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 ice@vde.com 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