National Expert Platforms

Civic Innovation Platform

Mandated by BMAS

The Civic Innovation Platform was established in September 2020 and is operated by the Policy Lab Digital Work & Society from the BMAS (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs). The platform’s objective is to bring together all kinds of actors that are interested in developing and using AI for the common good in the field of labour and social policy. Instruments for accompanying civic innovation processes include a matching platform, financial support as well as consulting and network events. The platform addresses specifically citizens, start-ups and small-sized companies.

NExT: Public Service Network (in German)

Mandated by BMI

Under the auspice of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, the network NExT is founded from within the public administration for the public administration with the goal of paving the way for a digital culture as a prerequisite for digital transformation in the public sector. Hence, the core activity consists in bringing together civil servants, among all parties, hierarchical levels, departments and federal states by organising workshops, communities and events. Thereby, the platform not only enables the conceptualisation and implementation of projects from and for the public administration, but also facilitates exchange among public servants, civil society, the scientific community and economy.

Digital Summit

Mandated by BMWK

The Digital Summit was established in 2016 by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) to hold annual summits to develop concepts for strengthening Germany as an IT location. The summit itself and the associated process during the year act as a central platform for cooperation between politics, the business sector, science and society in order to shape the digital transformation process. At the summit, representatives of these sectors present the results of their work, establish new priorities and discuss current challenges and trends. There are ten thematic platforms that take up the central fields of action of the digital transformation: Digital networks and mobility, Innovative digitization of the economy, Industry 4.0, Learning Systems, Digital world of work, Digital administration and public-sector IT, Digital Future: Learning. Research. Knowledge., Culture and Media, Security, protection and trust for society and business and Consumer protection policy in the digital world. (Platform content in German)

National Platform Future of Mobility

Mandated by BMVI

The National Platform Future of Mobility (NPM) is the largest national platform set up by the German federal government to monitor and analyze the current and future trends in the field of mobility. NPM advises the government on the necessary strategic decisions in the sector and clarifies facts on complex and controversial topics. Concrete recommendations for action are made to politicians, industry and civil society. The aim is to develop solutions for an environmentally friendly mobility system in Germany involving different means of transportation. The NPM comprises of six working groups: Transport and climate change, Alternative drive technologies and fuels for sustainable mobility, Digitalisation for the mobility sector, Securing Germany as a place for mobility, production, battery cell production, primary materials and recycling, training and qualification, Connecting mobility and energy networks, sector integration, Standardisation, norms, certification and type approval.

Platform Self-learning Systems

Mandated by BMBF

Designing self-learning systems for the benefit of society is the goal pursued by the Plattform Lernende Systeme (Platform for Machine Self-learning Systems), which was founded at the suggestion of acatech. The members of the platform are divided into seven working groups: Technological enablers and data science, Future of work and human-machine interaction, IT security, privacy, legal and ethical framework, Business model innovations, Mobility and intelligent transport systems, Health care, medical technology, care and Hostile-to-life environments. A steering committee consolidates the current state of knowledge about self-learning systems and artificial intelligence. The platform points out developments in industry and society, analyzes the skills which will be needed in the future and uses real application scenarios to demonstrate the benefits of self-learning systems. Acatech coordinates the work of the platform.

Platform Industry 4.0

Mandated by BMWK and BMBF

Being the largest industry 4.0 network worldwide with over 350 participants from more than 150 organizations, the Platform Industry 4.0 aims to develop joint recommendations for all stakeholders serving as the basis for a consistent and reliable framework. The platform initiates alliances and networks at the precompetitive stage which support the evolution of the entrepreneurial skills and energy present in Germany. It aims to identify all relevant trends and developments in the manufacturing sector and to combine them to produce a common understanding of Industry 4.0. The platform consists of six working groups: Reference Architectures, Standards and Norms, Technology and Application Scenarios, Security of Networked Systems, Legal Framework, Work, Education and Training and Digital Business Models in Industry 4.0.

