1. Home
  2. Institute
  3. Main research topics
  4. Digitalisation and Climate Action
Content element with id 11132

Digitalisation and Climate Action

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.

Content element with id 11156

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

View profile
Barbara Engels

Barbara Engels

Senior Economist for Sustainable Digitalisation and AI

Tel: +49 221 4981-703 Barbara Engels @BarEngels
View profile
Andreas Fischer

Andreas Fischer

Senior Economist for Energy and Climate Policy

Tel: +49 221 4981-402
View profile
Malte Küper

Malte Küper

Senior Economist for Energy and Climate Policy

Tel: +49 221 4981-673 Malte Küper
View profile
Adriana Neligan

Dr. Adriana Neligan

Senior Economist for Environment, Circular Economy and Sustainability

Tel: +49 30 27877-128 Adriana Neligan @a_neligan
View profile
Thomas Puls

Thomas Puls

Senior Economist for Transport and Infrastructure

Tel: +49 221 4981-766
View profile
Klaus-Heiner Röhl

Dr. Klaus-Heiner Röhl

Senior Economist for SME Policy and Regional Policy

Tel: +49 30 27877-103 Klaus-Heiner Röhl
View profile
Thilo Schaefer

Dr. Thilo Schaefer

Head of Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit

Tel: +49 221 4981-791 Thilo Schaefer
View profile
Marc Scheufen

Dr. Marc Scheufen

Senior Economist for Artificial Intelligence and Data Regulation

Tel: +49 221 4981-742 Marc Scheufen

All news

1537 results
Sort by:
Read study
Event 14. October 2026 Alexander Radunz

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.

Read study
The Honesty-Attitude-Behavior Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison
IW-Trends No. 3 29. September 2026

The Honesty-Attitude-Behavior Gap: A Cross-Country Comparison

Dominik Enste / Jennifer Potthoff / Augustin Renz

Honesty reduces transaction costs and is therefore a prerequisite for effective economic cooperation.

Read study
Event 28. September 2026 Sandra Parthie / Alexander Radunz

Online-Veranstaltungsreihe „Von Brüssel nach Berlin”: Regionalentwicklung und Industriepolitik

Wir laden Sie herzlich zu einer weiteren Online-Veranstaltung unserer Veranstaltungsreihe „Von Brüssel nach Berlin“ ein. Mit ihr wollen wir in loser Folge Themen aus der europäischen in die deutsche Hauptstadt tragen.

Read study
Complementary Capabilities for Circular Practices: Firm-Level Evidence in Germany on the Role of Digitalization and Innovation
External Publication 16. September 2026

Complementary Capabilities for Circular Practices: Firm-Level Evidence in Germany on the Role of Digitalization and Innovation

Sarah Lichtenthäler / Adriana Neligan in Journal of Circular Economy

The transition to a circular economy (CE) requires firms to reconfigure business models, processes and capabilities.

Read study
Making Apprenticeships a Success: From Marketing to Hiring
IW-Report No. 38 11. September 2026

Making Apprenticeships a Success: From Marketing to Hiring

Paula Risius / Dirk Werner / Philip Herzer / Fritz Orange / Regina Flake / Franziska Arndt / Yasin Küçükyavuz / Edgar Schmitz

In-company vocational training is a key factor in securing skilled labour. The first step in investing in future employees is to approach and recruit new apprentices. For many companies, filling the apprenticeship positions they offer is a challenge.

Content element with id 9713