# Cologne Institute for Economic Research

> think tank

**Wikidata**: [Q958316](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q958316)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Economic_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cologne-institute-for-economic-research

## Summary
The Cologne Institute for Economic Research (Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.) is a private economic research institute and think tank based in Cologne, Germany. Founded in 1951, it operates as a registered nonprofit association focused on economic research and policy analysis. The organization maintains headquarters at Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 21 in Cologne and is recognized internationally through various academic and transparency registers.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1951
- Located at Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 21, 50668 Köln, Germany (coordinates: 50.94583°N, 6.96302°E)
- Legal form: Registered association (eingetragener Verein)
- Instance of: Think tank, research institute, nonprofit organization
- Industry: Research and development, research
- Website: https://www.iwkoeln.de/
- Country: Germany
- GND ID: 2005057-4
- ROR ID: 01a2z2x66
- GRID ID: grid.473597.b
- ISNI: 0000000098544639
- VIAF ID: 311025520, 140469702
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n80067130
- EU Transparency Register ID: 132414515813-88
- Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 391200G8ULICLRQQXT16 (issued 2017-11-08)
- Member of: Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
- Sitelink count: 3
- Wikipedia title: German Economic Institute
- Wikipedia languages: German, English, Commons
- Commons category: Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft
- Wikidata description: think tank
- Other identifiers: KISTI ID (K000210176), IdRef ID (030719488), BnF ID (122079181), National Library of Israel J9U ID (987007263190505171), OpenStreetmap Relation ID (2101237), PM20 Folder ID (co/012057), Yale LUX ID (group/8ea7ccc6-f31b-4acc-b286-36863d7305fd), Freebase ID (/m/083qkb), Microsoft Academic ID (1335487337 - discontinued), NL CR AUT ID (ko2002149165, ko2002149164), Kalliope Verbund GND ID (2005057-4), Lobbypedia ID (Institut_der_deutschen_Wirtschaft)
- Logo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Institut_der_deutschen_Wirtschaft_Logo.svg
- Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Institut_der_deutschen_Wirtschaft_Köln_(8533-35).jpg
- Social media: Twitter (@iw_koeln), Instagram (iw_koeln), LinkedIn (institut-der-deutschen-wirtschaft)

## FAQs
**Q: What is the Cologne Institute for Economic Research?**
A: The Cologne Institute for Economic Research is a private German think tank and research institute founded in 1951. It conducts economic research and policy analysis as a registered nonprofit association headquartered in Cologne, Germany.

**Q: Where is the institute located?**
A: The institute is headquartered at Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 21, 50668 Köln, Germany. Its coordinates are 50.94583°N, 6.96302°E.

**Q: What type of organization is it?**
A: It is classified as a think tank, research institute, and nonprofit organization. It operates as a registered association (eingetragener Verein) under German law and works in the research and development industry.

**Q: Who are notable board members of the institute?**
A: Michael Hüther has served as a board member. Gerhard Fels served as a board member from 1983 to 2004.

**Q: What organizations is it affiliated with?**
A: The institute is a member of Informationsdienst Wissenschaft, a German science information service. It is also registered in the EU Transparency Register and has connections to various national and international library and research networks.

**Q: What digital and social media presence does it have?**
A: The institute maintains a website at iwkoeln.de, Twitter account @iw_koeln, Instagram account @iw_koeln, and LinkedIn page under "institut-der-deutschen-wirtschaft." It also has a presence on Wikipedia in German and English, and media content on Wikimedia Commons.

## Why It Matters
The Cologne Institute for Economic Research represents a significant institution in the German economic research landscape. Established shortly after World War II in 1951, the institute has played a role in shaping economic policy discourse in Germany for over seven decades. As a think tank focused on research and development, it contributes to evidence-based policy analysis and economic scholarship.

The institute's classification as both a research institute and think tank positions it at the intersection of academic inquiry and policy application. Unlike purely academic research institutions that focus solely on theoretical or fundamental research, the Cologne Institute engages in policy-oriented economic analysis intended to inform decision-makers and public debate.

The organization's membership in Informationsdienst Wissenschaft connects it to Germany's broader scientific communication infrastructure, facilitating the dissemination of research findings to journalists, educators, and the public. Its registration in the EU Transparency Register indicates engagement with European policy-making processes and a commitment to transparency in lobbying activities.

With headquarters in Cologne, a major economic and cultural center in Germany, the institute contributes to the city's reputation as a hub for media, research, and business. Its long operational history and extensive cataloging in major library systems worldwide (including the Library of Congress, German National Library, and Bibliothèque nationale de France) demonstrate its recognized standing in the international research community.

## Notable For
- Founded in 1951, making it one of the older economic research institutions in post-war Germany
- Dual classification as both a think tank and research institute, bridging academic research and policy analysis
- Registered as a nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein), indicating a commitment to public benefit rather than profit
- Member of Informationsdienst Wissenschaft, Germany's leading science information service
- Listed in the EU Transparency Register, demonstrating engagement with European policy processes
- Extensive international cataloging: recognized by Library of Congress (n80067130), German National Library (GND 2005057-4), Bibliothèque nationale de France (122079181), and numerous other national libraries
- Presence on multiple global research databases: GRID (grid.473597.b), ROR (01a2z2x66), ISNI (0000000098544639)
- Wikipedia presence in both German and English, indicating international recognition
- Long-serving leadership: Gerhard Fels served as board member for 21 years (1983-2004)
- Headquarters at Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 21 in Cologne, a prominent location in a major German city

## Body

### Identity and Classification
The Cologne Institute for Economic Research (Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V.) is a private research organization classified simultaneously as a think tank, research institute, and nonprofit organization. The institute operates as a registered association (eingetragener Verein) under German law, a legal form typically used by organizations pursuing nonprofit objectives. Its primary industry focus is research and development, encompassing both fundamental economic research and applied policy analysis.

