Updating our social, political, and technological operating systems

About the TUM Think Tank

A home for ideas.
A driver for change. 

The TUM Think Tank is a university-based research to action platform that brings science, technology, and society into dialogue. We connect researchers, decision-makers, and change agents to turn knowledge into action, advancing a responsible digital future through cross-sector collaboration, critical insight, and public engagement.

Latest

Recap

The kids are alright?!

Youth & Media Lab Discusses Children’s Digital Wellbeing in Brussels

18. Dec 2025
Noteworthy

Five “Change! Fellows” at TUM SOT: Research Shaping Societal Transformation

Transsectoral research for societal change – funded by the VolkswagenStiftung

16. Dec 2025
Noteworthy

Ausschreibung: Friedrich Schiedel Fellowship

3. Kohorte der Friedrich-Schiedel-Fellowships für Technologie in der Gesellschaft

11. Dec 2025
Noteworthy

European network for digital sovereignty

Europe’s digital future needs cooperation, courage and coordination. We’re proud to be one of the inaugural members of the newly launched European Network for Technological Resilience and Sovereignty.

18. Nov 2025
Talk

Europe at a Crossroads: Thriving in Disruption

In their new book, a bold vision for renewing Europe's promise of peace and prosperity is offered by Francesca and Gerald Knaus. Drawing lessons from history and today's democratic heroes, they demonstrate how ideas can inspire politics that garner majority support for a Europe without wars. This masterclass will explore how Europe can respond to disruption with confidence and creativity.

TUM Think Tank
20. Oct 2025
Research Journal

Thoughts and questions on agents, agency and institutions

A Research Journal by Nicklas Lundblad

22. Sep 2025

Ethical Data Initiative Virtual Townhall

Join the Ethical Data Initiative’s first virtual Town Hall Workshop on the 28th of November, 14:30 - 17:30 CET. This new biannual format builds on the momentum of past events, creating a flexible and accessible forum for global stakeholders to come together to shape the future of ethical data.

Online
28. Nov 2025
Opinion

Thriving in Disruption: Lessons from the European Resilience Summit

Why Resilience, Not Sovereignty

26. Sep 2025

Initiatives at the TUM Think Tank 

Our initiatives

We are home to a network of labs, projects and fellowships, each focused on a unique area of inquiry. Our initiatives are built on the belief that tackling complex issues requires an inter-disciplinary approach and a willingness to explore new directions of learning.

Integrating experienced practitioners into the work of the TUM Think Tank

Fellowship

Frontiers in Digital Child Safety

The Frontiers in Digital Child Safety initiative seeks to contribute to ongoing debates about novel ways to advance child safety through a series of open-source materials, including research briefs, issue spotters, or technical descriptions. It is complementary to existing and emerging child protection efforts. The transatlantic multi-stakeholder initiative at the TUM Think Tank is made possible by financial support from Apple. It invites collaboration among scholars at TUM, Harvard University, and the University of Zurich, and facilitates contributions by a global research community. The initiative will explore a range of innovative technological, educational, and other approaches to prevent and respond to digital child safety issues.

Project

The Content Moderation Lab explores how digital platforms regulate online speech—and how these choices influence user behavior, public attitudes, and democratic engagement.​

Lab

The Urban Digitainability Lab is a transdisciplinary lab focused on empowering municipalities to drive the sustainable and digital transition.

Lab

The Creativity Lab at the TUM Think Tank is a research-driven collaborative space that brings together scholars, young people, artists, and decision-makers to study, experiment with, and translate human creativity.

Lab

Beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries, we seek fellows from diverse backgrounds who are dedicated to address societal challenges by developing approaches to advance the public good.

Fellowship

The Youth and Media Lab is an international hub for participatory research and policy innovation that empowers young people to co-create a safer, fairer, and more inclusive digital world.

Lab

The Immersive Realities Working Group pioneers responsible innovation in XR and social agents, bridging academia, industry, and policy to shape human-centered, equitable digital futures.

Lab

Stay updated

Join us

Events
Workshop

Democracy and Expertise: Experimenting with Knowledge Systems

Democracy-Participation-Expertise: Join this hybrid workshop to work on questions around Democratic Representation, the idea of the public, AI and Democratic Deliberation and more.

TUM Think Tank
27. Jan 2026

Ethical Data Initiative Virtual Townhall

Join the Ethical Data Initiative’s first virtual Town Hall Workshop on the 28th of November, 14:30 - 17:30 CET. This new biannual format builds on the momentum of past events, creating a flexible and accessible forum for global stakeholders to come together to shape the future of ethical data.

Online
28. Nov 2025
Talk

What Firms Actually Lose (and Gain) from Extreme Weather Event Impacts

Climate change isn’t just a distant concern. Rising extreme weather events are creating real and growing financial risks for companies, investors, and economies. Yet assessing these impacts systematically remains a major challenge.

TUM Think Tank
03. Nov 2025

Webinar: “Reform Building Blocks for the GDPR – Exchange & Discussion”

How can the GDPR be developed to remain fit for the future? We have some first answers — and look forward to the discussion!

Online
29. Oct 2025