Responsible for the common good
Shaping the future requires clear orientation
Research drives the future. The FZI Research Center for Information Technology, as a non-profit foundation under civil law, stands for applied research and technology transfer. Since our foundation in 1985, we have conducted research across various fields of computer science. Through innovative research at the highest level and an open mind towards technical novelties, we would like to continue inspiring with new ideas and solutions in the future.
In doing so, we want to shape the future responsibly. At the FZI, we are happy to contribute to the common good. We do it out of conviction and with a view to the generations that will follow.
Anyone who shapes the future needs a clear orientation. In our daily collaboration – with each other and our partners – we are guided by clear values and convictions outlined in our Guiding Principles.
Equal opportunities and gender equality are firmly anchored in our Guiding Principles. We also demonstrate this with our Gender Equality Plan.
Our Code of Ethics
We explore the potential of digital technologies and develop innovative applications for business and society at the highest international level. In doing so, we attach great importance to high ethical standards, good scientific practice and anticipating the possible consequences of our research. We are committed to acting sustainably in ecological, social and economic terms. With each of our innovations, we strive to add value to society.
As enthusiastic problem solvers, we shape the digital world of tomorrow and build bridges between science, business, politics, administration, and citizens. The highest scientific standards combined with interdisciplinarity and diversity are the basis for our innovative capacity and performance. Thanks to the latest methods and technologies, state-of-the-art laboratories and test fields, and our network of innovative partners, we can test creative ideas in practice. This research and working environment offers colleagues ideal conditions for a professional future in specialist and management positions as well as in their own companies.
As a non-profit foundation under civil law, we are committed to the common good. We maintain our legal, economic, and moral independence. We rely on the initiative and integrity of all our colleagues. We accept our responsibility: We play an active role in shaping debates about the opportunities and risks of technological innovations and back up our words with action.
We communicate with each other and with our partners on an equal footing. In doing so, we rely on openness and readily accept constructive criticism. For us, transparency means that decisions are understandable. Cooperation at the FZI is characterized by trust, commitment, and willingness to help and is geared towards clearly defined goals. Team spirit is actively lived at our company: We can rely on and stand up for each other.
We show the same respect and appreciation to our colleagues, partners, and clients, and are guided by the principles of equal opportunity and fairness. Our enthusiasm unites us for digital technologies of the future. For individual professional and personal development, we rely on a flexible and family-friendly working environment.
Our Code of Conduct
Compliance refers to adherence to laws, guidelines, and standards that apply to the FZI. It encompasses measures such as voluntary internal regulations and processes binding for all FZI employees, regardless of position or role. This promotes lawful conduct, reinforces awareness of what is right, and prevents situations that could call the institution’s reputation into question and lead to negative consequences.
One of our compliance measures is this Code of Conduct, which serves as the foundation for lawful conduct at the FZI and in our dealings with partners. It is intended to help employees, managers, Scientific Directors, and Executive Directors alike adhere to our principles in their day-to-day work.
In addition, other, more specific guidelines—such as the Data Protection Policy—complement the topics already addressed in this Code of Conduct.
The FZI is a knowledge transfer institution and thus a link between business, public institutions, universities, and other research institutions. As a non-profit foundation under civil law, we are committed to the common good and our independence. To maintain this independence, we generally do not enter into collaborations that involve more than one-eighth of our total annual budget or entail a similar risk of economic dependence.
For over 40 years, the FZI has been conducting research in the field of computer science and its application fields. In addition to transferring research findings to industry, government, and society, the FZI’s core mission is to educate and train future specialists and leaders for the digital transformation through cutting-edge applied research.
To ensure the high standard of research in the long term and to transform and publish practical solutions, we strictly adhere to the Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice of the German Research Foundation (DFG). In this way, we safeguard our scientific integrity and fulfill our responsibilities in research.
Our scientific ombudspersons base their actions in research on the principles of the DFG Code and are available as contact persons for internal and external inquiries regarding research and science at the FZI; they respond consistently and appropriately to cases of scientific misconduct. In doing so, they also ensure good scientific practice.
With this Code of Conduct, we express a high compliance standard for ourselves. We insist on the same basic attitude from our partners regarding the provisions set out in this policy. We encourage our partners to take these into account in their own corporate policies.
The following principles apply as minimum standards to protect the integrity of the FZI, our partners, and all employees. You find more in-depth content on this in our Guiding Principles brochure.
- Respect human rights
- Cultivate diversity and variety
- Make factual decisions without bias
- Prevent corruption and money laundering
- Advocate fair competition
- Ensure careful handling of third-party funds
- Guarantee safety
- Conserve resources
- Protect personal data
- Maintain confidentiality and protect intellectual property
- Using AI systems safely
Even minor violations of internal policies or statutory and legal provisions can have serious consequences. Potential consequences include damage to the reputation and liability risks for the FZI, the Executive Director, and employees. Violations will therefore be consistently investigated and appropriately sanctioned.
Depending on the severity of the violation, disciplinary measures may be taken, up to and including termination of employment, as well as liability for damages and even criminal consequences.
