???aural:Bildanfang???The EURAXESS T.O.P. project team at the kick-off meeting at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.  © Alexander von Humboldt Foundation???aural:Bildende???

How can professional services for researchers coming to Europe be further improved? How can they be turned into an asset in recruiting the "best brains"? How can the best ideas across 35 European countries be made available to all engaged in promoting researchers’ mobility? A European project coordinated by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), "EURAXESS T.O.P. - Enhancing the Outreach and Effectiveness of the EURAXESS Network Partners", seeks answers.

The project involves funding worth 2.9 million euros. The Humboldt Foundation won a call published in the 7th Research Framework Programme. Since January 2010, it has coordinated the continued development of the European network of EURAXESS Service Centres in 35 European countries in the project context. The centres help researchers and their families to organise research stays abroad, which supports international researcher mobility.

Over the next 18 months, the project plans to share exemplary models throughout Europe and incorporate them in a guide for all partners. It also seeks to optimise the national EURAXESS website and enhance staff qualifications and their links 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 (BMBF).

Contact: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Dr. Barbara Sheldon Barbara.Sheldon@avh.de

More information: www.euraxess.de