Strategic Development of the Institute's Work

This year's meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB) took place virtually on 6 and 7 November 2025. The focus was on the internal development of the Institute and the involvement of the Advisory Board in future processes. The agenda for the meeting included, in particular, the research strategy and impact – including scientific output – the upcoming evaluation process, and the qualification of senior researchers.

In addition, new IAB members also took part in this year's meeting. As membership of the IAB is limited in time, three IAB advisory board positions were newly filled this year following the departure of long-standing chair Prof. Dr Lenelis Kruse-Graumann, Prof. Dr Mikko Jalas and Prof. Dr Annette Töller. These include:

• Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Cramer, Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Innovation at Utrecht University and Transition Broker Circular Economy and Director of the consulting firm Cramer Milieuadvies, Netherlands
• Prof. Dr. Hans-Wolfgang Micklitz, Senior Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy in Munich. Micklitz is Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Law at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy.
• Prof. Dr. Sebastian Oberthür, Director of the Research Centre for Environment, Economy and Energy and Professor of Environment and Sustainable Development at the Brussels School of Governance in Belgium. Oberthür is also Professor of Environmental Policy and Law at the Centre for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law at the University of Eastern Finland in Finland.

The Wuppertal Institute will be evaluated next year as part of the evaluation process of the Johannes Rau Research Foundation, so there are plans to actively involve the IAB – for example, in the context of a trial on-site-visit.