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.
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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

Dr. Vera Demary
Head of Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit
Tel: +49 221 4981-749 Mail: vera.demary@iwkoeln.de Vera Demary
Barbara Engels
Senior Economist for Sustainable Digitalisation
Tel: +49 221 4981-703 Mail: engels@iwkoeln.de Barbara Engels @BarEngels
Andreas Fischer
Economist for Energy and Climate Policy
Tel: +49 221 4981-402 Mail: fischer@iwkoeln.de
Malte Küper
Researcher for Energy and Climate Policy
Tel: +49 221 4981-673 Mail: kueper@iwkoeln.de Malte Küper
Dr. Sarah Lichtenthäler
Economist for Environment, Circular Economy and Sustainability
Tel: +49 221 4981-838 Mail: Lichtenthaeler@iwkoeln.de
Dr. Adriana Neligan
Senior Economist for Environment, Circular Economy and Sustainability
Tel: +49 30 27877-128 Mail: neligan@iwkoeln.de Adriana Neligan @a_neligan
Thomas Puls
Senior Economist for Transport and Infrastructure
Tel: +49 221 4981-766 Mail: puls@iwkoeln.de
Dr. Klaus-Heiner Röhl
Senior Economist for SME Policy and Regional Policy
Tel: +49 30 27877-103 Mail: roehl@iwkoeln.de Klaus-Heiner Röhl
Dr. Thilo Schaefer
Head of Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit
Tel: +49 221 4981-791 Mail: thilo.schaefer@iwkoeln.de Thilo Schaefer
Dr. Marc Scheufen
Senior Economist for the Economic Analysis of Law
Tel: +49 221 4981-742 Mail: scheufen@iwkoeln.de @MarcScheufenAll news

More Productive with AI?: How Companies and Employees Assess its Effects on Productivity
Almost one third of all employees in Germany have had at least one new artificial intelligence (AI) application introduced at their workplace since 2022. AI is most commonly used for automatic data processing and text recognition.
Andrea Hammermann / Roschan Monsef / Oliver Stettes IW

Financing the Sustainability Agenda
Financing the necessary innovations and investments for a successful decarbonisation in the EU is challenging. The main reasons are tighter banking regulations, increased bureaucracy for loan applications and portfolio reallocations away from carbon-intensive industries.
Markus Demary / Adriana Neligan in Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies IW

Digitalisation Index 2024: Digitalisation of the economy in Germany
The Digitalisation Index 2024 shows that the German economy has become around 14 percent more digital in the last five years. However, despite this progress, key challenges remain: The East has not been able to escape its role as the digitalisation bottom performer in the past five years.
Jan Büchel / Marc Scheufen / Barbara Engels IW

Market Report of Circular Business Models in the Electronics Market in Germany
Electronic devices are essential in daily life, but their widespread use has led to environmental challenges. Circular business models—such as second-hand sales and rental services —are key to mitigating these effects by extending the useful life of a product or intensifying the usage.
Adriana Neligan / Lennart Bolwin / Circularity* / Deloitte* / Fraunhofer IZM* / Systemiq* IW
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