Steffen Kroschwald

Professor Steffen Kroschwald serves as Professor of European and International Commercial Law at Pforzheim University's School of Business & Law, where he also directs the Institute for Consumer Research and Sustainable Consumption (vunk). He is an active member of the Baden-Württemberg Consumer Commission and serves on the Law Industry Advisory Board at the University of Bradford. His interdisciplinary work bridges legal scholarship with practical applications in digital technology, consumer protection, and data governance.

Professor Kroschwald's research examines the legal requirements and consequences of digital societies, with particular focus on digital self-determination, individual participation in digital ecosystems, and the protection of personal rights. His work emphasizes legally compliant and law-enhancing technology design through the application of Privacy by Design and Default principles. He investigates how legal compliance can be seamlessly integrated into IT user experience and business processes while promoting trust in technology. His research spans data protection law, IT law, European and international commercial law, with special attention to AI systems, connected vehicles, and digital consumer markets.

His recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward practical implementation of legal frameworks in emerging technologies. The 15 most recent articles show increasing focus on context-aware data processing, vulnerability in digital societies, and the intersection of GDPR Article 25 with AI regulation. His work has evolved from foundational cloud computing research to cutting-edge investigations of AI applications in consumer protection and automotive technologies.

• Promotion Prize of the University of Kassel for the best legal dissertation of the year (2015)
• Science Prize of the Society for Data Protection and Security e.V. (2015)

Professor Kroschwald has secured significant research funding through projects like EVIDENTT (2024-2025) on distributed technologies for documenting consumer protection violations and KIVEDU (2023-2025) on AI for consumer rights enforcement. His industry experience at Porsche AG informs his applied research approach, while his academic leadership at the vunk Institute fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between legal scholars, technologists, and consumer protection experts. He serves on multiple advisory boards that influence both academic research directions and practical policy implementation in digital law.

As Director of the Institute for Consumer Research and Sustainable Consumption (vunk), Professor Kroschwald leads a research environment focused on consumer protection in digital markets, sustainable consumption patterns, and the legal frameworks governing emerging technologies. The institute's 'Digitalization and IT' specialist group, which he heads, specifically addresses the intersection of law and technology in consumer contexts. His leadership combines academic rigor with practical policy relevance, positioning the institute as a key player in shaping digital consumer protection frameworks in Germany and beyond.