany. He has been ZEW President and Director of Science and Research since April 1997. During his time in office, both the institute’s budget and the number of staff have doubled to about € 18 million and about 180 respectively. Professor Franz manages ZEW together with Thomas Kohl, Director of Business and Administration.

ZEW is a non-profit economic research institute with the legal form of a limited liability company (GmbH). ZEW was founded in 1990 on the basis of a public-private initiative in the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg in cooperation with the University of Mannheim. ZEW is a member of the Leibniz Association, a network of research institutes with outstanding scientific qualifications.