The bidt conducts interdisciplinary and socially relevant research
Research at the bidt is characterised by interdisciplinarity. In the three research areas “State, Regulation, Infrastructure”, “Communication, Society, Participation”, and “Economy and Labour”, the bidt combines 20 disciplines. This enables new perspectives on topics, far-reaching answers to socially relevant questions and a better understanding of the digital transformation. At the same time, the relevance of research to people’s everyday lives is central.
Internet, digitalisation, AI: the technological revolution is in full swing and bidt has been right in the middle of it for five years. The mission remains unchanged: digital disruption must not turn into democratic disruption. To achieve this, scientific excellence and social acceptance must be brought together.
Markus Blume, MdL, Minister of State for Science and the Arts
One field in which this approach is particularly important, for example, is the topic of trust in AI. In a bidt-funded project, researchers from the fields of robotics, medical ethics, science, and technology research and law are working together to investigate the responsible integration of AI technologies in the practical implementation of healthcare. In an open dialogue, the project team analysed the perspectives of researchers, caretakers, and the public, among others, and identified four key ethical and legal principles for the use of robots in geriatric care: data minimisation, data security, transparency, and data visualisation. On this basis, they developed a proposal for the implementation of a data recorder in the GARMI care robot.
Research Project
The bidt promotes and networks
Since its launch, the bidt has funded over 40 projects at universities, colleges and non-university research institutions throughout Bavaria. Around four new projects are selected each year and receive funding for up to three years. Regular meetings (sprint reviews) are used for dialogue and networking, promoting interdisciplinary understanding and resulting in joint workshops and invitations to speak. In addition, outstanding young talents benefit from various funding programmes.
Shaping the digital transformation requires knowledge, commitment, and dialogue. This is what bidt has stood for five years. Together with our partners, we will continue to work towards a positive digital future.
Dr. Christoph Egle To the profile
In the Graduate Centre, around 75 doctoral students and up to 20 postdocs receive individual financial support as well as training and networking opportunities. Innovative learning and teaching concepts for students are promoted as part of the 13 digitalisation colleges. Seven professorial appointments have already resulted from the promotion of young talent. Networking is particularly important in the nationwide cooperation between digital institutes. In collaboration with the Weizenbaum Institute, the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS) and the Hans Bredow Institute, the modular qualification programme QPD was created. The joint DigiMeet conference for young researchers has also established itself as a format — it brought together an international research community from eleven countries in 2023.
I find my work at the bidt very enriching. The bidt lives and breathes interdisciplinarity. The regular dialogue in the directorate and the discussions with the consortium projects spread across Bavaria constantly broaden my perspective on the topic of digital transformation and give me impetus for my own research in the field of AI.
Prof. Dr. Ute Schmid To the profile
The bidt advises and provides impetus
The bidt sees itself as a trusted, independent advisor that provides scientific findings and evidence-based recommendations for decision-makers in order to shape the digital transformation in a way that is geared towards the common good. Publications such as “bidt Impulse” highlight the need for political action, guidelines, and solutions — for example, on the governance of digital policy at the federal level. In statements, bidt categorises current projects of the federal government and makes recommendations for their design or regulatory requirements — one example is the law against digital violence.
Congratulations on the fifth anniversary. The BAdW is proud of its youngest institute, which fulfils an important social function and has quickly developed into a competent driving force for digital change.
Prof. Dr. Markus Schwaiger, President of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
As part of a cooperation project between the bidt and the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM), researchers identified the current deficits and needs for modern opinion power monitoring. The project team developed a new approach to safeguarding diverse opinion formation in the age of online media and communication platforms. The model forms the basis for implementation within the framework of the Interstate Media Treaty and the responsible Commission on Concentration in the Media (KEK) in order to replace the outdated television-centred media concentration law.
Impulse
The bidt makes visible and explains
With its studies and analyses, the bidt contributes to understanding current developments. At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, for example, the bidt think tank provided empirical findings on changes in the world of work in Germany’s first home office survey. The bidt also accompanied the introduction of generative AI into everyday life with surveys of employees and students at school and university. Shortly after the publication of ChatGPT, two guest articles by members of the bidt board of directors appeared in the FAZ. The fact that bidt representatives were invited to around 100 external lectures in 2023 alone shows the connectivity of the research.
How digital is Germany? This question is at the centre of the “bidt-SZ-Digitalbarometer” in cooperation with the SZ Institute. The representative survey focuses on the population’s digital skills — a self-test is freely available. The follow-up study draws a comparison with Europe and reveals a large digital divide in Germany. The authors discuss what digital skills will be needed in the future in numerous media reports, interviews, and panel discussions — for example, at Bitkom’s Smart City Convention or at the State of Bavaria’s representation to the European Union.
Study
The digital transformation has accelerated rapidly and is both an opportunity and a challenge. Research into the ethical and social aspects of digital technologies helps to develop and introduce them responsibly from the outset. The bidt has been actively supporting this for years and is an important institution at the interface between research and society.
Prof. Dr. med. Alena M. Buyx To the profile
The bidt gives orientation and builds bridges
The dialogue between research and society plays a central role at the bidt. For the bidt, contemporary science communication also means providing food for thought, stimulating interaction and preparing content to meet needs.
In over 120 events to date, the bidt has brought together more than 9,000 participants and a wide variety of perspectives from science, politics, business, civil society and the media. Whether online, hybrid or in person, from print to digital — the bidt has developed numerous channels, events, and formats that have received a great response. Over 80 publications have appeared in the bidt series, and over 500 publications from the bidt projects in five years. The social media community has also grown considerably, with over 2,300 followers on LinkedIn.
The bidt is a unique place where different perspectives from science, politics, civil society, business, and the media come together. This open dialogue is needed to actively shape the digital transformation for the common good.
Dr. Margret Hornsteiner To the profile
The “bidt Conference” 2023 was a particular highlight. Under the title “Digital kommunizieren — Digitales kommunizieren”, 30 experts from all areas of society discussed the impact of generative AI, the regulation of digital communication platforms and the discourse on digital in the media, politics, and companies at the two-day event. Over 600 participants in Munich’s Gasteig HP8 and online illustrated the high level of interest — both in research and in civil society.
Experience the bidt live
Happy bidt-Day: rooftop anniversary party in Munich
The Bavarian Research Institute for Digital Transformation turned five – time to celebrate! On 18 July 2024, numerous invited guests and companions of the institute enjoyed an entertaining evening on the rooftop terrace of the Deutsches Museum. With summery temperatures, refreshing drinks, delicious food and live music, the Frau im Mond rooftop bar with views over Munich was the ideal setting for stimulating conversations.
Dr Florian Herrmann, Member of the Bavarian State Parliament and Minister of State for Federal Affairs and the Media, and Professor Markus Schwaiger, President of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences, gave inspiring welcoming addresses. The official programme was rounded off with an entertaining keynote speech by Carsten Knop, publisher of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and “5 highlights from 5 years of bidt”, presented by members of the bidt Board of Directors.
