About Us

The Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security

The Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS) is an independent, non-partisan non-profit institute in Potsdam with the mission of building bridges between theory and practice to improve research in civil security through a multi- and interdisciplinary approach. Research at the institute seeks to analyze security issues from an interdisciplinary perspective and to supply needed insights into these issues, while at the same time strengthening Germany’s broader security architecture over the long term.

By bringing together domestic and international multipliers from politics, the business sector, public administration, the media and academia, BIGS develops innovative strategies and solutions for contemporary civil security challenges and respective research questions. These multidisciplinary efforts are reflected in the research projects, the institute’s s teaching activities for students and young scholars in cooperation with the University of Potsdam or other universities and in its knowledge transfers through publications, conferences, workshops and in particular the BIGS’ PizzaSeminars.

The Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS) deals with economic and social science issues related to civil security. The research focus of the BIGS is on economic issues relatng to security (economy of security). In particular, the aim is to develop policy strategies that can help to overcome the conflict in the triangle of freedom, security and social justice. More information on the individual areas that the BIGS is currently working on can be found under research topics and current projects, in an overview of our completed projects and in the corresponding publications.

In order to not act detached from the realities of business, politics and administration, BIGS involves relevant representatives and institutions in its own events and scientific institutions. This dialogue does not only provides practitioners with access to the newest scientific findings, but conversely also requires the participating scientists to deal with patterns of argumentation from the practice.

The Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS) is a non-profit limited company and was founded in 2009 at the instigation of the Brandenburg State Chancellery, the University of Potsdam and the companies Airbus, IABG and Rolls-Royce. According to the articles of association UP Transfer GmbH holds the majority of the company shares at the University of Potsdam. Further shareholders are the Industrieanlagen Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (7,5%) and W.I.S. Sicherheit + Service GmbH & Co. KG (5%).

Financial and company law matters as well as strategic management are handled by the Supervisory Board, which is formed for this purpose by the shareholders’ meeting.

The administrative board is composed of the following members:

Chairman of the Board: Prof. Dr. Dieter Wagner (University of Potsdam)

Further members: Christian Köhler, Prof. Dr. Harald Fuhr, Jérôme Johl, Dr. Bernhard Rabert, Prof. Dr. Harald Olschok.

BIGS is headed by the Executive Director, Dr. Tim Stuchtey.

The Gender Equality Plan can be found here.

The BIGS often conducts its research in larger national and international networks. Here you will find individual scientific institutions, companies and governmental institutions with which we have currently or in the past worked together.