The organization's dual classification as both a research institute and think tank reflects its hybrid nature. According to scholarly distinctions, research institutes focus on fundamental scientific inquiry across disciplines, while think tanks primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government and public policy decisions. The Cologne Institute appears to serve both functions, engaging in economic research while also participating in policy discourse through its registration in the EU Transparency Register.

### History and Leadership
The institute was founded in 1951, placing its origins in the early years of the Federal Republic of Germany during the post-war reconstruction period. This founding date situates the organization among the economic research institutions that emerged during Germany's economic revival and the development of the social market economy.

Michael Hüther serves as a board member of the institute. Gerhard Fels held a board member position from 1983 to 2004, representing 21 years of leadership involvement. These long-term leadership tenures suggest organizational stability and continuity in strategic direction.

### Location and Facilities
The institute maintains its headquarters at Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 21, 50668 Köln, Germany. The postal code 50668 corresponds to the northern part of Cologne's city center. The geographic coordinates are 50.94583°N, 6.96302°E. The street name "Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer" references Konrad Adenauer, the first Chancellor of West Germany and former Mayor of Cologne, indicating the institute's location along the Rhine riverfront in a historically significant area.

The OpenStreetmap Relation ID 2101237 provides geographic mapping data for the institute's location, enabling precise spatial identification in open mapping systems.

### Organizational Affiliations
The Cologne Institute for Economic Research is a member of Informationsdienst Wissenschaft, a German organization that facilitates communication between the scientific community and the media. Membership in this service indicates the institute's commitment to disseminating research findings to broader audiences and engaging with science journalism.

The institute operates under the Legal Entity Identifier 391200G8ULICLRQQXT16, issued starting November 8, 2017. This identifier is part of the global LEI system designed to provide unique identification of legal entities participating in financial transactions.

### International Recognition and Identifiers
The Cologne Institute for Economic Research maintains extensive documentation across major library and research information systems worldwide:

**National Library Identifiers:**
- German National Library (GND): 2005057-4
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n80067130
- Bibliothèque nationale de France: 122079181
- National Library of Israel J9u ID: 987007263190505171
- Kalliope Verbund (GND): 2005057-4

**Research Database Identifiers:**
- GRID ID: grid.473597.b
- ROR ID: 01a2z2x66
- ISNI: 0000000098544639
- VIAF ID: 311025520, 140469702
- KISTI ID: K000210176
- IdRef ID: 030719488

**Other Cataloging Systems:**
- PM20 Folder ID: co/012057 (labeled "Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft (Köln)")
- NL CR AUT ID: ko2002149165 (Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft), ko2002149164 (Deutsches Industrieinstitut)
- Lobbypedia ID: Institut_der_deutschen_Wirtschaft
- Freebase ID: /m/083qkb
- Yale LUX ID: group/8ea7ccc6-f31b-4acc-b286-36863d7305fd
- Microsoft Academic ID: 1335487337 (discontinued)

The presence of multiple catalog entries, particularly the NL CR AUT IDs referencing both "Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft" and "Deutsches Industrieinstitut," may indicate historical organizational relationships or name variations.

### Digital Presence and Media
The institute maintains an official website at https://www.iwkoeln.de/. It operates active social media accounts on Twitter (@iw_koeln), Instagram (iw_koeln), and LinkedIn (institut-der-deutschen-wirtschaft), providing multiple channels for public engagement and research dissemination.

Visual materials associated with the institute include an official logo available via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Institut_der_deutschen_Wirtschaft_Logo.svg) and an image file depicting the organization (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Institut_der_deutschen_Wirtschaft_Köln_(8533-35).jpg).

### Wikipedia and Wikimedia Presence
The institute has a presence on Wikipedia under the title "German Economic Institute." Wikipedia articles exist in German (de), English (en), and on Wikimedia Commons, with a total sitelink count of 3. The Commons category "Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft" serves as the organizing category for related media files. The Wikidata description for the entity reads "think tank."

### Regulatory and Transparency Registrations
The institute is registered in the EU Transparency Register under ID 132414515813-88, filed under the name "Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V." This registration indicates the institute engages in activities intended to influence EU policy-making and has committed to transparency regarding its lobbying efforts. The registration is documented by Lobbyfacts.eu, a transparency watchdog organization.

### Related Entities
The institute has a "has part" relationship with Wikidata entity Q28738659, indicating an organizational subunit or related component, though specific details about this entity are not detailed in the provided source material.

### Distinctions from Similar Organizations
The classification systems distinguish research institutes from several related organizational types. Unlike scientific societies or learned societies, which are membership-based organizations, the Cologne Institute is an operational entity conducting hands-on research. It differs from university-based research centers in its status as a standalone entity rather than a sub-unit within a larger academic institution. While think tanks like the Cologne Institute focus on policy-oriented research, traditional research institutes pursue fundamental inquiry across broader fields, suggesting the institute combines both missions.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/institut-der-deutschen-wirtschaft-köln-ev?rid=132414515813-88)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. 20th Century Press Archives
6. [Source](https://idw-online.de/de/institution2317)
7. ROR release v1.19
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. GRID Release 2016-12-06
10. Via P227 lookup with GND value from PM20 folder. 20th Century Press Archives
11. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File