Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH

The Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB) conducts problem-oriented basic research. It examines developments, problems and opportunities for innovation in modern societies. The research is theory-driven, practice-oriented, often long-term and mostly internationally comparative. The WZB conducts research on these thematic focal points: Education, work and life chances Market and decision-making Society and economic dynamics International politics and law Change in political systems Migration and diversity Around 160 German and foreign researchers from various disciplines work together at the WZB, primarily from the fields of sociology, political science, economics and law. The results of WZB research are aimed at the scientific public as well as experts and interested practitioners in politics, business, the media and society. As a non-university research institute, the WZB is a member of the Leibniz Association. The WZB cooperates closely with the Berlin universities. The WZB's leading researchers usually hold a special professorship at one of the universities. The WZB was founded in 1969 on the initiative of members of the Bundestag from all parliamentary groups. The WZB is a non-profit limited liability company. It is funded by the federal government (75 percent) and the state of Berlin (25 percent).