Collaborative Project: International Research Marketing

Background and objectives

Within the pilot project “International Research Marketing” the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has joined forces with the German Academic Exchange Service, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to develop a joint marketing concept. In the context of this new strategic alliance the specific expertise and resources as well as the relevant contacts and networks of the four research and funding organisations are bundled to draw international attention to the potential and opportunities offered by Germany as a destination for research, and enhance the visibility of top class German research abroad. Other main objectives of the joint project include initiating more international research collaborations, promoting international researcher mobility and driving innovation potential to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the German research system. In order to achieve these goals each of the project partners has taken on responsibility for various constituent projects and activities.

Constituent projects according to partner

• The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation organises networking conferences for research alumni of various German research (funding) organisations and involves them in research marketing. In addition, the Humboldt Foundation supports cooperations between German universities and their respective research alumni in the context of an ideas competition.
• The German Academic Exchange Service focuses on media work addressing all target groups for the entire project.
• The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft establishes cross-organisational event formats to (re-)recruit top researchers.
• As part of the "German High Tech Champions" marketing campaign the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft opens up international R&D markets for German universities and non-university research institutions.

All the activities within the project are part of the “Promote Innovation and Research in Germany” initiative under its brand “Research in Germany”. The initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.