Digital platforms connect stakeholders through internet-based technologies and facilitate their exchange and interaction within ecosystems. They have become the central architecture of global value creation across almost all sectors of the economy. Digital platforms not only shape organisations, industries, and markets, but also fundamentally transform society.
With the rapid development and spread of artificial intelligence (AI), digital platforms are becoming even more important. At the same time, critical issues are also coming more into focus: Digital platforms often achieve a dominant market position—with negative consequences for participation, competition, and innovation—and can serve as tools for disinformation, polarisation, and anti-democratic influence. Furthermore, existing models do not adequately address the conditions and specific characteristics of the Global South.
Research profile
In recent years, researchers at the University of Passau have increasingly focused on developments in the field of digital platforms. This is reflected in the DFG Research Training Group 2720 “Digital Platform Ecosystems (DPE)” - the world’s largest research and qualification program dedicated to interdisciplinary platform research. Within the Research Training Group, collegiates examine digital platform ecosystems and their implications at data, organisational, and societal levels. The range of topics extends from platform governance, through organisational strategies and policy discourses, to platform ecosystems in the Global South.
The Research Training Group DPE is particularly distinguished by its international and interdisciplinary network: Collegiates regularly present their research on digital platforms at international conferences and as visiting researchers at leading universities abroad. Many renowned platform researchers are also guests of the Research Training Group, for example as part of the DPE Seminar or the DPE Forum, the internationally recognised interdisciplinary conference on digital platforms organised by the Group.
The Research Training Group is deeply embedded in the interdisciplinary research landscape at the University of Passau, particularly in numerous projects and structures focused on researching the societal implications of digitalisation. Future initiatives will build on this area by addressing related topics.
Interdisciplinary and cross-faculty research is based at the following institutions:
