Google has todayannounceddetails of a new academic initiative looking at how the Internet interfaces with society.
To be run from Berlin, three German institutions have come on board as partners: TheHumboldt University, theUniversity of the Artsand theSocial Science Research Center Berlin. The project will study a variety of Internet-related issues, specifically: Internet and constitutional law; Internet governance and policy; Internet-based innovation and the economy, and Media governance.
Set to launch in October this year with an international symposium, theInstitute for Internet and Societyis far from Google’s first venture into academic funding. Last year, for example, itannouncedit was putting $5.7m into “four extremely important areas, both to Google and to society.”
So, why is Google funding this? In the Institute’sFAQ, it states that “Web-based innovations cause a variety of social, economic and political transformations. These demand interdisciplinary research carried out in a specialized center of excellence.”
In its own take on today’s announcement, Humboldt Universitysaidthat Google was funding the Institute to the tune of €4.5m over the next three years.
Story byMartin SFP Bryant
Martin SFP Bryant is the founder of UK startup newsletter PreSeed Now and technology and media consultancy Big Revolution. He was previously(show all)Martin SFP Bryant is the founder of UK startup newsletterPreSeed Nowand technology and media consultancyBig Revolution. He was previously Editor-in-Chief at TNW.
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