The
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Networks of Excellence: Programmes and Initiatives for Egypt
Dr. Oliver Lange, Head of Division 2.1, Life Sciences
Dr. Simone Heil, Programme Director, Middle East and Africa Department
2 February 2015, Humboldt Kolleg in Ismailia
Melanie
Schmitz:
4c
Historical and intellectual roots
● Alexander von Humboldt (1769 - 1859): discoverer, universal
scholar, cosmopolitan and patron of excellent scientific talent
● 1953: establishment of today’s Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation based in Bonn Bad-Godesberg
● international network of academic cooperation and trust inspired
by Humboldt’s example
The Humboldt Foundation's areas of work
● sponsorship of international academics as a part of foreign
cultural and educational policy
● strengthening cutting-edge research through internationalisation
● impetus for the research location Germany by promoting
individuals
● advancing development through academic cooperation
● mobility counselling in the European context
Principles of the Foundation
● sole selection criterion: academic excellence
● sponsorships for people, not projects
● no quotas for countries or disciplines
● free choice of academic host / collaboration partner in Germany
● independent scientific research, not stipulated by the
Foundation
● worldwide excellence network of Humboldtians
Equal opportunities for female academics
● equal opportunities is an important issue for the Foundation
● sponsoring of women correlates with age, career stage and
geographical origin
● measures supplementing standard sponsorship opportunities:
fellowship extension or interruption, allowances, targeted
counselling
Research location Germany
Universities
Leibniz Institutes
Kiel
Max Planck Institutes
Rostock
Helmholtz Centres
Greifswald
Hamburg
Fraunhofer Institutes
Bremen
Berlin
Hannover
Magdeburg
Münster
Dortmund
Göttingen
Halle
Leipzig
Aachen
Köln
Bonn
Marburg
Mainz
Jena
Frankfurt a. M.
Heidelberg
Saarbrücken
Nürnberg
Karlsruhe
Stuttgart
Freiburg
München
Dresden
Research institutions
● approximately 100 universities: research in all disciplines
● 82 Max Planck Institutes: basic research, especially in the
natural and biosciences but also in the humanities and social
sciences
● 67 Fraunhofer Institutes: applied research
● 18 Helmholtz Centres: technical-scientific and biomedical
research
● 89 Leibniz Institutes: research ranging from knowledge-oriented
basic research to applied research
Finding a Co-operation Partner in Germany
1) Search “interesting” publications
2) Ask colleagues with contacts in Germany (e.g.
Humboldtians at your institute)
3) Search the Humboldt Foundation’s Network Online
- get a list of host institutions of Humboldtians
- filter your search by subject area, location, and key words
www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/researching-thenetwork.html
4) Search via the DAAD and DFG “Research Explorer”
- information on over 19,000 institutions at universities and
non-university research institutions in Germany
- search by geographic, academic, and structural criteria
www.research-explorer.de
Sponsorship Opportunities offered by the
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Programmes „coming to Germany“
years after PhD
B
M
0
PhD
4
PD
PD
12
Ass
18
AP
FP
Humboldt-Fellow
Georg-Forster-Fellow
Kovaleskaja-Award
Bessel-Award
Humboldt-Award
Georg-F-Award
Humboldt-Prof.
DAAD
Humboldt-Foundation
Research Fellowships
for exceptionally qualified academics from abroad and from
Germany
Research fellowships for research stays in
Germany
Humboldt Research Fellowship /
Georg Forster Research Fellowship (HERMES)
Postdoctoral researchers
Experienced researchers
Duration of
sponsorship
● 6 to 24 months
● 6 to 18 months, may be
divided up into 3 stays
Application
period
● applications at any time,
doctorates completed less
than 4 years ago
● applications at any time,
doctorates completed less
than 12 years ago
Fellowship
amount
● 2,650 EUR per month
(plus additional benefits)
● 3,150 EUR per month
(plus additional benefits)
Georg Forster Research Fellowship (HERMES) –
additional benefits
● child allowance (400 EUR per month for the first child and 100 EUR per
month for each additional child)
● subsidy towards childcare costs, if at least one child of no more than
twelve years of age accompanies the research fellow in Germany
● subsidy towards a pension plan of up to 200 EUR per month,
providing the research fellow contributes the same amount from her or
his own finances
● bridging grant to cover transitional periods of unemployment in
Germany
Research Fellowships:
Application Requirements
Application requirements
Postdoctoral researchers
Experienced researchers
● above average doctorate
● independent academic
activity, e.g. as an assistant
professor
● academic publications
● comprehensive list of
academic publications with
own, clearly defined
academic profile
● agreement by academic host
● agreement by academic host
● independent research
project
● independent research
project
● knowledge of German and/or
English
● knowledge of German and/or
English
Application procedure
● application forms available at AvH website
● applications at any time to the Foundation directly
● assessment by independent expert reviewers
● decision by independent selection committees
● duration of procedure: approximately 4 to 7 months
International Climate Protection
Fellowships
for prospective leaders from emerging and developing countries,
who
● are engaged in climate protection and resource conservation;
● are working in academia, business, governmental or nongovernmental organisations;
● would like to conduct an independent project agreed with a host
in Germany
International Climate Protection
Fellowships
Application requirements
● Bachelor's or equivalent academic degree
● further academic or professional qualification or extensive, themerelated professional experience
● leadership potential
Benefits provided
● 12-month fellowship in Germany, extension of up to 3 months possible
● introductory seminar, training courses, final meeting
● language course (optional), travel lump sum, family allowances
The Humboldt Network
The Humboldt Network –
more than 26,000 Humboldtians worldwide
as of: January 2014
Origin of guest researchers
2009–2013:
2,745 research fellowships granted to academics from abroad
Australia,
Middle East, New Zealand,
Sub-Saharan North Africa
Oceania
Africa
4%
3%
4%
Central and
South America
6%
North America
18%
Asia
28%
Europe
37%
Disciplines of guest researchers
2009–2013:
2,745 research fellowships granted to academics from abroad
Engineering Sciences
10 %
Humanities and
Social Sciences
27 %
Natural Sciences
63 %
Alumni sponsorship and international
networking
● more than 26,000 Humboldtians in over 140 countries:
“Once a Humboldtian – always a Humboldtian“
● alumni sponsorship and international networking through e.g.
