Research
We promote outstanding interdisciplinary research
Scientists from different colleges and institutions throughout Bavaria are working on socially relevant questions. By this means, the Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation (bidt) advances the networking and international visibility of Bavaria’s digitalisation research. In addition, the bidt is involved in its own internal research projects.
With its focus on active project management in regard to its research agenda, the bidt receives regular feed-back reports on progress from teams being promoted by way of ‘sprint reviews’ and workshops. In this way, researchers are able to network within bidt’s research community and gain insights into internal research projects.
Promotion programmes
Germany and Europe in digital competition
Germany and Europe are in global digital competition, especially with US-American and Chinese digitalisation models. Public discussion often calls for a European way of digitalisation that reconciles innovation and contestability with basic rights and freedoms. Such a ‘third way’ should build on Europe’s achievements, such as for instance digital self-determination and an orientation of economic activities towards the common good.
Ethics and law in digitalisation
Digitalisation permeates all areas of life, changing each individual’s style of existence and sense of social togetherness. Considering the vast amount technological progress, ethical principles and procedures are required to act as crash barriers for digital innovations, from conception, through research and development, right up to production and application. These crash barriers do not stifle innovation, but rather provide protection, safety and trust even in the fastest developing conditions.
Power of opinion in digital change
Digital media have radically changed the way that public opinion is formed. Whilst on the one hand everyone should have the right to freedom of expression, on the other hand digital spaces are vulnerable to manipulations and hoaxes. For a democratic communication also to function effectively in a digital society, rules are required, that take into account the increasingly important role of intermediaries such as social networks or search engines.
Digital economies
Digitalisation facilitates new forms of economic activity. Digital business models are based on the use of data and hence often have a disruptive innovation potential. However, they also involve the danger that pioneers tend dominate their specifics fields. Rules adapted for the social market economy can control for prospective advancement and ensure that markets function, even as the digital economy and innovation potentials are being developed.
Human-machine collaboration and digital work environments
Digitalisation sets up new possibilities for the interaction between humans and machines, which can feature in the work environment, in health care and in everyday life. New technologies can reduce workloads and expand the scope of human action and skills. Digital innovations should always be oriented towards the good of people and social cohesion so as to exploit such potential in the best possible way.
