The Department of Applied Future Technologies develops key technologies (e.g. big data, Internet of Things, sensors). Particular emphasis is placed on data organization and data analysis, because "data is the oil of the 21st century". This quote is intended to express the fact that in the information and knowledge society of the 21st century, it is no longer the possession of physical raw materials (e.g. oil) but rather of intangible resources (data) that is of decisive importance. The competitiveness of modern companies and public institutions depends crucially on their ability to analyze internal and external data and to use it for decision-making, the optimization of business processes and the development of new products and services. Data therefore plays a central role in research at the Swiss Institute of Information Science.