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Privacy Policy

The WISE Horizons project attaches great importance to the responsible and transparent treatment of personal data. Our WISE Horizons Network mailings keep you updated on project news, events, and publications.

Below, we provide users with information regarding:

  • Who you can contact within the WISE Horizons team on the subject of data protection.
  • What data is processed when you visit the website.
  • What data is processed when you contact us or subscribe to the WISE Horizons Network’s email lists.
  • How you can manage your data preferences and opt out of data storage.
  • Your legal rights concerning your personal data.

1. Data Controllers

The WISE Horizons project is coordinated by the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) – Universiteit Leiden. ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies gUG is in charge of the website and communications. Botch act as the data controllers on behalf of the project.

Address:

ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies gUG

Pilgrimstraße 6
50674 Cologne

Email: wise@zoe-institut.de

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your personal data, you may contact us at the address above.

2. Information on the Collection of Personal Data

When you are asked to submit personal information while using our services, you are free to choose whether or not to provide it. Your personal details will be stored and used strictly in accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Website Log Files

The website can be used without providing any personal data. However, when visiting the WISE Horizons website, the browser you use automatically transmits technical data that is temporarily saved in a server log file. This includes data technically required to display the website correctly and to ensure its stability and security (e.g., IP address, date and time of the request, browser type).

3. Web Analytics (Matomo)

With your explicit consent, we use the open-source software Matomo to analyse and statistically evaluate the use of our website. Cookies may be used for this purpose.

The information obtained about website use is transmitted exclusively to our secure, self-hosted servers and summarised in pseudonymous usage profiles. We use this data solely to evaluate and improve the website’s user experience. The data collected is not passed on to third parties. IP addresses are anonymised (IP masking) immediately so that allocation to individual users is impossible.

  • Legal Basis: The data is processed on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a GDPR).
  • Opt-out: You can revoke your consent at any time by deleting the cookies in your browser or updating your preferences in our Cookie Consent manager.

4. WISE Horizons Network, Contact & Email Lists (Brevo)

Personal data (such as your email address and name) is used for the purpose of processing your subscription to our email lists or handling your direct enquiries.

  • Double Opt-in: After entering your email address for our newsletter, you will receive an email containing a link to confirm the authenticity of the address and the subscription. If you do not confirm the registration, your data will be automatically deleted.
  • Third-Party Processor (Brevo): We use Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) as our email marketing and CRM platform. By signing up for the WISE Horizons Network or contacting us via forms, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be securely transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with their terms of use and strict GDPR compliance.
  • Legal Basis: The legal basis for processing data in connection with the dispatch of newsletters is your explicit consent (Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a GDPR).
  • Cancellation: The newsletter subscription can be cancelled at any time via the unsubscribe link provided in every email. Upon cancellation, your personal data is deleted from our active mailing database.

5. Your User Rights

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right of Access (Art. 15 GDPR): To obtain information about your data stored by us.
  • Right to Rectification (Art. 16 GDPR): To have incorrect data rectified.
  • Right to Erasure (Art. 17 GDPR): To have your data stored by us erased.
  • Right to Restriction of Processing (Art. 18 GDPR): To limit how your data is processed.
  • Right to Data Portability (Art. 20 GDPR): To receive your personal data in a commonly used and machine-readable format.
  • Right to Object (Art. 21 GDPR): To object to the storage of your data if personal data is processed on the basis of legitimate interests.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent (Art. 7 Para. 3 GDPR): To withdraw your consent at any time. The lawfulness of the processing based on consent before its withdrawal remains unaffected.

Users also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection supervisory authority (Art. 77 GDPR). The competent authority for the controller is the German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI).

Last updated: July 2026