At home in the world of data
In conversation with Susann Niemeyer, head of the Technology Centres for IT and Media in Adlershof
She originally wanted to become a chemist like her father and her grandfather. She touched down in information technology because she couldn’t get a place at the University of Greifswald during the GDR days. Since then, Susann Niemeyer has been whetting her appetite for data by attracting IT and media companies to Adlershof. As data protection commissioner for WISTA, the technology park’s operating company, she also takes a closer look at data security. Despite the tremendous opportunities, she urges people to take a more conscious approach to handling their personal data. In her free time, she takes very non-digital walks with her dogs through Berlin and Brandenburg’s national reserves.
When did you start working in Adlershof?
My first stint in Adlershof was in 1989 at the former Institut für Informatik und Rechentechnik as a research associate. Two years later, I moved to the Entwicklungsgesellschaft Adlershof, the site’s initial development company, which was the precursor to today’s WISTA. I have been responsible for the IT and media cluster ever since.
What are your tasks?
I oversee the three ZIM Technology Centres for IT and Media in Adlershof. My main tasks are the acquisition of new companies, supporting businesses and networking.
You are also data protection commissioner at WISTA. What is your job?
Data protection commissioners are often mandatory in companies that collect and process people’s personal data. Important questions are: how, where and for how long are data stored? How are the data used? Who is responsible? What happens in case of a leak? All these questions are answered for every process and documented in a procedure log.
A new general data protection regulation will take effect in May. Is WISTA prepared for it?
Yes, we are working on it. The reforms include making electronic devices and applications privacy-friendly by default, greater involvement of Berlin’s data protection commissioner and new incident reporting obligations. As a service to Adlershof-based companies, we will offer training on the new data protection regulation in the first quarter of this year.
Is digitisation a blessing or a curse?
It has already happened - in the economic and the private sphere. There are many advantages I wouldn’t want to do without. Overall, the negative aspects of digitisation are outweighed by the positive, including fast access to information, automatisation of routines, navigation or online use of government services, shopping and learning. It is important to bring as many people on board as possible.
How often do you use Facebook, Twitter and Co?
Rather rarely.
What do you do in your spare time?
I have an English Cocker Spaniel, who I take out for long walks every day through Berlin and Brandenburg’s nature reserves and for weekly visits to dog agility sessions. They have special obstacle courses for dogs. I also love water sports. I have been going sailing since I was a teenager. I have stopped doing that for the time being because we just bought a caravan to travel through Europe. My husband and I also swapped our sailing boat for a rowing boat last year. Now we are rowing on much smaller waters. But it also feels like one is closer to the nature than sailing.
When did you last try something new?
That was when we converted the former dining facility in Rudower Chaussee 17 into a co-working space. This type of office did not exist in the Technology Park. We went on a tour through various co-working spaces in Berlin and then developed our own concept. I’m really glad that people like Tino Jacobi are now using it to develop new ideas. I know Tino from being a juror at the “Jugend Forscht”, the national young science competition, which he has been a part of many times. Now he studies computer science at Humboldt-Universität in Berlin and has a company that 3D prints cuffs and ortheses for animals.
Is there something you’re afraid of?
Diseases like Alzheimer’s and needing care.
Do you have a dream?
As a child, I used to play the flute at the church in Bohnsdorf. I would like to learn how to play the saxophone.
Interview by Sylvia Nitschke
Discover more: Information technology and media in Berlin Adlershof