Expertise

Innovation & Digitalisation

Making smart use of the opportunities of progress.

Whether state or company: Anyone who wants to keep up with global competition needs a long-term innovation strategy – and the capacity to implement it. Digital transformation and new technologies hold enormous potential. At the same time, there is a risk of leaving certain parts of society, companies or regions behind.

It is, therefore, all the more important that policymakers already have the right priorities today. How, for example, can research and funding contribute to overcoming societal challenges – regionally and nationally? What other future technologies, for example from biotechnology or quantum technology, can we expect and how do we determine their long-term benefits? Where is further bureaucracy reduction in the administration required?

We analyse the trend-setting future topics and develop strategies in the areas of research and innovation policy, future technologies and digital transformation as well as the digital state. Apart from that, we accompany artists and the creative industries as drivers of change.

Research & Innovation


The prosperity of our society is determined by our capacity for innovation. Research and innovation policy creates the optimal framework.

Future Technologies & Digitalisation


Whether disruptive or gradual: the digital transformation of the economy and society calls for the timely identification of risks and the seizing of opportunities.

Culture & Creative Industries


Economic factor and driver of innovation - culture and creative industries create solutions to meet social and economic challenges.

Our work on this topic

Take a look at our latest projects and activities.

Innovation Index Germany 2023

2024
| Project

Once again, Prognos has compiled the Innovation Index Germany on behalf of the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications. The index quantifies the impact the expansion of Germany’s digital infrastructure has had on its innovation strength.

EU Clusters Talk

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer, Prognos Head of EU Services, on behalf of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform speaks about cluster policies in the EU at the EU Clusters Talk.

German Creative Economy Summit

-
| Event

Bianca Creutz will contribute her expertise on the economic potential and future prospects of the cultural and creative industries as a speaker at the German Creative Economy Summit.

Dossier: Cultural and creative industries in the metaverse

2024
| Project update

The feature dossier addresses which opportunities and challenges the metaverse might hold for the sub-markets of the cultural and creative industries.

Innovations in domestic care

ongoing
| Project

A skilled worker shortage and increased numbers of people requiring care: domestic care is facing major challenges. Prognos is evaluates the implementation of the Buurtzorg approach, an innovative community care model, for the Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion.

Dossier: The role of clusters in regional transformation processes

2023
| Project update

The dossier, which was created as part of the NRW.innovativ competence centre, highlights the role that cluster organisations play in the digital and green transformation in NRW.

The potential of smart specialisation strategies

2023
| Project

In collaboration with Prof. Dominique Foray, Prognos compiled a policy brief identifying the potential of smart specialisation strategies for driving forward structural transformation.

Evaluation of the Eurostars-2 funding programme

ongoing
| Project

Eurostars supports cross-border research cooperation of SMEs in Europe. On behalf of the BMBF, Prognos analyses the effectiveness of the Eurostars-2 programme at national level.

Purpose Economy model

2023
| Project

Could purpose become the model for business and society? We investigated this as part of our work for the Future Office and compared it with other scenarios.

Evaluation of Eurostars-2, the European SME support programme

2023
| Project

On behalf of the EU Commission, Prognos and its partners examined the Eurostars-2 SME fund-ing programme as part of the evaluation study of the European Framework Programmes Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.

Conference: Clusters meet Regions in Košice

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer presents an input paper at an EU Clusters meet Regions conference in Košice on March 29.

Webinar: Monitoring the Transition to Circular Economy

| Event

Jannis Lambert and Tim Bichlmeier talk about monitoring concepts for the Circular Economy and present a self-assessment tool.

Follow-up study on smart specialisation strategies in the EU

2023
| Project

We evaluated the 185 smart specialisation strategies of the EU regions together with CSIL: A quantitative study for the EU Commission.

Bureaucracy costs in a European comparison

2023
| Project

In which country is the implementation of EU law the most streamlined? Our study compares the bureaucratic burden on companies and develops initial proposals.

Evaluation of EU funding programme for the development of digital solutions for older people

2022
| Project

Digital solutions can make life easier for older people. The EU's Active and Assisted Living Programme (AAL2) has actively contributed to the development of novel solutions.

Innovation strategy for the Hamburg Metropolitan Region

2022
| Project

Innovation is more and more frequently emerging across regions and industries. Together with IMP³ROVE, we developed a strategy for the Hamburg Metropolitan Region (MRH) including out-standing innovation projects.

Clusters meet regions workshop in Barcelona

| Event

The fifth Clusters meet Regions workshop will focus on sustainable competitiveness and the role of clusters in this.

Cluster meets Regions-Workshop in Croatia

| Event

The "Cluster meets Regions" workshop discusses digital transformation and interregional cooperation in Croatia.

Innovation Index Germany 2022

2022
| Project

How does the expansion of the digital infrastructure affect regional innovation strength? The IID.2022 provides clarification.

International Conference: Smart Specialisation

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer takes part in a panel discussion on Intelligent Specialisation Strategies.

European Cluster Conference 2022

| Event

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer and Lennart Galdiga inform in Prague about the competence centre "NRW.innovativ" and represent the European Cluster Collaboration Platform.

Blockchain in the creative industry

2022
| Project

Technology enables new business models for creative professionals. And offers solutions for key industry challenges.

