Center for Societal Progress

The Center for Societal Progress (Zentrum für gesellschaftlichen Fortschritt) aims at improving the conditions for societal progress, wealth and wellbeing of the people in Germany by contributing sound and creative analyses to the public debate. Our work on topics such as growth, education, health and legal frameworks is interdisciplinary and futures-oriented. We use new methods from economics as well as relevant insights from psychology, sociology, biology, philosophy and other disciplines. In addition, methods from futures studies such as complexity analysis are employed.
As an independent think tank, we build bridges between academic research and global public knowledge on the one hand and society, the press and politicians on the other. We develop new ideas, concepts and strategies for relevant issues in politics and society. Our role models in terms of governance, financing and work-style are American think tanks such as the New America Foundation, the Brookings Institution or the Cato Institute.
The Center’s high-profile “Ideas Council”(Ideenrat) highlights the interdisciplinary approach. Members of the Ideas Council share and support the Center’s goals and comment on its work from their perspective. 
Members are:
Sabine Bode, journalist and author of books such as “Die deutsche Krankheit – German Angst.”
Dr. Jan Hofmann, physicist and expert on innovation, strategy and foresight.
PD Dr. med. Matthias Michal, is MD in psychiatry and expert on neuroscience, psycho-cardiology, depersonalization and related areas.
Frank Trümper studied history, philosophy and economics and is now the head of the German section of Common Purpose.
Professor Dr. Christian Welzel is professor of political science at Jacobs University in Bremen and Vice President of the World Values Survey Association.
Professor Dr. Peer Zumbansen, LL.M. (Harvard) is Canada Research Chair at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, in Toronto. He is founder and editor of the German Law Journal (with Russell Miller).