Shaping Digital Trans­for­mation

The research institute “DI-GEST – Shaping Digitalization,” which is led by Mainz University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, is funded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science for three years with an annual grant of 250,000 euros. “DI-GEST” focuses on digitalization with regard to the opportunities and risks of new digital technologies and explores how companies and public institutions can best shape the digital transformation. “Digital technologies are leading to major disruptive changes in the private sector, in public institutions, and in civil society. Recognizing the opportunities and risks of new digital technologies in a timely manner and making optimal use of them through targeted change processes is an essential challenge for all stakeholders,” said Prof. Dr. Gerhard Muth, President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences. Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller, scientific project director in the Department of Economics at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, explains: “The DI-GEST Research College encompasses both the organization-specific identification and evaluation of potential, as well as its implementation. Key research areas include the development of theories and methods for identifying and testing relevant digital technologies, areas of application and procedures for using artificial intelligence in business decision-making, as well as investigations into the possibilities for changes in customer communication through digital media environments and their influence on consumer behavior.” The new funding program “Rhineland-Palatinate Research Colleges” was established in 2018 by the Ministry of Science. Each research college is supported by at least two professors from one or more universities of applied sciences and research universities. The ministry provides each consortium with an annual grant of up to 250,000 euros and expects the universities to contribute an equal amount. The funding is structured for a period of three years. With “DI-GEST – Shaping Digitalization,” there are currently four research colleges in Rhineland-Palatinate under whose umbrella joint research and doctoral projects are carried out by universities and universities of applied sciences.