About TransforM

Some members of the cluster at a proposal preparation meeting

TransforM – the Munich Center for Transformative Technologies and Societal Change is an Excellence Cluster funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). TransforM tackles the dual challenge of advancing fundamental social science for technologised societies and rethinking technology development through a social science lens head on. As an interdisciplinary social science cluster with a principal focus on technology, our goal is to augment current theories and methods to comprehensively understand and help shape transformative technology to better serve diverse societal needs. Better knowledge about why, when, and how technologies become socially transformative will enhance our ability to assess and inform transformation pathways ‘all the way through’ – from the early stages of their emergence to their wider socio-economic impact.

7 years      |     10+ partner institutions     |     30 principal investigators & co-principal investigators     |     10+ disciplines

Focus Areas

click to learn more!

click to learn more!

click to learn more!

click to learn more!

click to learn more!

TransforM Nexus

click to learn more!

click to learn more!

click to learn more!

click to learn more!
© Karolina Knittel
© Karolina Knittel
© Karolina Knittel
© Karolina Knittel
© Viktoriya Zayika
© Viktoriya Zayika
© Karolina Knittel
© Karolina Knittel
© Karolina Knittel
© Karolina Knittel
© Rahel Roloff
© Rahel Roloff

Governance Structure

TransforM Ecosystem

Munich offers a uniquely advantageous environment for TransforM. Anchored by two of Germany’s leading research universities—TUM and LMU (both core partners in TransforM)—the cluster brings together an unrivaled critical mass and diversity of social science expertise focused specifically on technology. This university excellence is complemented by an exceptional concentration of non-university research institutions, including Max Planck, Fraunhofer, Leibniz, and Helmholtz institutes, many of which engage directly with technological development and are actively involved in the cluster.
TransforM leverages this distinctive social science footprint within one of Europe’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems, where cutting-edge academic research is deeply integrated with a globally competitive high-tech industry. The Munich region hosts the headquarters and major R&D hubs of global players such as BMW, Siemens, Airbus, Infineon, Google, SAP, OpenAI, and Allianz. Many of these companies maintain strong institutional partnerships with TUM, exemplified by the “Industry-on-Campus” strategy in Garching.
The environment further benefits from Europe’s largest entrepreneurship center and incubator, UnternehmerTUM, alongside the TUM Venture Labs and key regional and national initiatives such as the BMBF Future Cluster MCube, Munich Quantum Valley, and the Hightech Agenda Bayern. This ecosystem provides TransforM with direct access to real-world innovation processes—particularly in fields such as AI, quantum computing, medicine and health, mobility, and autonomous systems.
Disclaimer
Imprint
Privacy policy

FA2 studies transformative technology pathways and their impacts on resilience at individual, organizational, and societal levels. It examines how societies, policymakers, and markets can anticipate, adopt, and adapt to TTs, including managing potential disruptions. Key focuses include impact assessment, organizational and network design, and algorithmic transparency.

FA3 examines how transformative technologies can both advance justice and equity while also deepening inequalities. It analyzes their impact on disparities linked to gender, race, class, disability, and other factors, exploring how inclusive innovation can address these challenges. The focus includes participatory design and equitable development processes to ensure fairer technological outcomes.

FA1 examines how transformative technology create new economic and socio-political spaces, focusing on organizational structures, policies, and their impact on entrepreneurship and user communities. It explores value-based design, ethics, and issues like algorithmic bias. Key topics include opportunity recognition, organizational and policy design, and their role in social change.

FA5 examines how governance shapes trust in transformative technologies, and how trustworthy technologies enable new governance approaches. It explores the interplay between institutional frameworks and public confidence in emerging tech. This includes analyzing how transparency, accountability, and participatory design can strengthen both trust and effective oversight

FA4 explores how transformative technologies raise new questions about accountability in their development and use, and how these concerns affect the legitimacy of innovators, processes, and governance. It analyzes the political and ethical implications of tech-driven disruptions—such as power concentration in Big Tech—and who gets to authorize large-scale societal changes. The focus includes responsible innovation, corporate accountability, and mechanisms for democratic oversight.

The Startup & Industrial Exchange Hub (SIX) connects TransforM with Munich’s innovation ecosystem. It serves as a two-way channel: gathering real-world tech challenges from companies (like Allianz, BMW, and Siemens) to inform research, while delivering academic insights to help address social, ethical and economic impacts of transformative technologies. SIX leverages partnerships with key initiatives including UnternehmerTUM, TUM Venture Labs, and Bayern Innovativ.“

The Public Technology Lab (PT-L) is a research and engagement platform connecting citizens, policymakers, and researchers. It operates through a decentralized network of collaborative spaces, including exhibits at the Deutsches Museum, TUM living labs for real-world tech testing, and the TUM Think Tank for policy dialogue. PT-L develops and tests participatory innovation methods while serving as TransforM’s hub for public events, workshops, and science communication. It also aligns with TUM’s broader public engagement strategy.

The Real-Time Response Team (RT2) rapidly analyzes emerging tech breakthroughs and their societal impacts. When transformative technologies like ChatGPT suddenly emerge, RT2 mobilizes TransforM’s expertise to quickly produce evidence-based insights (within weeks) for policymakers and stakeholders. It connects research findings to public engagement strategies.

The TT Observatory (TTOY) identifies and tracks transformative technologies through global collaboration with organizations like DARPA, ARIA, and SPRIND. It develops new monitoring methods while exchanging insights with SCOPE Fellows on emerging tech trends.