Ideas connect. Policy moves. Responsibility leads.

Our Initiatives

We are home to a network of labs, each focused on a unique area of inquiry.

As a university-wide platform, the TUM Think Tank is uniquely positioned to draw upon the diverse perspectives, disciplines, and students of Europe’s leading university. Our initiatives are built on the belief that tackling complex issues requires an interdisciplinary approach and a willingness to rethink directions of learning.

Labs

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

Engaging today with the ethical, legal, societal and political implications of tomorrow’s quantum technologies.

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

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.

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.

The Government Innovation & Technology Lab is Munich’s catalyst for public sector innovation, bridging government, academia, and industry to build future-ready institutions.

The Transformation Finance Lab mobilizes capital, ideas, and alliances to finance a just and sustainable future.

The Civic Machines Lab explores the full lifecycle of artificial intelligence, from the semiconductors powering computation to the algorithms shaping human experience.
Situated within the TUM Think Tank, the lab views AI as a socio-technical system rather than a purely technical challenge.
By integrating perspectives from computer science, social sciences, and public policy, the Civic Machines Lab aims to shape technologies that are democratic, sustainable, and globally inclusive.

The Ethical Data Initiative is a non-partisan platform fostering open discussions on data ethics. The initiative focuses on equity and engagement across different domains of data work for public interest.

Projects

QuantWorld

What happens when quantum meet your 9 to 5?

Project

AI4POL

AI4POL is a Horizon Europe project designed to equip European regulators and policy makers with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively govern and regulate AI technologies.

Project

Young Quantum Social Scientists

Using challenge-based learning and design sprints, research clinics and other formats, the Young Quantum Social Scientists at the Quantum Social Lab offer the opportunity to tackle important governance challenges of Quantum applications. Each cohort consists of up to 20 students who can put their theoretical knowledge to use by addressing real-world problems. The Young Quantum Social Scientists is an initiative open to students of all study programs within Munich.

Project

Fellowships

Integrating experienced practitioners into the work of the TUM Think Tank

Fellowship

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

Public Policy Impact Program

With the Public Policy Impact Program, we support student initiatives with a political mission in achieving their goals - by providing funding, facilitation and networking opportunities.

Fellowship

Former Initiatives

From incubation to innovation

We foster innovation and growth by incubating a wide range of labs and projects. These initiatives are designed to evolve over time, push boundaries and eventually transition into independent ventures beyond the TUM Think Tank. Below, we introduce our former initiatives that have made a lasting impact, each having contributed to the advancement of knowledge, technology, and society.

Generative AI Taskforce

Educating decision-makers and offering an open discussion forum on the risks and benefits of generative AI.

Mobilität.Leben

Shaping the transformation of mobility for Munich’s metropolitan area and beyond by producing innovative insights about everyday mobility of the people.

Reboot Social Media Lab

The Reboot Social Media Lab reimagines social media by exploring and developing ways that can transform and redesign its functioning for users. The collaborative initiative unites stakeholders from academia, media, civil society, and the public and private sectors under one common goal: making social media platforms a better place for everyone.