Funded by the Federal Government and the Länder, acatech – National Academy of Science and Engineering is the voice of the technological sciences at home and abroad. We provide advice on strategic engineering and technology policy issues to policymakers and the public. We fulfil our mandate to provide independent, evidence-based advice that is in the public interest under the patronage of the Federal President.
Mission
Guidelines for Advising Policymakers and the Public
Who is involved in acatech?
acatech brings together science, industry and civil society. The Academy’s Members are prominent scientists from the fields of engineering, the natural sciences and medicine, as well as the humanities and social sciences. The Senate is made up of leading figures from technology companies and organisations and the major science organisations.
How does acatech work?
The academy’s projects are collaborations between its scientific Members and external experts from science and industry. The results are communicated to policymakers, industry, academia and interested members of the public through publications and events.
The National Academy of Science and Engineering is a non-profit organisation that relies on a mix of private donations and public funding from the Federal Government and the Länder. The private donations are raised by the acatech Friends Association.
How is acatech structured?
The academy’s goals and working methods are determined by the scientific Members in the General Assembly. The members of the Senate advise the academy on strategic issues and play an especially important role in channelling proposals from industry. The academy’s Executive Board is proposed by the Board of Trustees and appointed by the General Assembly and Senate.
The Executive Board is responsible for the academy’s management and for representing it externally. acatech’s current Presidents are Jan Wörner and Thomas Weber.
In addition to its headquarters at the acatech FORUM in Munich, acatech also has offices in Berlin and Brussels – click here for further details.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier – Patron of the National Academy of Science and Engineering
In June 2017, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier took over as patron of the National Academy of Science and Engineering, following in the footsteps of his predecessors Joachim Gauck, Christian Wulff and Horst Köhler.
The Federal President’s patronage is an indication that the German government has a particular interest in the organisation, initiative or event in question. It is only granted to ventures that have positive impacts for the whole of Germany.