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ACATECH – National Academy of Science and Engineering on www.euro-case

A WORKING ACADEMY

acatech – NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING – represents the interests of German sciences and technology in Germany and abroad. As a working academy, acatech supports policy makers and society with technically qualified evaluations and far-sighted recommendations. acatech works to promote sustained growth through innovation. acatech focuses on four core areas:

• Scientific recommendations: acatech advises policy makers and the public on future technology issues based on the best of research.
• Transfer of expertise: acatech provides a platform for exchange between the sciences and business.
• Promotion of young scientists and engineers: acatech is committed to supporting young scientists and engineers.
• Voice for science and engineering: acatech represents the interests of scientists and engineers at a national and international level.

EXCHANGE OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS

acatech brings together the best minds in science and business. It is the exchange between these forces that leads to sustainable growth through innovation.
The members of acatech are admitted into the organisation based on their outstanding scientific achievements and excellent reputation. Since acatech handles a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary issues in science and technology, members stem from the engineering and natural sciences, the humanities and the social sciences.
The second pillar of the academy is the Senate, encompassing distinguished figures from technology-oriented businesses and associations, as well as the large scientific organisations.
The senators support acatech’s work and facilitate the transfer of knowledge.

ELEVEN TOPIC NETWORKS

acatech perceives itself as a flexible working academy and as a science and business network. Outstanding scientists are the driving force behind its core work, while experts from industry bring about the transfer of knowledge arising from practical applications in industry. They engage in the central issues of science and technology and in policy questions within a techno-political context. These issues are structured into topical networks that give rise to project groups in which academy members work closely with external experts from science and business.
The results are presented to policy makers, the business sector and the interested public in scientific series, symposia, forums and discussion panels.
acatech is a non-profit agency. Its funding derives from the federal government and states. Additional funding comes from donations and project-related third-party sources.

Eleven Topic Networks

acatech perceives itself as a flexible working academy and as a science and business network. Outstanding scientists are the driving force behind its core work, while experts from industry bring about the transfer of knowledge arising from practical applications in industry. They engage in the central issues of science and technology and in policy questions within a techno-political context. These issues are structured into topical networks that give rise to project groups in which academy members work closely with external experts from science and business.
The results are presented to policy makers, the business sector and the interested public in scientific series, symposia, forums and discussion panels.
acatech is a non-profit agency. Its funding derives from the federal government and states. Additional funding comes from donations and project-related third-party sources.

TOPIC NETWORKS

SPECIFIC TOPICS

	Education and Knowledge			Biotechnology

	Energy, Construction, Infrastructure and Environment			Health Technologies

	Foundation of Engineering and technology			Information and Communication Technology

	Materials			Mobility

	Nanotechnology			Product Development

	Safety and Security

How is acatech structured?

The General Assembly determines the objectives and working method of the academy. The Senate advises the academy on strategic matters and, in particular, pools input from the business sector.

The Executive Board steers the academy. Its members are elected from among the General Assembly and the Senate Committee. The presidents of acatech are Reinhard Hüttl and Henning Kagermann. Chairman of the Senate is Roman Herzog, the former President of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Figure 1: Structure acatech.

Main field of work

acatech aims to emphasize the importance of future-oriented technologies through a dialogue with the natural and social sciences as well as the humanities crossing academic and national boundaries and building a bridge between economy, science, politics, and society. acatech provides neutral, fact and science-based assessments of technology-related questions and strives to serve society with far-sighted recommendations of excellent quality. The work of the academy mainly falls into four main fields:

1.KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

New technologies hold chances and risks. The high degree of specialization and the speed of scientific developments make it difficult for citizens and decision makers in politics and industry alike to come to rational judgments on technological developments. Thus acatech sees it as one of its most prominent tasks to give advice to politics and the public. Knowledge transfer especially includes information on the economic importance of the technological sciences. These are driving forces for innovation and lasting growth, and therefore they play a key role in the continued development of regions and in securing future prosperity.
acatech aims to create confidence and helps to develop an open-minded, success-oriented culture of innovation through information and critical discussions with politics, industry, and the public. acatech wants to make its contribution towards ensuring that Germany with its technological capabilities stays among the world leaders.

