N E T W O R K I N G T H E F U T U R E
ScienceStandardsTest ing
The VDE is the association for electrical engineering, electronics
and information technologies, the technicians and scientists
involved in these fields, and all related technologies and appli-
cations. As the public voice for these key technologies, the VDE
works to improve the climate for innovation, to promote the
best possible engineering degrees, and to foster broader public
acceptance of technology. Just as important, the VDE defines
and controls standards for public safety with its internationally
recognized technical regulations and rigorous testing methods.
The VDE mark, which is familiar to 63 percent of all Germans, is
regarded as a symbol of the world’s highest safety standards.
With 36,000 individual members and 1,300 corporate and insti-
tutional members, the VDE is one of the largest technical and
scientific organizations in Europe. The association represents its
members and industries in the political arena and in the general
public. Its policies are jointly developed by an honorary presidi-
um comprised of prominent technology representatives from the
scientific and business communities, and a full-time manage-
ment board. Communications, energy, mobility and life sciences
are the central innovation fields advanced by the VDE. Germany
and Europe are among the world leaders in these fields, and
one of the core tasks of the VDE is to communicate, secure and
further enhance this position. These efforts are backed by the
know-how provided by many thousands of experts voluntarily
supporting the association.
Ever since its founding in Berlin in 1893, the VDE has promoted
innovation and safety in the fields of electrical engineering and
information technology. Among the many milestones in the
VDE’s history are the first electrical safety standards in
Germany, the standardization of rail-way power systems, the
promotion of digital television, and the commitment to mobile
communications. Over many generations, the VDE has set
standards that are recognized around the world. Among the
association’s initiators were pioneering industrialists and techni-
cal innovators like Werner von Siemens and Emil Rathenau.
Then, as now, the VDE closely networked the leading names in
technical fields. VDE members are the Who-is-Who of science
and industry in the areas of electrical engineering, electronics
and information technology.
Partners for future technologies The future taps the past
2 | 3 VDE NETWORKING THE FUTURE
The VDE operates around the globe and maintains an extensive
network of international contacts and partners. We work closely on
a technical and scientific basis with similar renowned associations
throughout the world. In our drive to implement rigorous safety
standards internationally and help open up markets, VDE experts
serve in all prominent standardization organizations like CENELEC,
ETSI and IEC*. The VDE mark and its testing and certification
service is respected and in demand worldwide. The VDE Global
Services GmbH 100 % owned by VDE Testing and Certification
Institute offers the full range of technical know-how as well as an
unmatched expertise in standards, testing and certification – all
under one roof. VDE Global Services GmbH operates throughout
the world and cooperates with international standardization organi-
zations like IEC and CENELEC. Their product testing is based on
international standards.
The VDE is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main and has main
branches in Brussels and Berlin. The association is a co-founder
of the Convention of National Associations of Electrical Engineers
of Europe (EUREL), which has over 300,000 members. The VDE
closely interfaces with its members nationwide through its network
of state offices, district associations and university groups.
International network V D E AT A G L A N C E
1,200 employees
36,000 members, including 1,300 companies and institutions, 8,000 students and 6,000 young professionals
60,000 participants at VDE conferences each year
5 technical societies
29 regional associations, 60 university groups
* IEC International Electrotechnical Commission, Geneva
CENELEC European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, Brussels
ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute, Sophia Antipolis
The VDE spectrum
Knowledge transfers
Within the VDE organization, five technical societies together
with standardization and product testing departments, are
responsible for knowledge transfers and the exchange of infor-
mation regarding technical trends. VDE experts work on the
mapping of innovation strategies and foster an ongoing dia-
logue among researchers, developers and users. The organiza-
tion also offers a comprehensive range of continuing education
programs as well as an international conference service.
Technology and education policies
Where are technology trends leading us? How can innovations
benefit people? What will engineering studies look like in the
future? The VDE works to ensure that technical innovations
benefit people in their daily lives. It is a driving force behind
securing the highest standards for engineering studies in the
nation’s universities. VDE studies and analyses provide engi-
neers, companies, politicians and the public with the technical
information needed for shaping policies and making decisions.
