Strengthen exchange, defend democratic values

In its strategic position paper, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation advocates international exchange in leading-edge research. Trusting collaboration between researchers from around the world – which the Humboldt Foundation fosters in its capacity as an intermediary organisation for implementing the German government’s cultural relations and education policy – contributes to growth and prosperity in Germany. Our goal right now must be to boost our innovative strength on a long-term basis through research collaboration.

“We are currently witnessing in other countries how quickly core beliefs – which we in the democratic world once thought were non-negotiable – can be weakened. This makes it all the more important that we uphold and defend values such as rule of law, human rights and freedom of science when electing the 21st German Bundestag”, said Robert Schlögl, President of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Schlögl also spoke out against nationalist movements and stressed the importance of collaborative scientific activities:

Key strategic goals 

In its position paper, the Humboldt Foundation outlines the areas it feels should be focused on during the next legislative period in order to ensure internationally networked science in Germany that can meet the challenges of the future. In the position paper it also details the offerings and activities it is making available to achieve this. The Foundation particularly sees a need for action in relation to promoting and funding collaboration between researchers, recruiting experts, increasing innovative capabilities and expanding science communication.

1. Strengthen international research cooperation: Attractive fellowship and award programmes that offer equal opportunities are to be used to attract outstanding researchers to Germany. Scouting activities are to be used to identify specialists for long-term collaboration with Germany.
2. Build research skills and expertise on a long-term basis: Partnerships with communities in the Global South are to be stabilised and strengthened; the self-responsibility of these communities is to be bolstered. Research hubs are to bundle research capacities and network them at an international level. 
3. Transfer the potential for innovation to industry: Steps are to be taken to foster an increase in the number of start-ups in close proximity to science. Serving as global founders, international experts are to provide impetus for the innovation and start-up scene in Germany.
4. Flexible crisis management: Freedom of research is to be protected and Germany’s ability to take remedial measures following crises is to be strengthened through the ability to respond quickly to geopolitical crises.
5. New formats for science communication: New dialogue formats are to be used to support and foster the transfer of findings from international cutting-edge research to society and promote societal trust in research in the long term.

Financial security as foundation

For more than 70 years now, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has promoted the sharing of ideas and information between outstanding researchers around the world. Today, its network counts more than 30,000 scientists and scholars from more than 140 countries – including 61 Nobel Prize winners. According to Robert Schlögl, President of the Humboldt Foundation, “The Humboldt Foundation builds bridges which increase trust in Germany throughout the world. It creates security through reliable relationships.” With its mission, the Humboldt Foundation, as an actor in science diplomacy, is a unique constant in the international research landscape, Schlögl noted. Its ability to act is based in no small part upon having a stable financial foundation. Reliable annual increases in the institutional budgets of the mediating organisations (the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)), increases that are based on the Pact for Research and Innovation, are essential for this.

Every year, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables more than 2,000 researchers from all over the world to spend time conducting research in Germany. The Foundation maintains an interdisciplinary network of well over 30,000 Humboldtians in more than 140 countries around the world – including 61 Nobel Prize winners.