The position of universities within the information society

The actual information society has a complex corporate structure based on information and communication. Universities and their central information infrastructure institutions (libraries and computing centres) have a special function and have to change at least partially their self-conception. Since 2005, the Technical University Darmstadt has the possibility, within the limits of its budget, to establish autonomously companies serving the knowledge and technology transfer. In order to ensure and develop further the quality of research and study, universities have to accomplish specific tasks comprising the continuous and innovative supply with information and information technology. High-performance communication networks, obligatory usage rights and multilingual communication offers are part of these tasks. DINI and its partner associations contribute to ensure that German Universities master the increasing global competition within the academic education market and the resulting pressure of action and innovation with high competence in information technology.