Field of Action 2:
Shaping The Future
At an individual level, future skills are essential for professional success and social participation. At an institutional and societal level, they form the basis for an innovation-friendly environment in which the connection between technological innovation, social change, and a sustainable labour market is recognised and actively shaped.
The Mercedes-Benz Fund within the Stifterverband supports initiatives and individuals who apply future skills to address social challenges proactively. In doing so, the Fund contributes to securing Germany's position as a centre of innovation.
Deutscher Zukunftspreis
The Deutscher Zukunftspreis ("German Future Award"), awarded by the Federal President, honours exceptional innovations in the fields of technology, engineering, and natural sciences, as well as software and algorithm-based innovations. This prestigious award is part of a highly competitive national selection process. By drawing public attention to the scientific and technical innovation potential within Germany, the award promotes an innovation-friendly environment and an understanding of the link between technological innovation, social change, and job creation.
Since its inception in 1997, the Deutscher Zukunftspreis has been sponsored by the Mercedes-Benz Fund together with other major partners.
Website of the Deutscher Zukunftspreis
Digital Engineering 4.0
The endowed professorship for Digital Engineering 4.0 at the Technical University of Berlin was established as part of the Einstein Center Digital Future and awarded to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lydia Kaiser. The professorship ran for five years, ending in February 2026.
The field of "Digital Engineering 4.0" focuses on the design of systems in the digital age. Technical systems are becoming increasingly complex. They are networked, interact with users in a multimedia format, and autonomously perform tasks. Designing such systems requires new approaches. In her research, Lydia Kaiser draws on systems engineering approaches. This involves designing interdisciplinary problem-solving processes, analyzing challenges systematically and systematically, and developing solutions in close collaboration with stakeholders.
The endowed professorship concentrated on the transformation that industry is undergoing through digitalization processes, as well as the opportunities and challenges that companies are experiencing as a result. The networking of technical systems is leading to new business models in some cases. These processes must be designed and considered from a socio-technical and interdisciplinary perspective, not just from a purely technical one. The first step is not about developing new software, but about bringing together existing solutions and potential users. The second step involves actively shaping solutions. This includes adapting existing software, but also developing new concepts that integrate artificial intelligence methods.
Entrepreneurship in Technology and Digitization
The endowed professorship for Entrepreneurship in Technology and Digitization at the University of Stuttgart is held by Professor Alexander Brem. The initial term spans six years (until the end of 2025), with the potential for a four-year extension following a positive evaluation (until the end of 2029).
Prof. Dr Alexander Brem heads the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research (ENI), which promotes both theoretical and practical aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation through an interdisciplinary approach that combines new technologies and scientific advancements with a sustainable mindset. The ENI is strongly embedded in the regional innovation ecosystem.
The institute's activities are centred on the incorporation of entrepreneurship in research and teaching across all faculties of the University of Stuttgart. The aim is to establish a start-up culture at the university that promotes entrepreneurial skills at all levels. The research focus of the institute is on technological innovation and entrepreneurship with a particular focus on digitization and digital transformation. Research topics include digital and science-based entrepreneurship, regional innovation ecosystems, business-model innovation, and the commercialisation of science and technology. Additionally, the institute examines gender differences in entrepreneurial endeavours.
Professor Brem's institute excels in blending theory with practice and integrating research, teaching, and knowledge transfer. This is supported by long-term collaborations with prominent regional research institutions and extensive international partnerships. The institute adheres to the "Stuttgart way," which emphasises consistent cooperation across various disciplines.