Strategic foresight for the VDE (German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies VDE)

The German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies VDE starts a process of early strategic foresight. In this way, it is identifying opportunities for new success potential and preparing for risks in good time. As part of innovation management, the new process looks at a period more than five years in the future. The process is managed by the Institute for Innovation and Technology (iit), coordinated and supported by VDE New Technologies and Services. The iit aggregates and evaluates existing future scenarios in key application fields such as industry, energy, mobility, health and safety. On this basis, key functions (examples: exact positioning, local energy supply) are identified and their expected development over time is described on the basis of the respective technologies and expertise required for realization. Short studies will be conducted for selected key functions. A short study will examine the relevance of the topic for Germany/Europe as a business location, the drivers and obstacles as well as possible repercussions on current developments. Opportunities and options for action for the VDE are formulated in recommendations. The short studies identify the "stars of tomorrow" from industry and research and provide expert profiles. The iit and VDE New Technologies and Services jointly conduct the short studies in overarching project teams. The iit has identified, categorized, evaluated and condensed more than 150 sources and prepared two short studies on selected key functions.