2.MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

The technological sciences, in cooperation with natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, can help to solve technical, economic, ecological, and social problems on a global scale. acatech sees its task in identifying future topics and in working out solutions in interdisciplinary projects.
Working groups established by acatech develop suggestions and recommendations on topics such as mobility, sustainable energy supply, life sciences and communications technology. The working groups consist of acatech members as well as external experts from science and industry.

3.ENGINEERING EDUCATION

An excellent education of technicians and engineers is a prerequisite of the innovative capacity of our country. German engineering education still enjoys a high reputation worldwide. At the same time, we meet with great challenges as to the innovation and internationalisation of our curricula. But we must start at school to foster new generations of engineers. It is here where we must inspire the young with an enthusiasm for technology and supply them with the adequate basics for their further education.
Therefore acatech is committed to reforming and improving technological education on the school and university level.

4.INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

At the international level, acatech represents Germany on the European Council of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering (Euro-CASE) and on the International council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS).

Team

PRESIDENT
	Prof. Dr. Reinhard Hüttl Chairman of the Executive Board of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, University Professor for Soil Protection and Recultivation at the Brandenburg University of Technology in Cottbus	Prof. Dr. Henning Kagermann Former spokesman of the Board of SAP AG, Honorary Professor for Theoretical Physics at the Technische Universität Braunschweig

VICE PRESIDENTS
	Prof. Dr. Bernd Pischetsriederl Advisor to Volkswagen AG	Prof. Dr. Dieter Spath University Professor for Human Factors and Technology Management at the Universität Stuttgart and Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO

BOARD MEMBERS
	Prof. Dr. Rolf Emmermann Founding member and former Chairman of the Executive Board of the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) in Potsdam, Emeritus Director of the Institute for Earth Sciences at the University of Gießen	Prof. Dr. Utz-Hellmuth Felcht Managing Director of One Equity Partners Europe GmbH and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bahn AG

	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Gausemeier University Professor for Computer Integrated Manufacturing at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute, University of Paderborn	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Hillemeier Emeritus Professor for Materials Research and Testing at the Technische Universität Berlin

	Prof. em. Dr. Hartwig Höcker Emeritus Professor for Textile Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry at the RWTH Aachen University	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Klocke University Professor for Manufacturing Technology at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) at the RWTH Aachen University and Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT

	Prof. em. Dr.-Ing. Reiner Kopp Emeritus Professor for the Institute of Metal Forming at the RWTH Aachen University and Vice Chairman of the European Council of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering (Euro-CASE)	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Milberg Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW AG, former Professor of the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management at the Technische Universität München

	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Günter Pritschow Former Director of the Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units at the Universität Stuttgart as well as former Rector of the Universität Stuttgart	Prof. Dr. Ortwin Renn University Professor for Environmental and Technological Sociology and Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Unit on Risk Governance and Sustainable Technology Development at the Universität Stuttgart

Contacts

	MUNICH OFFICE Residenz München Hofgartenstraße 2 80539 München T +49 (0)/5203090 T +49 (0)/5203099

	CAPITAL OFFICE Mauerstraße 79 10117 Berlin
	LINK • acatech.de (englische Seiten) http://www.acatech.de/uk • Work and Results; Publications in English http://www.acatech.de/uk/home-uk/work-and-results.html • International Project: German Indian Partnership for IT-Systems (GRIP-IT) http://www.acatech.de/de/projekte/laufende-projekte/german-indian-partnership-for-it-systems-grip-it.html • PUNKT – Award for Science Writers http://www.acatech.de/de/aktuelles-presse/journalistenpreis-punkt.html • TEAM acatech http://www.acatech.de/de/ueber-uns/organisation/team.html