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Under the lead responsibility of the Federal Research Ministry, the German Government has published the first interim report on the Internationalisation Strategy for Science and Research that was adopted in 2008. Federal Research Minister Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan drew a positive conclusion of all the measures that had been undertaken so far by all the institutions involved – federal ministries, federal states, organisations from business and industry, science and research.

The key points highlighted by Minister Schavan included the Alexander von Humboldt  Professorships, which are financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and serve to encourage outstanding international researchers to come to Germany, as well as the distinct increase in the grants and scholarships available to scientists plus the specifically targeted internationalisation of clusters and networks in research.

All the participating institutions saw the strategy as a necessary and appropriate response to globalisation and the challenges of our time, and want to continue to provide support for this. "Together with all the stakeholders and players, we have succeeded in initiating an ongoing and sustainable process, thereby providing the internationalisation of science and research in Germany with fresh impetus and dynamic force," said Schavan.

The Internationalisation Strategy has set four Key Priorities: Strengthening research  cooperation with global leaders; International exploitation of innovation potentials; Intensifying cooperation with developing countries in education, research and development on a long-term basis; Assuming international responsibility and mastering global challenges.

Further information at: www.bmbf.de