- further research stays
- equipment subsidies, book donations
- Research Group Linkage Programme
- Humboldt Colloquia and Kollegs
- Humboldt Alumni Associations
- Humboldt Alumni Award
Humboldt Alumni Award for
Innovative Networking Initiatives
Goal
● to support new initiatives by Humboldt Alumni
● to contribute to sustainable academic links
Assessment criteria
● originality of the initiative beyond existing instruments of the Humboldt Foundation’s
sponsorship portfolio
● integration of scientists, scholars and younger researchers from inside and from
outside the Humboldt Network
● contribution to mutual scientific and intercultural understanding
Funding amount: up to 25,000 EUR; 3 awards annually
6 out of 26,000
Lado Chanturia, Georgia,
Ambassador of Georgia in
Germany (2014)
Ernest J. Moniz, USA,
Secretary of Energy, U.S.
Department of Energy (2013)
Eva Illouz, Israel,
President, Bezalel
Academy of Arts
(2012)
Yesid Reyes Alvarado,
Colombia,
Minister of Justice and Law
(2014)
Randa Abou-bakr, Egypt,
Cairo University,
Humboldt Alumni Award (2013)
Enge Wang, China,
President, Peking University
(2013)
Humboldt Network Online
● Public network
- search and find Humboldtians on our database
- search the Bibliographia Humboldtiana
● Protected area (for Humboldtians)
- access details and contact addresses of all Humboldtians
- manage entries in the Bibliographica Humboldtiana and your
personal profile
www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/researching-the-network.html
Humboldt Life – the Humboldt
Foundation‘s online network
● platform for all members of the Humboldt Family to promote professional
and personal communication
● members can:
- introduce themselves and present their research focus areas
- find new collaborative partners or trace colleagues they once worked
with
- start or join groups to share knowledge and ideas
- enter their publications in a central publication database
● www.humboldt-life.de
The Foundation‘s Ambassador Scientists
The Foundation’s Ambassador Scientists
3
2
1
1
1
Humboldtians
on Campus
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1 1
1
1 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
3
2
1
German Science Centre (DWZ)
Cairo, Egypt
Objective
● joint representation of German innovation leaders abroad – with close collaboration
between industry and science, to strengthen cooperations with foreign partners
Remit
● information, services, promotion, consulting, joint events
● exchange and networks (workshops, conferences etc.)
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the GSC Cairo
● Prof. Ashraf H. Abadi, Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation in Egypt, supports the GSC Cairo locally
AvH in Egypt and the MENA region
Origin of Guest Researchers
● countries with relatively many Humboldtians (> 200):
Egypt (388), Israel (275)
● countries with moderate numbers of Humboldtians (> 100):
Iran (115)
● countries with few Humboldtians (< 100):
Algeria (21), Iraq (13), Jordan (36), Lebanon (23), Morocco
(28), Palestinian Territories (15), Syria (18), Tunisia (17)
AvH in the Middle East and North Africa
● ~ 960 Humboldtians (~ 120 Research Awardees, ~ 110 Georg ForsterResearch Fellows)
● 22 Feodor Lynen Research Fellows (1 in Egypt)
● ~ 20 Humboldt-Kollegs
● 6 Humboldt-Kolloquia (e.g. Jordan, May 2009)
● Humboldt Ambassador Scientists in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco
● Humboldt Alumni Associations in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Maghreb
● Research Group Linkages in Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Tunisia
Egypt: Applications and approvals
Research Fellowships
Applications
Approvals
2009
20
4
2010
23
3
2011
18
1
48
13
18
4
2012 (special initiative)
2013
Alumni sponsorship for Egypt in 2013
● Renewed research stays: 6
● Short stays of up to 30 days: 4
● Equipment donations: 4
● Return fellowships: 3
Contact
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is available to answer
your questions at any time:
info@avh.de
www.humboldt-foundation.de
Jean-Paul-Straße 12
53173 Bonn
Germany
Tel: +49 228 833-0
Fax: +49 228 833-199