Some three million EUR in EU funding to promote researcher mobility
How can professional services for researchers coming to Europe be further improved? How can they be turned into an asset in the process of recruiting the "best brains"? How can the best ideas across 35 European countries be pooled and made available to all engaged in the field of promoting researchers´ mobility? Answers are sought in a European project under the coordination of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: “EURAXESS T.O.P. – Enhancing the Outreach and Effectiveness of the EURAXESS Network Partners.”

The project involves funding worth 2.9 million EUR. The Humboldt Foundation won a call published in the 7th Research Framework Programme. From January 2010 onwards, the Humboldt Foundation will coordinate the continued development of the European network of EURAXESS Service Centres in 35 European countries in the context of the project. The centres help researchers and their families to plan and organise research stays abroad and thus support international researcher mobility.

During the next 18 months the project plans to share exemplary models that have proved successful throughout Europe and incorporate them in a guide which will be available to all partners. Another aim of the project is to optimise the national EURAXESS website. Finally, the staff at the centres will be able to take part in joint continuing education measures to enhance their qualifications and put them in contact with one another.

The German part of the network, the EURAXESS Germany, National Coordination Point, has been located at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation since 2003 and is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.