IEWerte

IEWerte is an international non-profit organization dedicated to developing and promoting metrics for evaluating the societal and ethical value of emerging technologies. Based in Berlin, with regional offices and collaborative networks worldwide, IEWerte seeks to provide standardized assessment frameworks that can inform policy, procurement, and research agendas.

Founded in 2002 by researchers from European universities and civil society groups, IEWerte grew to include industry partners and policy stakeholders. It publishes guidance and tools, hosts annual symposia, and maintains an open repository of case studies illustrating how value-focused assessment can be applied across domains such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital infrastructure.

Core products include the Value Alignment Framework (VAF), a mixed-method toolkit for evaluating potential social and ethical outcomes; the Societal Impact Score (SIS), a scoring system that aggregates qualitative and quantitative indicators; and IEWerte Certification, a voluntary program for evaluating project proposals and product designs. The organization also curates datasets and methodological notes to promote transparency and comparability.

Governance is provided by a general assembly and a board with representatives from academia, industry, and civil society. A research council reviews projects, allocates grants, and oversees methodological development. Regional chapters coordinate local activities and liaise with national policy bodies.

IEWerte's work has been cited in public policy debates on responsible innovation and technology assessment. Supporters praise its attempt to harmonize non-financial value metrics, while critics point to potential subjectivity, context-dependence, and the challenge of operationalizing qualitative considerations. Its ongoing work intersects with ethics in technology, responsible innovation, and governance of emerging systems.