Cooperation with other Countries

The BMBF has commissioned the International Bureau (IB) with providing support to German universities, research institutes and small and medium-sized enterprises exploit the opportunities posed by international networking.

• Consultation on the possibilities and conditions of international cooperation
• Information on current fields of cooperation and funding opportunities for international cooperation
• Selected events for investigating the possibilities of cooperation and the establishment of new contacts
• Granting of financial support for investigative measures and the preparation of projects - including feasibility studies and pilot investigations.

The IB provides support for:

• Investigating the potential of selected partner countries in the areas of science, research and technological development and evaluating their capacity for the implementation of research results
• Communicating the strengths of German organisations, their networks and clusters in an effort to promote them abroad as international partners in science, research and innovation
• Establishing new contacts to relevant actors in partner countries and facilitating access to outstanding research locations and infrastructures
• Joint development of project ideas in thematic areas enjoying a high research policy priority in the funding programmes of the BMBF as well as in the EU Framework Programme and the carrying out of preliminary scientific work necessary for the successful preparation of proposals (e.g. feasibility studies, pilot measures)
• Developing scenarios for strategic international partnerships for German universities, research institutes and their organisations and creating favourable conditions for implementation of these scenarios

Under certain conditions, the International Bureau can support cooperation in the field of education (esp. vocational and university education) as a complement to the activities of educational and mediating organisations. Such support must respect the authority of the federal states.

Please take note of country-specific thematic orientations and specific funding initiatives.

• 

  topic 

  Western, Northern and Southern Europe

  Cooperation with other European countries is a central issue for Germany and an especially strong factor in the implementation of the BMBF's funding programmes. Bilateral cooperation predominantly takes place within a multilateral framework and is geared towards actively shaping the European Research Area (ERA). Scientific cooperation in the ERA is generally carried out through direct and unrestricted contact between researchers and research institutions, without the need for government-funded measures to establish these contacts.
  [more] (URL: http://www.internationales-buero.de/en/2134.php)
   
  
• 

  topic 

  Central, Eastern and South East Europe

  Germany's cooperation with Central, Eastern and South Eastern European countries is strongly characterized by the enlargement of the EU and the aim of creating a European Education and Research Area. Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary as well as the Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the European Union in May 2004. Bulgaria and Romania became members in January 2007. The integration of the western Balkans is a priority for the EU. These processes lead to changes in the objectives and framework conditions of bilateral collaborations and make it necessary to adapt the instruments used.
  [more] (URL: http://www.internationales-buero.de/en/845.php)
   
  
• 

  topic 

  Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

  As a European neighbourhood region, the CIS plays a particularly important role. Its member states have strong economic growth and traditional strengths in the field of science.
  [more] (URL: http://www.internationales-buero.de/en/843.php)
   
  
• 

  topic 

  Turkey, Israel, Arab Countries and Africa

  Germany's main bilateral cooperation partners in this region in the fields of science and research are Israel, Jordan, Egypt and South Africa. Germany also has scientific and technological cooperation (STC) agreements with Tunisia and Morocco, but cooperation with these countries mainly takes place within the framework of the EU's Mediterranean partnership MoCo (Monitoring Committee for the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation).
  [more] (URL: http://www.internationales-buero.de/en/841.php)
   
  
• 

  topic 

  North and South America

  The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has commissioned the International Bureau (IB) with the scientific and administrative management of its bilateral cooperation with the countries of North, Middle and South America.
  [more] (URL: http://www.internationales-buero.de/en/839.php)
   
  
• 

  topic 

  Asian-Pacific Region

  Politically, economically and scientifically, the Asian-Pacific region is becoming one of the leading regions of the world today. Due to a long tradition of good contacts, cooperation in the areas of education and research plays a significant role in ensuring that Germany is able to participate in this development.
  [more] (URL: http://www.internationales-buero.de/en/837.php)