Areas of expertise
Digital development has contributed to the advancement of our societies and economies, helping us to achieve more efficient governance and more effective modes of production. In particular, advances in automation have contributed to increased cost efficiency and generated significant returns for investors, while generating growth and prosperity on a massive scale. As manufacturing moves toward Industry 4.0 and governments digitize their knowledge, services, and agencies, we are experiencing disruptive changes in the way we interact with organizations and ourselves.
While digitalization brings new possibilities and opportunities to our society and economy, it also poses a challenge to global peace and stability. All stakeholders in the digital domain - governments, the private sector, and academia - have worked hard over the past decades to achieve a more secure and trustworthy cyberspace. There have been some successes, but many challenges remain. Cyber threats have become a major security concern for many stakeholders. The urgency of the problem is evident in the numerous headlines about increasing cybercrime incidents and state-organized cyberattacks. Cyberspace is now the fifth domain of warfare, and governments have begun diplomatic negotiations to increase global cyber stability. Geopolitical tensions are shifting to cyberspace, companies see cyber-attacks as the greatest risk to their businesses, and the general public fears cyber threats.
As a research institute, the Digital Society Institute (DSI) seeks to advance understanding of the risks and opportunities of digitalization through discussion, policy analysis, and research. The DSI brings together policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers with technical, legal, and social science expertise to discuss cyber issues in an interdisciplinary, multi-stakeholder setting. The Institute provides research and policy recommendations on a variety of topics, including the role of new and emerging technologies in conflict, cyber diplomacy processes, Internet governance, and the responsibilities of different actors in cyberspace.
Our areas of expertise:
Digitalisation poses novel challenges to national security and foreign policy - diplomatic efforts, global cooperation, and multi-stakeholder engagement are the main pillars to maintain peace and stability in cyberspace.
- Our activities:
In a digitized world built on trust, economic interdependence, and international cooperation, a high level of digital trust is paramount for economic prosperity and resilience.
- Our activities:
- Providing insights into IT law and regulation (Cybersecurity in the Era of NIS 2 and Disruptive Technologies - Challenges and Opportunities, Was folgt aus NIS 2? Neue Pflichten für die IT-Sicherheit von KRITIS-Betreibern und dem Mittelstand, Ein Modell für ein Allgemeines IT-Sicherheitsrecht)
- Promoting Critical Infrastructure Protection (NATO CCDCOE Cybersecurity of 5G Networks Report Launch)
The "Secure Digital Identities” project aims to support German and European solutions for electronic ID that is user-friendly, trustworthy, cost-efficient, and easily accessible for administrations and citizens.
- Our projects:
- Begleitforschung Sichere Digitale Identitäten
- Strengthening cooperation between Germany and its European partners (The Future of European Digital States - Building on Best Practices from Estonia)
Digital innovation is crucial for economic growth and societal progress. However, the security of critical networks is a significant concern for all decision-makers, on both the organizational and the national levels.
- Our activities:
Reliance on digital ecosystems requires upskilling of senior leaders and decision-makers in all companies, governments and organizations, who are confronted with the impact of new technologies and rising security challenges.
- Our activities:
- Conferences (Shaping Cybersecurity Conference, C3 Cybercrime Conference, Digital Society Conference)
- Workshops (Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Cyber Resilience and Norms Workshop, Expert Workshop: Inside China's Cyber System, Expert Roundtabe: The EU-China Relationship in the Age of Digital Geopolitics)
- Training Programs