Promotion of young talent
The VDE campaigns for educational policies to cultivate and
secure knowledge for future generations. Its ambassadors,
initiatives and competitions awaken and stimulate the fascina-
tion for technology in schools. The VDE YoungNet supports and
networks 14,000 students and young professionals across
the nation. And every year the VDE awards scholarships and
attractive prizes to talented students, university graduates and
young scientists.
VDE – Network for future technologies
4 | 5 VDE NETWORKING THE FUTURE
Information Technology
Energy Technology
Medical Technology
Micro- systems
Micro- electronics
Measurement and
Automation Technology
SMART HOME + BUILDING
INDUSTRY 4.0
IT SECURITY
SMART CITY
E-MOBILITY
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
SMART GRID
The Information Technology Society in the VDE (ITG) promotes
research, development and application of information technol-
ogy in the data and communication technology, in production
and communication systems, in environmental protection,
medical and traffic technology.
Objectives of the Power Engineering Society in the VDE (ETG)
are the interdisciplinary and international cooperation of indus-
try, science, energy suppliers and energy users. The ETG sees
itself as representation of interests of electrical power engineer-
ing.
The German Society for Biomedical Engineering in the VDE
(DGBMT) is with more than 2,600 members the largest scientific
technical society of medical technology in Germany. DGBMT
promotes development of medical technology in Germany in
a non-profit manner.
The aim of the interdisciplinary VDE/VDI Society of Micro elec-
tronics, Microsystems and Precision Engineering (GMM) is to
give impulses in the fields of microelectronics, microsystems
and nanotechnology as well as precision engineering and
mechatronics in order to join forces in the processing of new
fields and to promote the dialogue between manufacturers,
users, science and politics.
The VDI/VDE Society for Measurement and Automatic Control
(GMA) is the national network of experts for the promotion of
the special fields of measurement and automatic control as well
as optical technologies. The interdisciplinary orientation of GMA
is increasingly characterized by the use of information process-
ing and the use of open networks for automation tasks.
VDE’s technical societiesExperts for key technologies
6 | 7 VDE NETWORKING THE FUTURE
ENErgy TEchNology
BIomEDIcal TEchNology
mEasurEmENT aND auTomaTIoN TEchNology
INformaTIoN aND commuNIcaTIoN TEchNology
mIcroElEcTroNIcs, mIcrosysTEms aND PrEcIsIoN ENgINEErINg
International norms and standardization
Product testing and certification. setting standards. global services
The VDE’s safety regulations ensure the
highest degree of safety in electrical and
information technologies and at the
same time stimulate innovation. As a
founding member of the IEC, the VDE
supports internationally harmonized
industry standards as a prerequisite for
completely open global markets. The
DKE German Commission for Electrical,
Electronic & Information Technologies, a
joint organization of the DIN (German
Institute for Standardization) and the
VDE, is the national organization respon-
sible for creating and maintaining stand-
ards in these fields. Drawing on the
expertise and work of about 3,500 vol-
untary professionals, the DKE repre-
sents Germany in the European and
international bodies responsible for
standardization.
The VDE mark stands for safety and
quality in electrical, information and
medical technologies, and is respected
and demanded throughout the world.
Every year, around 550 employees at
the VDE Testing and Certification
Institute in Offenbach, Germany, test
roughly 100,000 products from over
10,000 customers worldwide. The data
derived from these tests offers valuable
input for development engineers and, in
turn, flows directly into the fine-tuning
of product norms.
The spectrum of product tests covers
safety, EMV, energy efficiency and other
product features, as well as certification
and assembly inspections. These servic-
es are available in all parts of the world.
The VDE Global Services GmbH pro-
vides efficient and speedy local handling
of all testing and certification proce-
dures to its customers in Asia. The com-
pany’s goal is to continue expanding
and improving VDE’s worldwide services
to ensure safe electrical products and
components.
8 | 9 VDE NETWORKING THE FUTURE
Publications. spreading expertise.
Technology consulting. realizing ideas.
Print and online media are essential
for spreading technical know-how.
