The Center for Advanced Studies regards itself as a platform for scientific exchange and interconnectedness. Transcending the disciplinary boundaries, the Center devotes itself to future-relevant issues as well as the observation, description and analysis of economic and societal processes of change.
Within the research activities, themes and issues of timely global challenges are connected to regional needs, and regional developments are put into a global context. Within the scope of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research the interconnection of global and local to "glocal" is diffused in global networks as well as through the sensitization of local and regional actors for global themes.

In terms of transformative research, the Center for Advanced Studies links and initiates learning processes between science and society. Future developments are identified and anticipated scientifically, in order to supportively design political decisions and social directions.​​​