Dialogue Platform Smart Cities

Mandated by BMWSB

The Dialogplattform Smart Cities (Dialogue Platform Smart Cities) was set up by the German federal government to promote networking on digitalization topics in the context of urban development policy. Its aim is to formulate guidelines and recommendations for sustainable and integrative urban development. The dialogue platform accompanies cities and municipalities in the implementation of the Smart City Charter and uses the knowledge gained to continuously develop it further. Key topics include big data, local economy, the digital divide and e-governance.

Council for Technological Sovereignty (in German)

Mandated by BMBF

The Rat für technologische Souveränität (Council for Technological Sovereignty), consisting of eleven representatives from science, industry, and society, has the task of drawing up recommendations for the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) on how to strengthen the technological sovereignty of Germany and the European Union in key technological fields.

Digital Council of the Ministry of Defence (in German)

Mandated by BMVg

The Digitalrat BMVg (Digital Council of the Ministry of Defence) was set up to advise the Minister of Defence in matters related to the digital transformation of the German armed forces. Together with a Digitallabor (digital laboratory) and a Digitalgalerie (digital gallery) it forms the so-called Digitalen Campus (digital campus). The Digitalrat has six constant members who are selected for 2019-2021 as well as one representative of the startup scene and one of the German armed forces. The first constitutive meeting was held in November 2019.

High-Tech Forum

Mandated by BMBF

The High-Tech Forum is the main advisory board of the German federal government for the implementation of the High-Tech Strategy 2025. The goal is to give concrete recommendations for the research policies of the federal government, especially for the “3,5 percent goal” (increasing the R&D investment to at least 3.5 percent of the GDP until 2025), open research and innovation, social innovation, agility of innovation systems, qualifications and sustainability. The 21 experts for this legislative period come from research, civil society and the business sector and regularly publish impulse papers.

Committee of Enquiry 'Artificial Intelligence' (in German)

Mandated by German Parliament

The Enquete-Kommission „Künstliche Intelligenz” (Committee of Enquiry “Artificial Intelligence”) consists of 19 members of the German parliament and 19 external experts. It explores the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on society and the German economy. Its goal is to identify and formulate the social and economic opportunities derived from AI on a national, European and international level, as well as foresee and minimize potential risks that come along. The commission discusses a variety of technical, legal and ethical questions such as data protection for AI applications.

Data Ethics Commission

Mandated by BMI and BMJ

The Datenethikkommission (Data Ethics Commission) develops guidelines for the protection of the rights of individuals with regard to the development of new data-based technologies, and proposes regulations for the social good, based on scientific and technical expertise. The commission consists of 16 members, who advise both the German federal government and the parliament. Its goal is to propose a development framework for data policy, artificial intelligence, and digital innovations.

Digital Council

Mandated by Chancellery

The Digital Council was established by the German federal government to advise the government on issues related to digitalization and the shaping of digital change in society. The council consists of 9 professors, researchers, entrepreneurs and computer scientists working on a voluntary basis. The Digitalrat meets at least twice a year with the Chancellor and members of the government. Topics such as e-government, big data and digitalization of the workplace are of interest to the council.

Parliamentary Committee on Digital Affairs

Mandated by German Parliament

The Ausschuss Digitales (Parliamentary Committee on Digital Affairs, formerly Ausschuss Digitale Agenda) is responsible for the digital policy in the German parliament. With its 34 members onboard, it discusses various issues of digitalization across all sectors and advises the parliament on all draft laws, proposals, reports and EU proposals.

German Council for Scientific Information Infrastructures

Mandated by Joint Science Conference (GWK)

The Rat für Informationsinfrastrukturen (RfII, German Council for Scientific Information Infrastructures) monitors transitions in the German academic system at large and gives practical recommendations to academia and the government on strategic future questions of digital science. The council, consisting of 24 members, aims to enhance cooperation between politics and science, identify synergies and strengthen forms of self-organization in the academic system, as well as identify new fields of action arising from technological and cultural change.

