Dear german-innovation.org users,

We know that information on data processing is not a particularly exciting read.
However, the following information is vital – so, we appreciate your time reading through it carefully. 

 

Information on data processing

The protection of your data is important to us.

https://german-innovation.org is operated by ginNova GmbH, Wendlohstr. 183, 22459 Hamburg, represented by managing directors Claudia Schwarz and Sanja Stankovic. 

The following Data Privacy Agreement will elaborate how we process data and which services we have integrated into our web presence. 

 

  1. Subject of data protection

According to Section 3 (1) of the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG), personal data is individual information about personal or factual circumstances of a specific or identifiable natural person or, according to Article 4 of the German Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO), all information that relates to an identified or identifiable person. This includes information such as names or e-mail addresses, but also usage data such as your IP address or content data, such as comments you posted.

 

  1. Scope and purpose of data collection and storage

In the following sections, we will clarify the scope of data collection and storage as well as use (hereinafter “data processing”, used in the sense of Art. 4 para. 7 DSGVO) and purpose of the respective data processing within the framework of the website. 

 

  1. Personal data

In principle, the use of this website is possible without providing personal data. An exception is the IP address which is needed for a short period of time (please read section 3.4.).

 

However, if you would like to use any of our services, such as contacting us by e-mail, subscribing to a newsletter, participating in a contest or using any community functions such as our comment function in the blog, you will be asked to provide personal data.

 

3.1 Contact via email 

If you would like to contact us by email, you must leave or submit the following personal data:

 

  • email address, 
  • first and last name, 
  • Optional: Telephone number if you wish us to call you back.
  • Optional: Company name and country of origin.

 

We use this data exclusively to process and respond to your request.

 

This data will be deleted immediately after we have processed your request. If, on the other hand, retention periods under commercial law apply, the data will be retained for up to 6 to 10 years in accordance with § 257 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and then deleted thereafter. The stated period begins with the end of the year in which the data originated. 

 

3.2 Newsletter registration

If you wish to register for our newsletter, your email address and name are required. By signing up, consent is given to send you the newsletter with information about Germany as a location for innovation, including references to relevant people, products and events etc. 

 

We will process this data for as long as your subscription to the newsletter is active. If you unsubscribe, your personal data will be deleted immediately.

 

3.3 About IP addresses 

Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are vital to basic functions of the internet: they are used to establish communication between web servers and/or individual devices. Information requests through a web server – for example a search via a search machine – are processed by using the IP address of the person requesting the information. Through the IP, data can then be delivered properly. Date is stored in the so-called web server log file. ginNova GmbH does not store user IP addresses beyond the necessary processing time described here, rather it anonymizes the IP address by automatically replacing the IP address of the user in the log files with the value 127.0.0.1.

Please note that according to the prevailing legal opinion, the IP address is considered personal data. As of 2018, this has also been defined accordingly by law through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, German acronym: DSGVO.) 

 

3.4 Participation in a competition

For participation in a competition, we require your name and email and – for some events – your postal address. Competitions (pitches and other contests) might require applicants and participants to submit additional content such as pictures or comments. Such events might therefore require additional and extended terms of use and information on data processing.

Data submitted in connection with event participation will be deleted immediately after the event has ended unless expressed consent was given to use the data for other purposes and / or longer periods of time. 

 

3.5 Processing of data in connection with events

Name and email address are required when registering for an event. Extended use of your email address might be requested, for example for follow-up feedback to the event, information on future events or a link for newsletter subscription. Extended use requires active consent. 

The data you have left with us in connection with an event will be deleted immediately after the event unless you have given us explicit consent to use the data for other purposes and / or extended periods of time. 

 

3.6 Other data collection

Please make sure to read our information on cookies (section 5) and external services (section 6).

 

  1. Use of data for specific purposes, legal basis for data processing, transfer of data, recipients of data

We observe the principle of ‘data use for specific purposes’. We collect, store and use all of the aforementioned data for the stated purposes in order to offer you the full range of services described in section 3. 

 

This type of data processing, with the exception of the data processing according to section 3.3, is carried out within the framework of § 28 para. 1 no. 1 BDSG or, as of May 25, 2018, according to Art. 6 para. 1 b) GDPR / DSGVO. In order to process your email address and name for the newsletter, your consent is given by means of a double opt-in. The same applies to the processing of data following events.

 

This type of data processing is based on consent in accordance with § 4a BDSG or, as of May 25, 2018, in accordance with Art. in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 a) and Art. 7 DSGVO.  

