The Leibniz Association acts as an umbrella organisation for three large and prestigious institutions, each of which represents a globally significant research infrastructure in their respective disciplines: Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz Center for Informatics; the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach; and the Academy for Spatial Research and Planning – Leibniz Forum for Spatial Sciences.
One-to-one communication between scientists is particularly important in the field of Mathematics and Informatics. The discovery of new mathematical relationships and solutions to problems, or the development and programming of algorithms for concrete application are creative and time-consuming activities whose results are published in condensed form. In both scientific fields, the direct contact between scientists allows them to most efficiently discuss ideas that will ultimately be concentrated into compact formulae or algorithms.
The Academy for Spatial Research and Planning offers a platform for inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation between research and practice on the key questions of land use in Germany and Europe. Their approach resembles that of the two institutions mentioned above: the academy forms a network of experts who take part in high-level events and exchange ideas on space both in its physical structure and as a result of social processes to analyse the possibilities for sustainable spatial development. The research results gathered here form the basis for independent academic advice for policy makers, administration and society.