With the German economy undergoing a comprehensive transformation process, the Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit examines how companies operate in a market environment that is evolving in line with these structural changes.
- Home
- Institute
- Main research topics
- Digitalisation and Climate Action
Digitalisation and Climate Action
Firms are currently being impacted by two trends in particular: digital transformation and the government’s climate policy targets. Both necessitate adjustments to business processes which require capital investments. However, these trends also represent opportunities for companies to adapt their products and services, and even their business models, and to position themselves optimally for the future.
For this to happen, it is vital that the framework conditions are set such as to ensure a functioning competition, to facilitate the founding of successful start-ups, and to promote business development. Moreover, the work of our Research Unit is based on the conviction that Germany can only develop sustainably if climate protection is pursued efficiently, energy is generated in an affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly manner and enterprises enjoy access to the necessary resources. If this succeeds, companies in Germany will be able to take advantage of market opportunities and shape their future in an attractive business location.
Contact Persons

Jan Büchel
Economist for AI and the Data Economy
Tel: +49 221 4981-415 Mail: buechel
Barbara Engels
Senior Economist for Sustainable Digitalisation and AI
Tel: +49 221 4981-703 Mail: engels
Andreas Fischer
Senior Economist for Energy and Climate Policy
Tel: +49 221 4981-402 Mail: fischer
Malte Küper
Senior Economist for Energy and Climate Policy
Tel: +49 221 4981-673 Mail: kueper
Dr. Adriana Neligan
Senior Economist for Environment, Circular Economy and Sustainability
Tel: +49 30 27877-128 Mail: neligan
Thomas Puls
Senior Economist for Transport and Infrastructure
Tel: +49 221 4981-766 Mail: puls
Dr. Klaus-Heiner Röhl
Senior Economist for SME Policy and Regional Policy
Tel: +49 30 27877-103 Mail: roehl
Dr. Thilo Schaefer
Head of Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit
Tel: +49 221 4981-791 Mail: thilo.schaefer
Dr. Marc Scheufen
Senior Economist for Artificial Intelligence and Data Regulation
Tel: +49 221 4981-742 Mail: scheufenAll news
Critical Choices: How Malaysia and Germany can Navigate Shifting Energy Geostrategy
Malaysia and Germany, as constructive and reliable participants in globally interdependent energy (as well as trade and financial) markets, face an increasingly hostile, volatile, and uncertain environment surrounding energy choices.
Fiscal Effects of Having Children
The fiscal effects of children are relevant to various areas of policymaking.
Expert Workshop on the Industrial Accelerator Act
The German Economic Institute (IW) and Frontier Economics are pleased to invite you to a rapporteur & stakeholder workshop on the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) in Brussels.
Universal entitlement, unequal provision: childcare in segregated German cities
One mechanism driving persistent inequalities in childcare provision, despite rising investments and a substantial expansion of childcare facilities, may consist in the locational choices of providers, who eschew poorer neighbourhoods.
A Comparison of Public Revenues Across the Federal States
To ensure equivalent living conditions, the federal government influences the revenues of the states and municipalities. Under the fiscal equalization system, financially weak states receive surpluses in the distribution of sales tax revenues, while financially strong states must accept shortfalls.
Your search returned an incorrect status. You may have selected too many filters. You can jump back to your previous selection to adjust your search.
Subscribe to our newsletters to receive updates on the latest IW publications.
Sign up here to stay informed.