All employees represent the FZI through their behavior and actions. Even when acting with due care, we may encounter situations in our daily work where it is not possible to make a decision with absolute certainty. Through our whistleblower procedure
, we aim to foster and ensure open communication regarding compliance issues as well. The first points of contact
here are not only our managers but also the members of the Compliance Team, including the Compliance Officers.
In addition, we offer both internal and external parties the opportunity to report potential violations, even anonymously, through a secure and confidential channel. An experienced external ombudsperson is available for this purpose.
Contact information for the compliance officers and other points of contact can be found on our internal FZI portal or on our website.
Our Leadership Principles
We are convinced that the FZI achieves its best results when we inspire ourselves and others with our work. As leaders, we assume a central role. In line with our foundation’s mission, we ensure that good ideas are implemented to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves and benefit society. Within this framework, we provide all employees with creative freedom to develop their innovative potential from the roots of scientific and professional excellence.
We are convinced that the FZI achieves its best results when we inspire ourselves and others with our work. As leaders, we assume a central role. In line with our foundation’s mission, we ensure that good ideas are implemented to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves and benefit society. Within this framework, we provide all employees with creative freedom to develop their innovative potential from the roots of scientific and professional excellence.
Our cooperation requires honesty towards others and ourselves, but also tolerance and understanding for other points of view. We create an environment from which we work for a fair and transparent distribution of tasks.
We are open to different perspectives and include them in finding solutions. We see the diversity of our employees as an enrichment and are therefore very committed to interdisciplinarity. We face conflicts constructively and use them as an opportunity to improve cooperation. We attach particular importance to confidentiality and the protection of privacy. We are committed to a healthy, family-friendly and safe working atmosphere.
We owe the success of the FZI to the knowledge, experience, and commitment of all our employees. We offer scope for creativity and participation so that our colleagues can further develop their skills and potential. In particular, we actively encourage all employees to be proactive and to contribute their knowledge and experience. We also invest in individual, personal, and team-oriented training and further qualification.
Through personal feedback, we encourage rather than just demand performance. We motivate through recognition and constructive criticism.
We maintain appreciative, transparent, and open communication and lead by example. We actively engage in respectful dialogue with our employees and among ourselves. We exchange information on relevant developments within the legal framework. We clearly delegate responsibilities and set well-defined targets, enabling employees to deliver results-oriented solutions. If we identify challenges, we address them promptly and in a supportive way.
Leading means setting an example. Mutual trust promotes the courage to take responsibility, to make decisions within one’s authority in the spirit of the FZI and to be consistent in one’s actions. The Code of Conduct provides dependable support in this regard. We make reliable statements and keep our word. We stand loyally behind the actions of our employees and view mistakes as an opportunity to expand our experience.
Quality and Information Security Management
Quality and Information Security Management
In our work, we attach great importance to the highest quality standards. We respond to the requirements and expectations of our partners and to the constantly changing conditions in a forward-looking, solution-oriented manner. As a result, the FZI Research Center for Information Technology has established an effective quality management system in accordance with the requirements of the current ISO 9001 standard.
The quality management system is certified according to ISO 9001 and is regularly audited by an external, independent body.
Our most valuable currency at the FZI is the knowledge gained through research and its exchange. The loss of this knowledge through data leaks, industrial espionage, or cyberattacks therefore poses a considerable risk to us and our partners. We are facing this challenge and are continuously working to optimize our workflows in the field of secure communication and knowledge transfer. For this reason, we have implemented an information security management system (ISMS), which has been certified according to ISO 27001 since June 2023. With this certification, we ensure compliance with the requirements of these international standards.
Good Research Practice
Good Research Practice
Through participation in publicly funded projects, the guidelines for safeguarding good scientific practice of the German Research Foundation (DFG) are binding for the FZI and thus for all employees. Two ombudspersons have been appointed to ensure good scientific practice. They provide advice and support on questions of good scientific practice and investigate suspected cases of scientific misconduct. In this way, they ensure compliance with the guidelines.
The ombudspersons are appointed as persons of trust and are independent of instructions, meaning that they act independently and autonomously.
Dr. Dirk Achenbach
Division Manager
Cybersecurity and Law
- +49 721 9654-676
- achenbach@fzi.de
- Headquarters Karlsruhe
Dr.-Ing. Fabian Rigoll
Division Manager
Information Process Engineering
- +49 721 9654-552
- rigoll@fzi.de
- Headquarters Karlsruhe
Dr. Dirk Achenbach
Division Manager
Cybersecurity and Law
- +49 721 9654-676
- achenbach@fzi.de
- Headquarters Karlsruhe
Dr.-Ing. Fabian Rigoll
Division Manager
Information Process Engineering
- +49 721 9654-552
- rigoll@fzi.de
- Headquarters Karlsruhe
At the FZI, very different people conduct research – whether in terms of gender, origin or educational background. For us, equal opportunity does not require alignment. Rather, we see the opportunity that diversity and variety dissolve boundaries. We stick together, value each other and thereby achieve scientific breakthroughs.
