Science
10.07.2009

A strong signal for education and research in Germany

"Today, the Federal Government and the Länder have sent out a strong signal for education and research in Germany", said Federal Minister Annette Schavan. "With the recently agreed package including the Higher Education Pact, the Initiative for Excellence and the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation, we are significantly enhancing the international competitiveness of German science and research. In times of crisis, we have set the right priorities and laid the groundwork for future sources of prosperity."
In their meeting on 4 June 2009, the Federal Chancellor and the Minister-Presidents of the Länder approved the proposals of the Joint Science Conference (GWK) on the second programme phase of the Higher Education Pact 2020 as well as the continuation of the Excellence Initiative for the promotion of world-class university research and the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation with non-university research establishments. At its special meeting on 22 April 2009, the GWK had decided to extend the three programmes until 2019 with a total funding volume of €18 billion.
  • Hightech Strategy

    Higher Education Pact

    With the Higher Education Pact, which is to run until 2020, the Federal Government and the Länder want to give an additional 275,000 new university entrants the opportunity to take up their studies.
    more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/6142.php)
  • Science

    Initiative for Excellence

    The continuation of the Initiative for Excellence will provide a secure basis for world-class research at universities. Successful projects that were started in the first two rounds can now be continued and new projects for the development of world-class research can be realized.
    more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/1321.php)
  • Science

    Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation

    The Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation is designed to give financial planning security to institutions that are jointly funded by the Federal Government and the Länder (Fraunhofer Society, Helmholtz Association, Max Planck Society and Leibniz Association) as well as the German Research Association (as a research funding organization) . Their funding is to increase by 5 percent every year between 2011 and 2015. In addition, they can receive additional funds if they establish new organizations or change their form of funding. This will give them room for manoeuvre and enable them to trigger dynamic developments despite the rising costs.
    more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/3215.php)