The German Academy of Science and Engineering advises politics and society, supports innovation policy decision-making, and represents the technical sciences internationally. The academy fulfills its consulting mandate, which is issued by the Federal Government and the Länder, independently, science-based, and oriented on the common good. acatech brings science and industry together and illustrates the opportunities and risks of technological developments. It is committed to ensuring that ideas become innovations and that innovations lead to prosperity, welfare, and a higher quality of life.