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The Data Analysis and Visualization Research Group (DBVIS) at the University of Konstanz focuses on delivering innovative and high quality research in the fields of Information Visualization, Knowledge Discovery, and Visual Analytics. The research at the University of Konstanz includes all aspects of the data analysis process including the development of novel visualization, interaction, and data analysis techniques. A major issue is to develop scalable visual analytics techniques that tightly couple automated and visual techniques in order to support decision making in large and complex information spaces. In this context, the DBVIS group proposed a number of sophisticated techniques for various application scenarios. For instance, the group successfully developed techniques to monitor high volume data for network security, techniques for the analysis of news streams, and, in collaboration with the University of Charlotte, visual analytics techniques for multimedia data streams. The group has unique competencies, demonstrated in numerous top-class conferences and journal publications.

Fraunhofer IGD (Institute for Computer Graphics Research) is one of 60 research institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The institute focuses on applied research with the aim of innovation in computer graphics by making the results of basic research available for applications. Through this transfer of knowledge from research to practical applications the IGD contributes to the furthering of technology in European trade and industry.

Fraunhofer IGD focuses on the development of product prototypes (hard- and software) and the realisation of concepts, models, and solutions for computer graphics and its adaptation to specific application requirements. The R&D projects are directly related to current problems in industry, trade, traffic, and services. For the implementation of these projects the departments of IGD have developed excellent competencies in Computer Graphics and its applications. An important research area is information visualisation and Visual Analytics, with a focus on the interactive and semantics-based visualisation of decision-critical information, as well as solutions for the financial industry.

Fraunhofer IAIS (Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems) is one of 58 research institutes of the Fraunhofer Society. With its workforce of nearly 280 employees, Fraunhofer IAIS combines the competences and scientific qualities of all engineering disciplines – especially informatics, and mathematics, natural sciences, business economics, geo and social sciences – with profound industry expertise. With a budget of approx. 20 million Euros the institute implements application solutions in the fields of machine learning, multimedia pattern recognition, visual analytics, process intelligence, preventive security, adaptive robotics and cooperating objects.

BBK was founded in May 2004 as an important contribution of the Federal Government to the new strategy for the protection of the population in Germany. Together with the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), BBK as a supreme federal office within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) fulfils tasks relating to civil security measures, above all in the sector of civil protection and disaster assistance.

The BBK is a federal competence center for inter-divisional and inter-administration level crisis management both on the operative tactical and on the strategic level. It incorporates all interdisciplinary domains of civil security precaution and combines them into an effective protection system for the population. For example, the BBK is responsible for the conceptual planning and interdisciplinary coordination of the protection of critical infrastructures and the education of executive managers on the higher administrative levels in civil defense.
It supports the BMI in these areas and also, by consent of BMI, the responsible supreme offices. Above all, BBK is responsible for the following tasks:

• Development of a national risk analysis
• Development of standards and framework concepts for civil protection
• Warning and information of the population
• Information of the population about protection and support possibilities
• Education, further education and training of decision makers and managers from the sector of civil security measures
• Technical and scientific research

The high significance of research in the task profile of the BKK is expressed through its own research division and through numerous collaborations with universities. With the journal Civil Security Research (“Zivilschutz-Forschung”) and the publication of other articles the BKK provides an important contribution to the scientific state of the art of civil security.

The Institute for Visualization and Interactive Systems (VIS) of the University of Stuttgart is internationally highly visible for research in the area of visualization, interactive 3D computer graphics, human computer interaction, and semantic models. The institute is currently involved in a number of national and international projects carried out in collaboration with partners from academia, public research institutions and industry. The focus of the R&D-work of VIS is on visually oriented presentation and interaction techniques (graphical and model-based user interfaces, mobile and automotive HCI, user interfaces for sensory handicapped people, virtual and augmented reality), computer graphics (parallel and hardware accelerated interactive rendering, web based and mobile graphics, gigapixel displays), scientific visualization (volume rendering, flow visualization, multi-resolution analysis, large datasets) as well as information visualization and visual analytics (high-dimensional and heterogeneous data collections, document databases, social media, semantic web ). The projects are primarily funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the European Union. Many projects involve collaborations with leading industrial partners and public agencies. VIS is a member of the VISMASTER Coordinative Action and participates in two projects within the DFG priority program ‘Scalable Visual Analytics’. VIS is also involved in the EU Project PESCaDO (“Personalized Environmental Service Configuration and Delivery Orchestration”).

In the VASA project, VIS will be responsible for the development and integration of visual analytics techniques for interactive reasoning and for advanced interactive visualization techniques for data/knowledge space exploration.

The project group Constitutionally Compatible Technology Design (provet) under the direction of Prof. Dr. Alexander Roßnagel carries out interdisciplinary research projects on legal issues arising in the field of information and communication technology. Therefore, the project group is part of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Information System Design (ITeG) alongside with several other technical Partners. At the present time, there are 20 legal scholars in the project group. The research agenda is to support the development of legally compatible technology. Within the framework of practical research projects, technical design proposals are being developed for technical systems and infrastructures, such as ISDN units, electronic signature algorithms, multimedia system models, electronic methods of payment, chipcards, biometric systems, mobile communication, internet shops and electronic marketplaces. In this way, compliance with legal requirements can be ensured. Conversely, appropriate legal regulations have become a central requirement for the implementation of new technologies, especially in the case of ICT. The second research agenda is thus to support a development of law that is adapted to meet the changing general conditions specified by the development of technology. In this respect, the projects aim at the establishment of technically suitable regulation concepts and legal recommendations, like in the past, e.g. for the laws of electronic signature, tele service data protection, data protection auditing and the new German electronic ID card. The projects are being funded and promoted by ministries, other public authorities, foundations, enterprises and the German Research Foundation (DFG).

With some six million customers and more than 20,000 employees, EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG generated annual revenue in excess of € 17 billion in 2010. As the third-largest energy company in Germany, EnBW focuses on the electricity business – in the generation and trading segement and the grid and sales segment – and the gas as well as energy and environmental services business. EnBW is committed to Baden-Württemberg and Germany as locations and these are the focal points of our activities. The company also operates in other European markets.

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the fields of industry, energy and healthcare as well as providing infrastructure solutions, primarily for cities and metropolitan areas. For over 160 years, Siemens has stood for technological excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality. The company is the world’s largest provider of environmental technologies. Around 40 percent of its total revenue stems from green products and solutions. In fiscal 2011, which ended on September 30, 2011, revenue from continuing operations totaled €73.5 billion and net income from continuing operations €7.0 billion. At the end of September 2011, Siemens had around 360,000 employees worldwide on the basis of continuing operations. Further information is available on the Internet at: http://www.siemens.com.

In the VASA project Siemens is represented by Corporate Technology (CT), a central research unit. With major research centers in Germany, the U.S., Austria, Slovakia, Russia, India, China, Japan and Singapore, CT employs over 5,000 people in a worldwide network of innovation. The organization provides expertise regarding strategically important areas to ensure the company’s technological future.