Organs and bodies
CAIS was founded in November 2016 as an independent research college in the legal form of a non-profit limited liability company. Since April 2021, it has been expanded into an institute for digitization research.
Its sponsors include the Ruhr University Bochum, the University of Duisburg-Essen, the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, the Westphalian Wilhelms University Münster, the Bergische University Wuppertal, the GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences, the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Grimme Institute (Marl).
CAIS is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
CAIS is managed by the Executive Board, which consists of the Scientific Director, Professor Dr. Michael Baurmann, and the Commercial Director, Tim Pfenner.
Responsible for the individual areas and departments of CAIS are:
- the head of the CAIS College, Dr. Esther Laufer,
- the head of science communication, Dr. Matthias Begenat,
- the scientific coordinator, Dr. Josephine B. Schmitt,
- the Head of Research Data & Methods, Dr. Johannes Breuer and Dr. Katrin Weller.
The management is supported by the CAIS team.
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Program Commission
The Program Commission is responsible for the announcement of the program lines and the selection of the applications. Submitted applications are evaluated by the Commission according to the following criteria: Consistency with the CAIS research agenda, scientific excellence and relevance of the project, innovation potential, trans- and interdisciplinary orientation, professional profile and competence of the applicants. If necessary, external reviewers with proven expertise will be consulted.
Taking into account a balance between the program lines and research disciplines on the one hand and the existing capacities on the other, the commission makes the final decision on the applications.
Ralf Benzmüller
G DATA SecurityLabs
Professor Dr. Bernd Blöbaum
Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster
Dr. Isabelle Borucki
NRW School of Governance
Dr. Frauke Gerlach
Grimme-Institute
Professor Dr. Thorsten Holz
Ruhr University Bochum
Prof. Dr. Katharina Kinder-Kurlanda
University Klagenfurt
Professor Dr. Christiane Eilders
Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf
Professor Dr. Jens Schröter
Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn
Dr. Esther Laufer
Center for Advanced Internet Studies
Prof. Dr. Michael Baurmann
Center for Advanced Internet Studies
Dr. Matthias Begenat
Center for Advanced Internet Studies
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board advises CAIS on strategic and programmatic development and provides impetus and recommendations on key topics. The Advisory Board evaluates the Center at regular intervals.
Angela Freimuth
Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen
Dr. Harald Gapski
Grimme-Institute
Prof. Dr. Manfred Hauswirth
Fraunhofer-Institute
Dr. rer. nat. Dirk Hecker
Fraunhofer-Institute
Carla Hustedt
Stiftung Mercator
Prof. Dr. Nicole Krämer
University Duisburg-Essen
Prof. Dr. Martin Mauve
Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. Barbara Pfetsch
Freie University Berlin
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Röttger
Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster
Oliver Suchy
Bundesvorstand des Deutschen Gewerkschaftsbundes
Prof. Dr. Christof Wolf
GESIS
Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board monitors and advises the Executive Board on the management of the Company. This includes, in particular, monitoring legality, expediency and economic efficiency. It adopts the business plan and monitors the implementation of the program lines. In addition, it plays a key role in fundamental strategic decisions and the development of the research agenda.
Dr. Christina Reinhardt
Aufsichtsratsvorsitzende
Kanzlerin der Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Dr. Frauke Gerlach
Direktorin des Grimme-Instituts
Dr. Martin Goch
Kanzler der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. Pedro José Marrón
Prorektor Universität Duisburg-Essen
Thorsten Menne
Gruppenleiter „Forschungsförderung, Forschungspolitik“, stellv. Leiter der Forschungsabteilung im MKW des Landes NRW
Kordula Attermeyer
Referatsleiterin „Digitale Gesellschaft, Medienkompetenz“ in der Staatskanzlei des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
Prof. Dr. Monika Stoll
Prorektorin für Forschung der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster