The Centre for Digital Governance will launch a research project funded by Stiftung Mercator on Germany’s digital administrative culture, led by Prof. Dr Thurid Hustedt and Prof. Dr Gerhard Hammerschmid.
Berlin, 17 December 2026. Despite years of political effort, substantial investment, and numerous reform programmes, Germany still lags far behind other advanced economies in digitalising its public sector.
What does this say about the digital competencies of employees or the organisational culture of German public administration? How can a digital administrative culture be developed, or even measured?
These questions are at the centre of a new research project at the Centre for Digital Governance at the Hertie School. The initiative builds on the cross-party Initiative for an Effective State and aims to examine the social factors involved in a digital administrative culture. The research project is planned for three years and will receive more than one million euros in funding from Stiftung Mercator.
The two project leaders, Prof. Dr Gerhard Hammerschmid and Prof. Dr Thurid Hustedt, see a unique opportunity in the project:
“We want to actively advance the development of a modern digital administrative culture to support the federal government’s ambitious plans for cultural change and new leadership approaches,” says Hammerschmid.
“We look forward to productive cooperation with exciting civil society partners from the Mercator Cultural Change programme to examine previously neglected issues of digital cultural transformation in Germany,” adds Hustedt.
Carla Hustedt, Head of the Digitalised Society Division at Stiftung Mercator, explains:
“Without cultural change, there can be no digital transformation of public administration. How people in the administration lead and collaborate, and how open and willing they are to change, will determine whether the state remains capable of acting in the digital age. On this important topic, the Hertie School brings together scientific depth, an international perspective, and practical relevance.”
Research meets administrative practice
The project, with a funding volume of €1.05 million, will begin in February 2026 and run for 36 months. Its objective is to enrich rigorous, theory-driven empirical research by using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., case studies, interviews, surveys) and a wide range of measures and activities. These include workshops, learning journeys, and the establishment of an advisory board. In addition, an academic platform will be created to promote networking and support for actors and initiatives within German administrative practice.
More about our experts
- Thurid Hustedt, Dean of Graduate Programmes and Professor of Public Administration and Management
- Gerhard Hammerschmid, Professor of Public and Financial Management