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