The Europäische Akademie deals with the scientific study of the consequences of scientific and technological advances for individuals and society, as well as for the natural environment. The main focus is on the examination of foreseeable mid and long-term processes that are especially influenced by the natural and engineering sciences and the medical disciplines. As an independent scientific institution, the Europäische Akademie pursues a dialogue with the world of politics and society at large.

The Europäische Akademie is a non-profit corporation with limited liability. The Europäische Akademie is mainly financed by allowances granted by the Bundesland Rhineland-Palatinate and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. – DLR). Furthermore, a number of third-party funds are received, for example from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF). The Managing Director of the company, as well as the director of the academy, is Professor Dr. phil. Dr. phil.h.c. Carl Friedrich Gethmann, a full professor of applied philosophy at the Universität Duisburg-Essen.