Research for the Networked Society

The digitalisation of economic processes is accompanied by fundamental changes that affect the relationships between and strategies of enterprises, working conditions and employment, as well as innovation processes. In the research area People – Work – Knowledge, six research groups deal with these effects of digitalisation on individuals and organisations.

Digitalisation is accompanied by fundamental changes that affect the organisation of markets, competitive dynamics and their regulation. These changes can have positive effects, as well as unintended social consequences. This research area therefore examines on one hand innovative companies in digital markets and on the other hand the effects on social and economic inequalities.

Digitalisation poses many challenges to political life: On one hand, political actors and citizens are the target of hate comments, lies and manipulation. On the other hand, the Internet is indispensable when it comes to political information and participation in the public discourse. How does digital technology change norms, mediation processes and participation in liberal democracies?

This research area investigates which responsibilities result from the digitalisation process, how societal trust can be gained during the digitalisation process and which governance structures can be used to meet the challenges of digitalisation. The objective of the research is to ensure the success of digitalisation and self-determination of society in the long term by critically and constructively accompanying and actively shaping these aspects.

The work of the research groups is supplemented by thematic groups with a cross-sectional character. The cross-sectional formats deal with overarching questions of ethics and political shaping of the relationship between technology and society.