Socio-Economic Department
Technological performance is based on social prerequisites, such as research and education infrastructure, networks linking economy and science as well as the individuals' qualifications and competencies. The potential consequences of technological innovation are important for citizens and politicians. This concerns consequences that are desired, like growth and jobs, but also risks, for example in the domains of environmental and data protection.
The Socio-Economic Department
- analyses these prerequisites and consequences - in studies,
- helps to take into account these social and economic aspects in technology developments from the beginning – in projects accompanying research and measures associated with innovation, and also as project managers,
- investigates the impact of research and development programmes – in evaluations,
- brings together the different interest groups from politics, science and economy – in workshops, sessions, background talks.
Examples of publications (exclusively in German):
- High-technology business start-ups – start-up antecedents and support with special regard to the multimedia sector, 2010
- Smart Home in Germany – study within the framework of scientific advice for the Next Generation Media Programme (NGM) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, 2010
- Internet of Things – guideline on technical, organisational, legal and security-related aspects concerning the implementation of new RFID-assisted processes in economy and administration, 2010
- Business start-up competitions as an instrument of business development, 2010
- Annual Report 2009: Institute of Innovation and Technology of VDI/VDE-IT, 2010
- The situation of skilled labour in AAL fields of activity – outlook on basic and further training, 2009
- Innovation studies and indicators, lack of information in conditions of abundance of information, 2009
- Development of competencies in high-tech fields – New ways for scientific further training, 2009
- The Internet of Things. The computerization of the working environment and of everyday life, 2009
- Cluster and network evaluation – Topical examples from practice, 2009
- Guideline – Evaluation in the field of economy, 2008
- Technical training for everybody. A neglected key element of innovation policy, 2008
- innovation positioning system: special edition 2007/2008
For a comprehensive overview of all current publications in the field of society and economy, please click here on our list of publications.
Project Examples
Competition Advancement by Education: Open Universities
This competition aims at promoting university concepts which enhance accessibility of academic education for experienced workers, integrate newly gathered knowledge and thus, ensure the long-term supply of qualified workers. Concepts for extra-occupational degree programmes, degree programmes with extended professional experience phases or programmes aimed at lifelong learning can be submitted. The submitted concepts should address people with family commitments, returnees to the job, university drop-outs, unemployed academics or working Bachelor-alumni – and also include persons without the formal qualifications needed for accessing universities. Project administrator is VDI/VDE-IT.
Scientific monitoring of the BMBF-Initiative of accrediting vocational competencies to university courses – ANKOM
The initiative ANKOM aims at improving the permeability between vocational and university education. Eleven state-wide development projects are intended to identify competencies and qualifications acquired during vocational training and equivalent to university study. The scientific monitoring, through VDI/VDE-IT in cooperation with the HIS GmbH, supports the eleven projects in the establishment of processes to determine competence equivalents. Additionally, through project-related process and result evaluation, it helps with the implementation of theses processes.
Validation of the innovation potential of scientific research – VIP
The promotion programme VIP invites scientists to check their research results with respect to their economic value and economic use. The project is designed for universities and research institutions that are completely or partially financed by the federal state. As project manager, VDI/VDE-IT receives an up-to-date overview of the state of play of practically-orientated application research in Germany.