VDE Verlag GmbH, the association’s
publisher with operations in Berlin and
Offenbach, provides a full spectrum
of literature on electrical engineering,
electronics and information technology.
The publisher currently offers literature
on 3,500 industry standards, 650 book
titles, a variety of professional journals
as well as comprehensive website
coverage.
The VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik
GmbH, headquartered in Berlin, is com-
missioned by German federal and state
ministries to develop programs for pro-
moting technical policies. Backed by
250 employees, the organization also
supports co-operations, key technolo-
gies and the forming of start-ups.
supporting our members
Around 36,000 members – engineers, scientists, students
and companies – draw on and value the benefits offered by
the VDE: a dialogue-driven knowledge platform and a globe-
spanning network of experts. In addition, we provide our
members with an attractive service package for their studies
and profession work:
Member benefits
• Building networks – with 36,000 personal and
1,300 corporate members
• Shaping the future – our technology areas for the society
• Experiencing competence – with VDE conferences and
seminars at membership rates
• Expanding knowledge – with VDE studies, innovation
updates and the VDE dialog, free for members
• Starting your career – with the VDE job portal
vde.com/career
What we offer
• Right from the start – no membership fees in first year,
membership in one technical society for free
• For students: free admission to VDE conferences*
• For job starters (4 years after graduation): annual exclusive
knowledge voucher (max. 4 years) for a VDE conference*
• Experiencing innovation - with free entry to CeBIT and
Hannover Messe
• Being flexible and mobile – using the free VDE Visa Card,
favorable conditions at Sixt, Europcar and for buying
a new car
* provided that discounted seats are available
General Assembly
VDE Supervisory BoardBoard Committees
VDE HeadquartersCommunications +Public Affairs
VDE Prüf- undZertifizierungs-institut GmbHVDE Testing and Certification Institute
_ Testing_ Assessment_ Inspection_ Certification
36 000 VDE Members
Personal Members – Corporate MembersTechnical and Scientific Societies, Federal State Representatives, Regional Societies
SpecialCommittees_ Engineering education_ Profession, Society_ Students_ Female engineers_ Lightning protection_ Safety_ History
VDE ConferenceServices
DKEGermanCommissionfor Electrical,Electronic &InformationTechnologiesof DIN and VDE
Standardization
German Member of_ International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)_ European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC)_ European Tele- communications Standards Institute (ETSI)
VDE GmbH
Personneland LegalDepartment
BusinessAdministration
Data Processing
VDE VERLAGGmbHVDE Publishing House
_ Standards_ Journals_ Books_ Electronic Media_ Seminars
VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
Technik + Innovation
FNN Network Technologyand Operation Forumwithin VDE
Offices_ EUREL_ CIGRE, CIRED_ IEEE
Science, Education, Careers Central Services Standardization Testing and Certification
VDE-ISE Pte. Ltd
CVF Solar Test Lab.
VDE Americas,Inc.
VDE GLOBALServices GmbH
ITGInformation TechnologySociety within VDE
ETG Power Engineering Society within VDE
DGBMT German Society for Biomedical Engineering within VDE
GMMVDE/VDI-Society Microelectronics,Microsystems and Precision Engineering
GMA VDI / VDE-Society forMeasurementand Automatic Control
Stresemannal lee 1560596 Frankfurt am MainGermanyPhone: +49 69 6308-0Fax: +49 69 6308-9865E-mai l : serv [email protected] Internet: www.vde.com
ASSOCIATION FOR ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONIC & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
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Picture credits:VDE, Michael Hanschke, Johannes Stein, Frank Rumpenhorst, Jürgen Lösel, Bernd Müller, Siemens, Aral, Alcatel, Bosch-Rexroth, Getty Images, Shutterstock, Okerland-Archiv, FNN, Christian Lietzmann, Fotolia.com: Rubysoho, style-o-mat, itestro, MWiner, Peter Eggermann, picsfive, V. Yakobchuk, Rainer Plendl, Diana Kosaric, Yauhen Suslo, Simon Kraus, pb press, Paylessimages, XtravaganT