Research at ZEW

ZEW conducts evidence-based economic policy research on a range of high-visibility topics, including the digital transformation, European integration, and the energy transition.

These are tackled by ZEW’s research units.

Current Publications

Refereed Journal // forthcoming

The Heat is on: Climate change-related challenges and SMEs’ R&D activities
Refereed Journal // forthcoming

Adoption of circular economy innovations: the role of artificial intelligence
Non-Refereed Journal // forthcoming

Accessibility, Design and Effectiveness of Business Support for Small Firms and Entrepreneurs: A Research Agenda

Current projects

Laufende Projekte

  1. Project // 01.08.2026 – 30.11.2028

    Evaluating Climate Policy Spillovers in the Transport Sector using Structural Econometric and Equilibrium Models

    The transportation sector is responsible for 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Policy makers have therefore implemented various transport-related climate policies that are often limited to specific markets…

    01.08.2026 – 30.11.2028
    Environmental and Climate Economics
  2. Project // 01.06.2026 – 31.05.2028

    Search Frictions and Market Power

    The project aims to improve our understanding how consumer search frictions result in firms' market power.

    01.06.2026 – 31.05.2028
    Market Design
  3. Project // 01.06. – 31.12.2026

    Agentic AI in firms: An experimental study

    The current rapid developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) present firms with the challenge of swiftly weighing up the potential efficiency gains offered by new technologies against their often…

    01.06. – 31.12.2026
    Digital Economy
  4. Project // 01.04. – 31.10.2026

    Scaling Sovereign Digital Innovations – Is There a Structural Gap in Innovation Policy in Germany and the EU?

    Many digital markets depend heavily on a few non-European, market-dominant platforms. In contrast, powerful, interoperable, and European alternatives often remain niche and struggle to overcome scaling barriers.…

    01.04. – 31.10.2026
    Digital Economy
  5. Project // 01.04.2026 – 31.03.2030

    ZEW Webpanel

    In this research project, we are developing and testing the use of website information to measure innovation and technological developments. To this end, we analyze the websites of all companies and other…

    01.04.2026 – 31.03.2030
    Economics of Innovation and Industrial...
  6. Project // 01.04.2026 – 31.03.2029

    Changing the Geography of Emissions and Production through Industrial Policy in Europe

    Recent years have been characterized by overlapping policy challenges: the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and resulting energy crisis and increasing geopolitical tension, as well as the escalating climate crisis.…

    01.04.2026 – 31.03.2029
    Environmental and Climate Economics