Press release
12.11.2024

Initiative for an Effective State: Hertie School supports cross-party project for state reforms

A new initiative backed by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier aims to create actionable reform plans to improve Germany’s state efficiency, with the Hertie School serving as its Head Office.

Berlin, 12 November 2024. "So that our state functions better" is the guiding vision of this cross-party initiative, which President Steinmeier will officially launch today at the presidential residence Schloss Bellevue. The initiative is set to produce practical reform proposals to strengthen Germany’s government operations for the future. The final report and recommendations will be presented in October 2025, with an initial interim report expected after the next federal election. 

“Digitalisation, security and climate change are just a few of the critical issues that demand an effective and capable state,” said Cornelia Woll, President of the Hertie School. “Good governance is the founding mission of the Hertie School, and we are both honoured and eager to support the initiative as its Head Office.”  

Cross-party reform initiative 

Leading the initiative are former Federal Ministers Peer Steinbrück and Thomas de Maizière, constitutional law expert and long-time President of the Federal Constitutional Court Andreas Voßkuhle, and experienced Media Executive and Supervisory Board Member Julia Jäkel. Their efforts are supported by four renowned foundations: Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung, Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, Stiftung Mercator GmbH, and the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS. 

Around 50 experts from politics, business and academia will address Germany’s current challenges across seven focus areas, including digitalisation, education and security. Marina Henke, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Centre for International Security, is among the experts contributing to the reform proposals. 

The final report and recommendations will also incorporate the perspectives of diverse social groups, researchers and students at the Hertie School and Bucerius Law School, as well as managers and employees of the public administration. Alumni of Bucerius Law School, the Hertie School and the Mercator Fellowship on International Affairs will be involved in developing the reform proposals as representatives of younger generations as well. 

Head Office to steer the initiative’s work 

The Head Office at the Hertie School will be led by two experts: Martin Klingst, a lawyer and journalist, will serve as the initiative’s Managing Director, and Gerhard Hammerschmid, Professor of Public and Financial Management at the Hertie School, will serve as Academic Director. With the support of a team of staff, Klingst and Hammerschmid will coordinate the initiative’s working groups and prepare the final report. 

“This initiative builds on our longstanding work at the Hertie School’s Centre for Digital Governance, where we focus on modernising public administration and policy. We are pleased to contribute our academic expertise and hands-on experience in public administration sector reform to support this project,” said Academic Director and Hertie School Professor Gerhard Hammerschmid.

 

For more information, visit our subpage Initiative for an Effective State.

 

About the Hertie School

For 20 years, the Hertie School has been teaching, researching, and debating good governance and public affairs in the heart of Berlin and Europe. The social science university offers master's degrees, doctoral programmes, and executive education to train change-makers in government, business, and civil society. True to its motto "Understand today. Shape tomorrow.", the university conducts interdisciplinary research, provides international and practice-oriented education, and serves as a forum for public debate. Six Centres of competence strengthen its expertise in European affairs, international security, fundamental rights, sustainability, digital governance, and data science. The Hertie School was founded in 2004 by the non-profit Hertie Foundation and has been generously supported by it ever since. It is a member of the European university alliance CIVICA, publicly recognised, and accredited by the Accreditation Council as well as the German Council of Science and Humanities.

 

Press contact

Benjamin Stappenbeck, Director of Communications
+49 (0) 30 259 219 – 246
+49 (0)160 911 66 983
pressoffice@hertie-school.org