Thomas Schildhauer

Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schildhauer is Research and Founding Director of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) and Professor of Electronic Business at Berlin University of the Arts (UdK). He heads the Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Society research group and founded the Digital Urban Center for Aging & Health (DUCAH). As Principal Investigator at the Weizenbaum Institute (German Internet Institute), he oversees BMBF-funded projects on digital society transformations.

Education includes PhDs in Software Marketing, Information Management, and Public Health from Technische Universität Berlin. His transdisciplinary background spans computer science, business, and health systems.

Research focuses on three interconnected domains: Internet-enabled innovation (corporate accelerators, platform economies), Digital education (workforce reskilling, MOOC development), and Digital health (aging-in-place technologies, urban health ecosystems). He pioneers applied research in entrepreneurial organizations and social impact ventures.

Publications emphasize digital business model innovation, startup ecosystems, and technology-supported aging. Recent works demonstrate strong focus on B2B platforms, health tech accessibility, and ethical AI governance. Cross-cutting themes include corporate-startup collaboration, data privacy frameworks, and societal impacts of digitalization.

Honors include being a Finalist for Science and Innovation Management Breakthrough of the Year at Falling Walls Summit 2021. Leads industry-academic initiatives like the Task Force European Platform Economy.

Directs Berlin Career College's professional education programs and founded Institute of Electronic Business (IEB), executing over 100 industry transfer projects in digital transformation. Facilitates international research networks including DUCAH's transatlantic health tech partnerships.

Leads experimental spaces like DUCAH's co-creation labs developing IoT solutions for elderly care. Serves on advisory boards for companies and policy initiatives including Berlin's supervisory board for economic technology.