About the institute
Against the background of the Austrian Länder striving for more federalism in Austria, at the beginning of the Seventies, the Länder Tirol and Vorarlberg pursued the idea of establishing a research centre dedicated to the study of federalism. In addition to its research work the institute was intended to contribute to the spreading of the notion of federalism within the population by offering a wide range of information services.These considerations finally led to the foundation of the Institut für Föderalismusforschung in 1975. The renowned scholar Univ.-Prof. Dr. Peter Pernthaler, full professor at the Department of Public Law, Financial Law and Political Science at the University of Innsbruck, has since been director of the Institute. In 2000 the Institute celebrated its 25-year-anniversary. Its name has recently been changed to Institute of Federalism.
Prof. Dr. Peter Pernthaler was head of the Institute from 1975 to 2000.
Since 1 January 2001 Univ.Doz. Dr. Peter Bußjäger, has been director of the Institute of Federalism. He is also Head of the Office of the Land Parliament of Vorarlberg.
Since 1 July 2003 the Austrian Land Oberösterreich has been a supporting member of the Institute.
The Institute of Federalism is supervised by a Board of Curators which consists of 4 representatives that are appointed by the governments of each of the four responsible Länder. Every year the chair is taken by a representative of another Land than in the year before. The Board decides all matters of consequence, especially the programme of work, budgeting and personnel matters. Furthermore it establishes contact between the Institute and the five State Governments and State Parliaments. The Director carries out the Board's decisions and is responsible for the Institute's research programme. He is helped by the Head Assistant and the Secretary.
Board of Curators
Landesamtsdirektor Dr. Eduard PESENDORFER (Oberösterreich)Landtagsdirektor Mag.Dr. Wolfgang STEINER (Oberösterreich)
Landesamtsdirektor-Stellvertreter Dr. Peter SONNBERGER (Oberösterreich)
Hofrat Dr. Gerald GRABENSTEINER (Oberösterreich)
Landesamtsdirektor Dr. Josef LIENER (Tirol)
Landesamtsdirektor-Stellvertreter Dr. Dietmar SCHENNACH (Tirol)
Dr. Christian RANACHER (Tirol)
Mag. Christine SALCHER (Tirol)
Landesamtsdirektor Dr. Günther EBERLE (Vorarlberg)
Dr. Matthias GERMANN (Vorarlberg)
Dr. Borghild GOLDGRUBER-REINER (Vorarlberg)
Dr. Harald SCHNEIDER (Vorarlberg)
Director
Univ.Doz.Dr. Peter Bußjäger (peter.bussjaeger@foederalismus.at)Staff
- Head Assistent:
Ernst WEGSCHEIDER (ernst.wegscheider@foederalismus.at) - Secretary:
Claudia ZUNG (claudia.zung@foederalismus.at)