Structure and organisation of the institute
HIIG is a publicly and privately funded independent research institute whose work complies with scientific quality standards and transparency rules. The founding partners – the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) and the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, along with its integrated cooperation partner the Leibniz-Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut in Hamburg – established the institute through a donor pledge by Google, in order to develop multifaceted perspectives that shed light on technological, legal, social, economic and creative issues regarding the internet.
Governing body and supporters
The governing body of the institute is the Foundation Internet and Society comprised of the founding academic institutions as permanent members of the foundation board. Over time, the institute has been further funded and supported – next to the initial and ongoing financing by Google – by additional sponsors and partners (e.g. CISCO, KPMG, innogy foundation for energy and society or the VolkswagenStiftung) as well as by public third-party funding, e.g. the Federal Ministry for Education and Research and the Federal Ministry of Economy.
Foundation Board
The Foundation Board, comprising founding partners and well-known personalities from science and society, supervises the structural and strategic development of the Foundation Internet and Society. The Executive Board officially represents the Foundation Internet and Society. Two academic directors of the HIIG gGmbH form the current Executive Board: Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schildhauer and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz were appointed as chairmen.
Advisory Council, ombudsperson, guidelines
The Advisory Council advises the research agenda and critically evaluates the thematic focus of the institute and thereby helps to ensure the independence of the research. Next to the Advisory Council an ombudsperson and their deputy has been elected, who is a contact person for employees and researchers of the HIIG based on the suggestions for safeguarding good scientific practice at HIIG. In addition, we have jointly agreed on Ethics Guidelines by which the established "HIIG Research Ethics Committee" (REC) evaluates the ethical justifiability of research projects and may be consulted with regard to any potentially relevant questions.
Scientific lead
The scientific lead of the institute is determined by the academic directors, who represent the various scientific disciplines. They design the research agenda of the institute, arrange joint research projects and scientific events. The academic directors elect a speaker, who represents the institute on scientific matters to the wider public. They are supported by an administrative management team. Prof. Dr. Jeanette Hofmann is elected speaker of the HIIG. Managing director is Dr. Karina Preiß.
Research issues in focus
We will keep you regularly informed about our research activities and events.
Do you want to strengthen Europe’s voice in the international debate on society and the internet?
HIIG researches the development of the internet from a societal perspective in order to better understand the digitalisation of all areas of life.