Findings from the cluster dialogues: The NRW cluster panorama

2022
| Project update

The NRW Cluster Panorama defines five subject areas in which the greatest potential for the innovation ecosystem in NRW lies.

Triple Helix Conference

| Event

Dr. Jan-Philipp Kramer presents the study "Prioritisation in Smart Specialisation Strategies in the EU" at the 20th Triple Helix Conference.

Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centre (ITZ) is feasible

2022
| Project update

The Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centre (ITZ) is feasible. Four locations form a network across Germany.

Evaluation of the EU Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes

ongoing
| Project

Through the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, the EU Commission promotes research and innovation in Europe. Prognos evaluates parts of the funding programs.

Cluster meets Regions workshop: Baltic region clusters

| Event

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform is organising the second "Cluster meets Regions" workshop with a focus on Lithuania and the Baltic Sea Region.

Cluster as motor for regional development in Andalusia

2022
| Project

Clusters can support the implementation of the regional economic strategy. This is shown by an input paper from the European Cluster Collaboration Platform, taking Andalusia as an example.

Accompanying the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative

ongoing
| Project

The CCRI focuses on the implementation of a circular economy in European cities and regions. Prognos is supporting the initiative as a project partner in the associated Coordination and Support Office.

Further development of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform

ongoing
| Project

The aim of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) is to strengthen the European economy through cooperation. Together with our partners, we are developing the ECCP into a single point of contact for cluster organisations in Europe.

Monitoring Schleswig-Holstein’s regional innovation strategy

ongoing
| Project

On behalf of the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Economics, we are supporting the continuation of the innovation strategy RIS3.SH in the 2021 – 2027 funding period with strategic monitoring.

Saarland StrategyPlus 2021-2023

2022
| Project

On behalf of the Saarland State Chancellery, we have assisted with the update of the Saarland innovation strategy and have prepared the strategy paper, “StrategyPlus 2021–2023".

Artificial intelligence potential for SMEs in Rhineland-Palatinate

2022
| Project

The challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence for companies in Rhineland-Palatinate. A study commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Rhineland-Palatinate Transformation Agency

ongoing
| Project

The Transformation Agency serves as a signpost for the changing world of work. Prognos puts this into action on behalf of the Ministry for Labour, Social Affairs, Transformation and Digitisation.

Big Data for spatial analysis in the EU

2021
| Project

The EU would like to use data from private online platforms to develop territorial indicators. We are developing a framework for cooperation and use.

European Regional Development Fund: Evaluation of RTD-Investments

2021
| Project

Evaluation of investments in Research & Technological Development infrastructures and activities supported by the ERDF from 2007 to 2013.

Results of the Big Data analysis for the development of territorial indicators

2021
| News

Together with DevStat, we analyzed for ESPON which digital platforms are suitable for deriving territorial indicators based on Big Data and how these can be used.

Cluster Initiatives Follow-up

2021
| Project

For the European Commission, we evaluated the impact of the EU cluster initiatives

The NRW.innovativ competence centre

ongoing
| Project

The industrial transformation of North Rhine-Westphalia will require innovative measures. The Ministry of Economic Affairs commissioned Prognos and partners to set up an innovation competence centre.

Evaluation of the “Photonics Research Germany” programme

2021
| Project

Photonics is considered a key technology. The programme promotes research in this area and facilitates stakeholder networking. We evaluated the programme on behalf of the BMBF.

Digital hubs promote start-ups in North Rhine-Westphalia

2021
| Project

The hubs are designed to contribute to the development of a digital start-up ecosystem in North Rhine-Westphalia. They have achieved this, as our evaluation for the region's Ministry of Economic Affairs shows.

Digital model regions in North Rhine-Westphalia

2022
| Project

The state government of NRW has selected five model regions where digitalisation is to be promoted. Prognos and partners will provide scientific support for the programmes.

Smart specialisation

2021
| Project

On behalf of the European Commission, Prognos and partners analysed all the smart specialisation strategies across the EU. The aim was to determine whether the priorities are set wisely.

City life of the future

ongoing
| Project

Prognos is part of the consortium of the BMI programme Model Projects Smart Cities (MPSC).

Digital State trend report 2021: Removing hurdles

2021
| Project

Removing hurdles – innovative, pragmatic, hands-on. The report presents innovative solutions for digital management.

Digital State trend report

ongoing
| Project

Since 2016, Prognos’ management consulting team has been helping compile the Digital State trend report in cooperation with Behörden Spiegel. Each year the report is devoted to another forward-looking trend topic for public administration.

How effective are EU support programs for innovation in SMEs?

2021
| Project

The EU offers a wide range of innovation support for SMEs. Together with partners, Prognos investigated the extent to which the EU funding programs achieve their goals.

Evaluation of the cluster initiatives

2021
| Project

For the EU Commission, we evaluate the EU cluster programmes together with CSES and IDEA Consulting Group.

Evaluation of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

ongoing
| Project

On behalf of the EU Commission, Prognos is working with partners to examine the impact of the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.

Study on smart specialisation in Germany

2020
| Project

Prognos determined the current implementation status of the Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) in Germany for the EU Commission.

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We provide high quality work. Using sound methods, we analyse economic and political developments. For projects and processes, we provide solution-oriented and empathetic support. We have over 60 years of experience in a wide range of disciplines and provide consultancy with vision and expertise.

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