The declared aim of the institutes is to promote the exchange of know-how between science and industry and, in particular, to increase the transfer of academic expertise into the Volkswagen Group. The institutes thus play a role in enhancing the Group's strategic innovative strength. A committee comprising representatives from the brands, departments, partner universities and AutoUni itself is responsible for steering the institutes' teaching programmes and research activities. This ensures that the work is in tune with both the company's interests - the technical requirements of the vocational families - and academic goals, thereby enabling new know-how to be acquired and disseminated at the highest possible level. The institutes are defined as Group-wide scientific service providers with an international focus. They align their activities to industry demands and serve as interfaces between science and industry, thereby assisting in personnel networking. As part of AutoUni, the institutes belong directly to the Volkswagen Group, operate across the Group and are neither legally nor financially independent.