# Deutsches Maritimes Institut
**Wikidata**: [Q1205821](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1205821)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/deutsches-maritimes-institut

## Summary
The Deutsches Maritimes Institut (DMI) is a German research institute and non-profit organization headquartered in Wilhelmshaven. Founded in 1973, it operates as a registered association focused on generating new knowledge through systematic investigation within the maritime sector.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 1973
- **Headquarters:** Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- **Organization Type:** Research institute; Nonprofit organization (Registered association / eingetragener Verein)
- **Current Chairperson:** Sascha Helge Rackwitz (term started April 2024)
- **Membership:** 213 members (as of 2025)
- **Website:** http://deutsches-maritimes-institut.de/
- **Aliases:** Deutsches Marine Institut, Deutsche Maritime Institut e.V.
- **Short Name:** DMI
- **GND ID:** 16163125-3
- **VIAF ID:** 138410281
- **ISNI:** 0000000110121621
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n83034083
- **Lobby Register ID:** R001904 (registered with the German Bundestag since Feb 2022)
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/120mbtgd

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of the Deutsches Maritimes Institut?**
As a research institute, the organization exists specifically to conduct research and generate new knowledge rather than teaching or commercial activity. It differentiates itself from think tanks by focusing on fundamental scientific inquiry across disciplines rather than just policy-oriented research.

**How is the organization structured and managed?**
The institute is structured as a registered association (eingetragener Verein) under German law. It is led by a chairperson, currently Sascha Helge Rackwitz, and maintains a membership body of 213 individuals as of 2025.

**Is the Deutsches Maritimes Institut a government agency?**
No, it is a non-profit organization. However, it is listed in the Lobby Register of the German Bundestag (ID R001904), indicating it engages in structured communication with government bodies regarding policy interests.

## Why It Matters
The Deutsches Maritimes Institut serves as a dedicated engine for discovery in the maritime field, operating free from the teaching obligations that characterize universities. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, such research institutes accelerate breakthroughs and provide spaces where scientists can pursue long-term, high-risk research that might not fit within corporate timelines. As a non-profit registered association with over 200 members, it represents a significant body of expertise and interest, acting as a bridge between academic research and public policy, evidenced by its official registration in the German Bundestag's lobby register. In an era where innovation drives economic competitiveness, the institute represents critical infrastructure for advancing human knowledge in the maritime domain.

## Notable For
- **Dedicated Research Focus:** Exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, distinct from scientific societies which are primarily membership-based.
- **Legal Recognition:** Officially constituted as a Registered Association (eingetragener Verein) with a specific legal identity.
- **Political Engagement:** Formally registered within the Lobby Register of the German Bundestag (R001904), distinguishing it as an entity that actively engages with German legislative processes.
- **Extensive Cataloging:** Recognized globally through multiple authority control systems including the German National Library, Library of Congress, and the National Library of Israel.

## Body

### Classification and Mission
The Deutsches Maritimes Institut (DMI) is formally classified as a research institute and a nonprofit organization. Its primary function is to conduct research, distinct from universities that balance teaching and research missions, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends. Unlike think tanks, which primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government, DMI focuses on fundamental inquiry.

The organization is differentiated from related entities such as:
- **Scientific Societies:** DMI is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation rather than just a membership organization.
- **Research Centers:** DMI operates as a standalone entity (Registered Association) rather than a sub-unit within a larger organization.

### Organizational Structure and Leadership
The institute is organized as a Registered Association (eingetragener Verein) under German law.
- **Chairperson:** As of April 2024, the chairperson is Sascha Helge Rackwitz.
- **Membership:** The institute maintains a membership base of 213 individuals (recorded in 2025).
- **Headquarters:** The organization is based in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

### History and Identity
The institute was founded in 1973. It is known by several aliases, including "Deutsches Marine Institut" and "Deutsche Maritime Institut e.V." It utilizes the short name "DMI."

### Digital Presence and Public Accountability
The institute maintains a web presence at `http://deutsches-maritimes-institut.de/`, with a specific domain name `deutsches-maritimes-institut.de` and a privacy policy located at `http://deutsches-maritimes-institut.de/infoseiten/datenschutz/`.
A notable aspect of its public accountability is its registration in the Lobby Register of the German Bundestag (ID: R001904), a status it has held since February 28, 2022.

### Identification and Authority Control
The Deutsches Maritimes Institut is indexed and cataloged across numerous international knowledge systems:
- **German National Library (GND):** 16163125-3
- **Library of Congress:** n83034083
- **Virtual International Authority File (VIAF):** 138410281
- **International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI):** 0000000110121621
- **National Library of Israel:** 987007605255405171
- **Google Knowledge Graph:** /g/120mbtgd
- **Yale LUX ID:** group/eff43f3d-2716-4f4a-8429-b336f7461b75

The institute's logo is available via Wikimedia Commons at `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Deutsches_Maritimes_Institut_Logo-DMI-12.jpg`. It maintains a presence on German Wikipedia (`wikipedia_languages: de`).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Bundestag Lobby Register
3. [Source](http://deutsches-maritimes-institut.de/)
4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File