Federal Foreign Office (AA)

Auswärtiges Amt (AA)

Foreign Policy is becoming more and more multidimensional. Due to globalization, international cooperation is increasing in a growing number of fields. In light of the global challenges, cooperation in the field of science and research is of particular importance.

For decades, the German Federal Foreign Office has supported international scientific exchange. Its main partners are the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. In addition, German foreign policy aims at creating improved conditions for German scientists and researchers in their cooperation with partners around the world. To this end, it closely cooperates with the German Federal Ministry of Education and research (BMBF) and the German science and research organizations.

In 2009, the AA launched its Research and Academic Relations Initiative. It aimed at raising Germany's profile as a center of research and strengthening networks linking German researchers with their colleagues around the world. The initiative is part of Germany's Federal Government Strategy for the Internationalization of Science and Research dating February 2008.

In the framework of this initiative, Germany's Federal Foreign Office, together with the BMBF, supports the establishment of German Centers of Science and Innovation in five places (Moscow, New Delhi, New York, Sao Paulo and Tokyo). They shall contribute substantially to the strengthening of Germany as a research and business location by means of a joint presentation abroad of German actors in the field of innovation. This covers science and research organizations as well as companies in the field of applied technology.

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