Scientific policy advice from acatech: at national, European and international level

Munich, 31 January 2023

On 30 January, the acatech SenatsNetzwerk met online to obtain an overview of acatech’s policy advisory activities. The SenatsNetzwerk network brings together experts from acatech Senate companies in the areas of strategy, communication and political affairs. acatech President Jan Wörner pointed out during the meeting that the Academy gathers science and industry around the same table. Also, that this collective knowledge base informs discussions and recommendations for action on issues related to the future of technology and innovation policy. At this, the first online meeting of 2023, employees of the acatech Office then gave an overview of the advisory projects currently ongoing at national, European and international level.

In his speech at the acatech gala in Berlin in October of last year, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made the point that acatech’s advisory services are always very welcome, “The federal government pays attention to acatech’s proposals and ideas – not least because our digital, networked, high-tech world is becoming more and more complex.” He gave the example of acatech’s contribution to the Zukunftsrat council on the future, which helps the federal government “advance innovation and identify emerging technology trends.”

An initiative of Chancellor Scholz, the Zukunftsrat des Bundeskanzlers is a central advisory project at national level. It looks at new developments, findings and trends in the process of innovation and draws up proposals to enhance resilience and technological sovereignty in key technologies and digitalisation. It aims to boost as best possible the potential that research and enterprise hold for Germany and for completing the digital transformation. It also addresses issues of public acceptance and ethical aspects. The agenda of the Zukunftsrat des Bundeskanzlers is prepared by an office within acatech.

acatech works with academies all over the world

At an international level, acatech works with sister academies, embassies, ministries, associations and other organisations. One example is the international organisation of academies CAETS – International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences, in which the academies deal with issues such as energy, diversity and communication.

The project SAPEA – Science Advice for Policy by European Academies provides scientific advice for policymaking for the European Commission. It aims to incorporate in an effective and timely fashion scientific findings at European level into the process of forming political opinion. The expertise of more than 120 academies from 40 countries in Europe feeds into the project, which is coordinated by acatech.

Another example of a policy advisory platform at European level is the new European Sounding Board on Innovation, which the EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation, Education, Culture and Youth Mariya Gabriel and acatech launched in November 2022. The Sounding Board brings together prominent decision-makers from science and industry to give feedback on short-, medium- and long-term challenges.