Special Projects to Internationalise Research in Germany

More international than ever, research is subject to fierce competition between global locations. In order to recruit the best of the best, and thus strengthen research in Germany, we are continuously working to improve our offers for researchers who are being courted worldwide. We work with different partners to market Germany as a research location internationally. We rely on our traditional strengths, but also on new ideas and initiatives, to help ensure that Germany is one of the primary destinations for the international research elite. Initiatives such as the Welcome Centres Award for Cosmopolitan Universities or the Award for the Friendliest Immigration Office are part of our commitment to help German research become more international.

• Research Alumni
  International Research Marketing

  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 their first 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 will be 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. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is building up a cross-organisational network of “research alumni” and will involve them in research marketing. In addition, the Humboldt Foundation invited German universities to take part in an ideas competition "Research alumni".

• Welcome Centres
  Start-up service for internationally mobile researchers

  To help make Germany a research location where researchers from abroad feel welcome, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Deutsche Telekom Foundation and the Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft (Donors’ Association) organised an ideas competition between 2006 and 2010 to find Germany's cosmopolitan universities. In three rounds, thirteen universities were awarded the title “Welcome Centre for internationally mobile researchers”. 

• You are welcome!
  Award for Germany's Friendliest Immigration Office

  Between 2003 and 2005, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft invited entries for the Award for Germany's Friendliest Immigration Office a total of three times.