Recipients of the data is also our web hosting provider All Inkl – Neue Medien Münnich. Furthermore, The Rocket Science Group, LLC. whose tool Mailchimp we use for newsletter administration. Both providers are bound to us via an order processing contract.

 

Personal data will not be passed on to third parties outside the framework described here without expressed consent. The disclosure of personal data to state institutions and authorities entitled to receive such, will also only occur within the framework of the legal obligations to disclose data or if we are required to provide information by a court’s decision.

 

  1. Cookies

Cookies are used on our website. Cookies are small text files that a website stores on the device of a visitor. Cookies make it easier for you to use the website / mobile site, for example by making it easier to re-access data. More information can be found in the “Settings” section of your browser software. Click “Settings”, then “Content Settings” and / or “Cookie management” (user menu navigation might differ.) You can prevent the installation of cookies through a corresponding setting in the browser software (found under “Settings” in most browsers). However, it should be noted that in this case you may not be able to use all functions of our website / mobile site in full. Furthermore, you can delete cookies that have already been set (also to be found under “Settings” in the browser).

 

  1. External services

We have implemented various external services on our website. In the following sections, you will find detailed information.

 

6.1 Google Analytics

The tracking service Universal Analytics (formerly: Google Analytics) is integrated into our website: Universal Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States (referred to as Google.) Universal Analytics is a web analytics tool that analyzes the interaction of visitors with the online platform in order to improve the online platform’s performance. For this purpose, Google LLC sets a cookie, which then processes the following data:

  • Browser type,
  • Operating system used,
  • IP address (shortened),
  • Time of the server request.

 

The information generated by the cookie (while using our website) is transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, we have activated IP anonymization on our online platform. IP addresses within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area is shortened and anonymized by Google before being transferred to the USA. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On our behalf, Google will use the information stated above for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website by compiling reports on website activity. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Universal Analytics will not be merged with other data from Google. 

This data processing is based on Art. 6 I f) DSGVO. In our case, Universal Analytics is used to track and analyze basic user behavior on our website in order to optimize our company’s offers and overall performance. 

 

An opposing legitimate, overriding interest of the user is not apparent when it comes to the use of the UA cookie related to choice of browser type, the operating system used, the IP address (shortened), and how the time of the server request is processed. We cannot relate the data itself to specific persons. Google LLC is bound to us by data protection law via an order processing agreement. You can prevent the storage of cookies from Google Analytics (as well as other cookies) by a corresponding basic setting of the browser software (to be found under “Settings” in most browsers); however, it should be noted that in this case you may not be able to use all functions of this website to their full extent. In addition, you can prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to the use of the website (including the IP address) to Google, as well as the processing of this data by Google, by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

 

If you are using the site via a mobile device such as a tablet or cell phone and would like to prevent Universal Analytics from collecting your visits to this website in the future, please click this link. [LINK] Clicking the link will place an opt-out cookie in the mobile browser. If this cookie is deleted, the link must be clicked again. 

Google requires that we inform you about these data uses and that you give us your consent. As a result, you will find the so-called “cookie layer” at the bottom of the website. By clicking on the “Agree” button, you declare your consent to the data use carried out here.

  1. YouTube

Some Videos embedded on our website are linked through via YouTube. The so-called “extended data protection mode” of YouTube is used. A cookie is stored on the user’s computer only when the video is played. According to YouTube, no personal information is stored via cookie for playbacks of embedded videos with extended data protection. For more information on YouTube’s official privacy policy, click here: 

https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/

 

If you want to ensure that none of your data is stored by YouTube, please do not click on the embedded videos.

 

Data subject rights (including rights of access, revocation, objection and deletion)

  

In addition to the information provided above, you have the following rights:

You have the right to request information regarding the data we have processed about you.

You may object to the processing of your data at any time and revoke any consent you may have given to the processing of the data at any time. If the consent to data processing is revoked or the use of the data is objected to, this does not affect the lawfulness of the data processing up to the time of the revocation.

Furthermore, the data processed by us, can be corrected, restricted or deleted at any time. However, legal obligations – such as retention obligations – may apply, indicating that data storage needs to be continued. In this case, the data storage / processing can only be restricted: Data will be processed exclusively for the purpose of complying with the legal obligations and will not be used for any other purpose. In addition, as of 25.05.2018, you also have the right to data portability in accordance with Art. 20 DSGVO and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority in accordance with Art. 77 DSGVO. 

 

To exercise the aforementioned rights, please contact us at the following address: datenschutz@german-innovation.org

 

  1. Data protection officer

The data protection officer of ginNova GmbH is

 

Jana Bendig

Tel: + 49 172 232 4191

 

datenschutz@german-innovation.org