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A further highlight within the scope of the Research Marketing Initiative by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) was provided by the "First German-Korean Night of Science and Technology," held at the Korea University in Seoul on 23 May 2008. Following the example of the well-known "Night of the Sciences" at German universities", this event brought German and Korean project partners together. At the same time, all those actively involved presented themselves to the interested Korean colleagues.

Hands-on research

BMBF and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) office in Korea had planned the event together. With more than 30 information stands from some 20 Korean and German exhibitors, the Science and Technology Night attracted several hundred visitors. Research institutions and companies with a technological focus presented their work and also fascinated interested amateurs through with their "hands-on research" approach. The organisers are unanimous in their verdict. Events like these contribute valuably to the particularly close relations between the partners in both countries – and additionally create new and highly-promising contacts.

Alumni network

On the very same day, another major media event had taken place, namely at the very same venue: the founding of an alumni network: "Alumni-Netzwerk Deutschland Korea (ADeKo)". University graduates who today often hold executive positions have a major role to play in the continuing expansion of the relations and networks. On the one hand, the most successful specialists have the necessary ties and contacts, while, on the other, they also have comprehensive know-how. The Alumni Network is the first attempt to establish such a structure specifically committed to knowledge transfer and scientific dialogue. Besides many individual members, this network counts the 40 existing alumni clubs among its members. The goal of this large-scale network is to expand the German-Korean community of researchers.

Within the scope of the pilot project, both events contributed to strongly intensifying the research collaboration and to raising the image and standing of German research in Korea.