Forum. Venturing Futures.
The Forum. Venturing Futures. is the inter- and transdisciplinary space for action of the research focus Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Society. Building on our scientific findings, we develop dialogue formats and application-oriented tools that connect entrepreneurial thinking with social responsibility. We understand entrepreneurial thinking as a proactive, future-oriented mindset that actively shapes change, questions established patterns and treats uncertainty as an opportunity for innovation and sustainable progress. Our focus is on harnessing this mindset for systemic challenges in our digital society — for example, bureaucratic gridlock, or the slow transfer of research ideas into practice. We bring together expertise from academia, politics, public administration, civil society and business to shape alternative futures. Using participatory research approaches such as ideathons, prospection labs and multi-stakeholder dialogues, we uncover the complex problems embedded in long-established rules and procedures. We also draw international comparisons of organisational forms and innovation cultures in other countries. Building on this, we develop approaches that spark new transformation processes, connecting economic success with social benefit. In this sense, the Forum understands itself as a platform for exchange, in order to rethink, discuss and test scientific findings and options for action.
Alica Repenning, Dr
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Society
Technologies are reshaping how economies and societies develop and operate in a changing, globally connected digital environment. We investigate how different forms of innovation and entrepreneurship address systemic societal challenges.
A future framework for tech companies
Between speed and structure
How well start-ups in AI or deep tech are able to scale also depends on the framework conditions set by funding policy and public administration. Equally decisive is how effectively public authorities themselves make use of digital solutions for their own processes.
Ownership and responsibility
Building sustainable corporate structures
Different ownership models, from listed corporations to steward ownership, shape entrepreneurial practices and their economic, ecological and social consequences. In our prospection labs, we develop future visions of alternative ownership models for sustainable business.
AI and the future of work
People, machines, participation
Artificial intelligence raises the question of how our working world is changing. Dialogue between companies, trade unions, employees and policymakers is producing well-founded scenarios that go beyond dystopia and utopia.
A slide deck on employee-oriented people analytics
Data-driven analytics are used at varying levels of maturity in HR management. This annotated slide deck brings together research findings for practitioners and shows the conditions under which employees and works councils, too, can benefit from people analytics.
This material (in German) was developed as part of the research project Between Autonomy and Surveillance.
Whitepaper: using generative AI in the world of work
Whether generative AI relieves employees or adds further tasks to their workload depends heavily on their specific field and working context. Drawing on 145 interviews across journalism, marketing, human resources and software development, this whitepaper derives recommendations and design approaches for management, works councils and policymakers.
This publication (in German) is being produced as part of the research project Generative AI in the World of Work and will be published during September 2026.
Reflection guide for fair platform business models
Online platforms are central to Europe's digital economy — which makes fair business practices that take equal account of users, employees and other companies all the more important. This guide shows where this is already succeeding in practice and helps those responsible for platforms reflect on their own business model.
It was developed as part of the research project Increase corporate political responsibility and accountability of digital platforms (INCA).
Narrative atlas: AI and future of work
In Germany and the USA, different actors shape how artificial intelligence and work are discussed. This atlas maps these central narratives and provides works councils and trade unions, among others, with tools to actively help shape the discourse.
It is being developed as part of the research project Narratives and Power in the Debate on AI and Work, running until 2027.
Playbook for steward ownership
This handbook gives entrepreneurs and founders answers to key structural, legal and economic questions on steward ownership. This model decouples ownership from capital: voting rights rest with those who carry responsibility, and profits remain committed to the company's purpose.
It is being developed until 2028 as part of the research project The Future of Ownership.
Digital Society Blog
Here, our institute's researchers write about the key questions facing digital society. Read articles on topics such as AI, democracy, work, knowledge, platform regulation and sustainability.