Birgit Schultz

Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung GmbH (ZEW) is an independent investment research firm headquartered in Mannheim, Germany. Founded in 1990, the firm conducts research in the field of applied and policy-oriented economics and provides national and international research with important data sets via its research data center. They support politicians, companies and administrations at national and European level in overcoming economic policy challenges through in-depth advice. ZEW pursues the economic analysis of functioning markets and institutions in Europe as an overarching research guiding principle. Their main research interests are in the areas of competition and regulation. Methodologically, research at ZEW is based in particular on microeconomic and micro econometric approaches.

EnTouch Controls, Inc. engages in the provision of smart building solutions and managed services. It offers enterprise visibility, connectivity and control, and asset optimization solutions. It serves retail, restaurants, commercial real estate, hospitality, healthcare, and education industries. The company was founded by Iftekhar Hasan, James Walton and Greg Fasullo and in 2008 and is headquartered in Richardson, TX.

Bell Laboratories, Inc. manufactures rodent control products. It has developed products such as rodenticides, tamper-resistant bait stations, non-poisonous glue boards, and mechanical mousetraps to control rats. The company was founded by Malcolm Stack in 1974 and is headquartered in Madison, WI.

European Central Bank (Research Firm) (ECB Research) is the research division of European Central Bank, which is ultimately held by the European Union. The firm is headquartered in Frankfurt and was founded in 1998. ECB Research provides investment research to their clients.

Österreichisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (WIFO) is an independent investment research firm headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The firm was founded in 1927 by Friedrich August von Hayek and Ludwig von Mises. WIFO provides applied empirical economic research in Austria with a strong commitment at the European level. The mission of the firm is to build a bridge between academic basic research and economic policy application in order to contribute to solving socio-economic challenges and to create a factual basis for decisions in business and society. Their bridging function also goes hand in hand with an intermediary role between economic policy institutions, university institutions and advisory and consulting companies. WIFO is the point of contact for international organizations (EU, OECD and IMF) and rating agencies with regard to national economic development and the assessment of economic policy measures.

ifo Institut – Leibniz Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung e.V. is an independent research firm headquartered in Munich, Germany. Founded in 1949, the firm focuses on five areas of activity: policy advisory work, provision of information/services, participation in public debate, promotion of junior economists, and research in economics.