Successful evaluation: Leibniz Senate certifies very good and excellent performance

Karlsruhe, Germany, July 2018  —  “Since the last evaluation, the Institute's information offerings and products have been further developed strategically in a convincing manner on the basis of its own work in applied research.” This is a key phrase in the statement of the Leibniz Senate, adopted on 11 July 2018, on the evaluation of FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information Infrastructure. With regard to the future, the Senate emphasizes: “The strategic plans are innovative and should be pursued further”. FIZ Karlsruhe has thus set the course “for further positive development in the extremely dynamic environment of the international information market”.

“We are very pleased with the positive assessment and recognition that have been given to our work to date as well as to our strategic reflections and plans. We found the evaluation and recommendations to be very balanced, differentiated and fair. We were very impressed by the way the experts dealt with our characteristics,” says Sabine Brünger-Weilandt, President and CEO of FIZ Karlsruhe.

In November 2017, FIZ Karlsruhe was evaluated by an international evaluation group on behalf of the Federal Government (Bund) and the Länder in accordance with the recognized procedure of the Senate of the Leibniz Association. This was followed by a detailed report with assessments and recommendations, which the Leibniz Senate has now endorsed in all respects. The report contains important information on the services and planning of FIZ Karlsruhe, such as the so-called “platform strategy” for opening the products to external software and customers. In this context, the offer of free services and products is also expressly welcomed as a “paradigm shift”, specifically with regard to the thematic focus of mathematics; the development of a comprehensive Open Access platform is planned here.

A special feature that clearly distinguishes FIZ Karlsruhe from other Leibniz Institutes is its high self-financing ratio. It accounts for over 75% of the total budget and is generated in the international information market under entrepreneurial responsibility. Referring to the developments in this market as well as to the financial implications that go hand in hand with the offer of Open Access products, which is desirable in terms of community and research policy, the Senate emphasizes: “This impressively high share (self-financing, editor's note), however, is not part of the Institute's core mission and ... possibly cannot be maintained in the long term”. It must be clear to all those responsible that free services lead to increased financing requirements in institutional funding. It is now necessary to “shape change processes ... in order to maintain FIZ Karlsruhe's strong position in the coming years and, if possible, to expand it further”.

“We take the high expectations and obligations associated with this very seriously,” says Sabine Brünger-Weilandt. “We thank the Leibniz Senate and the evaluation group for their constructive feedback. In the coming years, FIZ Karlsruhe will continue to pursue its strategic goal of providing significant support for the entire scientific value-chain process in line with the challenges of digital change.”

Further information
Statement of the Senate of the Leibniz Association on FIZ Karlsruhe
Milestones of FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information Infrastructure (PDF).

FIZ Karlsruhe – Leibniz Institute for Information Infrastructure is a not-for-profit limited liability company. As one of the largest non-academic information infrastructure institutions in Germany, we have the public mission to provide researchers and scientists with scientific information and to develop the appropriate products and services. To this end, we edit and index large data volumes from manifold sources, develop and operate innovative information services and e-research solutions, and carry out research projects of our own. FIZ Karlsruhe is a member of the Leibniz Association which comprises more than 90 institutions involved in research activities and/or the development of scientific infrastructure.

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