Young Digital Economy Advisory Board

Mandated by BMWK

The Beirat Junge Digitale Wirtschaft (Young Digital Economy Advisory Board) advises the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy first-hand on current issues of the digital transformation, focusing on the development and potential of the young digital economy in Germany. It aims to facilitate a direct and practical dialogue between policy makers and the young German digital and start-up community.

IT Planning Council

Mandated by Federal Government and States

The IT-Planungsrat (IT Planning Council) is a steering committee for national IT cooperation and e-government at federal, state and local level. The IT Planning Council focuses on coordinating cooperation between the federal and the states’ governments on IT issues, managing e-government projects, as well as planning and further developing the Deutschland-Online Infrastructure (DOI) in accordance with the IT Network Act. In addition, it decides on IT interoperability and IT security standards. The 17-member committee consists of representatives of the federal government and the governments of the federal states.

German Ethics Council

The Deutscher Ethikrat (German Ethics Council, formerly Nationaler Ethikrat) addresses overarching ethical questions of society, health, science, law as well as digitalization, and their possible implications for the community. The council informs the public, encourages the dialogue in society and prepares policy recommendations for the government and parliament. Its members are appointed by the President of the German parliament. The 26 members of the German Ethics Council exercise their office personally and independently.

IT Council (in German)

Mandated by BMI

The IT-Rat (IT Council) is the central political and strategic committee for overarching topics on digitalization. It is responsible for controlling the IT infrastructure in the federal administration. The members include the state secretaries of all the responsible federal ministries for the digitalization of the administration sector. The committee meets under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister of the Chancellery.

AI Observatory

Mandated by BMAS

The KI-Observatorium (AI Observatory) is a Policy Lab Digital, Work & Society project by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). Its task is to anticipate the effects of AI in the world of work early on and identify where there is a need for action. The Observatory functions as a knowledge bearer and a catalyst at the intersection of policymakers, science, business and society.

Innovation Office

Mandated by BMFSFJ

The Innovationsbüro Digitales Leben (‘Digital Living’ Innovation Office) is a project by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). It is a think tank that drives innovation for the positive design of digitalization. It bundles various projects and processes, and helps to develop a new digital social, emphasizing participation and interaction at all levels.

Health Innovation Hub (in German)

Mandated by BMG

The health innovation hub (hih) is a patient-centered platform of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) that facilitates dialogue between all relevant players and bundles innovative forces in the health care system. Some of its tasks include identifying eHealth solutions that aim to improve healthcare, evaluating the benefits of digital solutions in the health care system, accompanying the further development of innovative digital applications and supporting the integration into the standard care. It builds bridges between start-ups and established stakeholders.

Policy Lab Digital, Work & Society

Mandated by BMAS

The Denkfabrik Digitale Arbeitsgesellschaft (Policy Lab Digital, Work & Society) was founded in October 2018 as an organisational unit within the “Digitalisation and the Labour Market Department” at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The aim is to identify new areas of activity that have emerged due to digitalisation and other trends at an early stage, consider the labour market to a greater extent in a social context and develop new solutions for the labour market of the future. Using scientific methods for the development of strategic forecasts, the Policy Lab observes technological, economic and social trends. On this basis, it defines any immediate and long-term requirement for government policies and develops specific policy tasks for the BMAS.

University Forum Digitalization

Mandated by BMBF

The Hochschulforum Digitalisierung (University Forum Digitalization, HFD) is an independent national platform which brings together stakeholders from higher education institutions, politics, business, and civil society to discuss the impact of digitalization on higher education institutions. HFD supports higher education institutions in making digitalization an integral part of their strategy and in incorporating it in their teaching activities. HFD is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Foundation for Data Protection

Mandated by Federal Government

The Stiftung Datenschutz (Foundation for Data Protection) was established by the German federal government in 2013. The non-profit foundation offers a neutral forum for debate around effective and efficient data policy and develops recommendations for privacy politics. Acting independently in the field of data privacy, Stiftung Datenschutz links politics and the public, academics, and business. It complements existing organizations and initiatives while liaising closely with German data protection authorities on state and federal levels.