The European and International Cooperation division supports its clients in collaborating with European and international partners in research, education and innovation. To this end, we offer the German Federal government and State governments, the European Commission and other actors from politics, science, industry and education tailor-made services from a single source. The aim is to develop and implement strategies and action plans and to protect the interests of our clients in European and global cooperation in the best possible way.

Our strengths lie in strategic consulting, research and funding management, and knowledge transfer, as well as in communication and networking across national borders. We see ourselves as bridge builders: between politics on the one side and stakeholders from research, education and innovation on the other.

Identifying trends – across borders

Our in-depth methodological knowledge gives us a special consulting expertise. We have detailed knowledge of political strategies, key players and the operational strengths of internationally important partner countries. On this basis, we develop roadmaps and scenarios for international cooperation for our clients (e.g. Green Hydrogen Agenda Process, study "Strategic Foresight in the Western Balkans", SINAVI model for programme support for quantum computing) and evaluate programmes and instruments of European and International Cooperation (e.g. evaluation of EU regional policy, study "Reverse Innovation" within the framework of the African-European Innovation Partnership, evaluation "Tenure Track Pilot Programme").
We identify trends and topics that are important to our clients, such as the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make a decisive contribution to the innovative performance of the German economy. We have been active in this field for a long time: we are the contact point for the European research and innovation network EUREKA in Germany and implement the Eurostars funding programme. In addition, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), we advise SMEs and start-ups on the Accelerator of the European Innovation Council.
 

Implementing funding programmes worldwide

As part of the BMFTR's International Office mandate and as the COST coordination office, we provide tailored advice to interested parties from science and industry on the opportunities offered by global networking and on bilateral and multilateral funding opportunities. On behalf of the BMFTR, we implement funding programmes for international cooperation with global partners – from initiating research and innovation partnerships and promoting project-related expert exchanges to implementing extensive cooperation projects.

We facilitate access to European funding programmes in research, education and innovation for German universities and research institutions, companies, educational institutions and other stakeholders – for example, as part of the BMFTR's EU Office mandate, which acts as a central point of contact for all matters relating to Horizon Europe and as the office of the National Contact Points for European funding advice and information. 

With the National Coordination Office EURAXESS Germany, which is based at the DLR Projektträger, we also offer an information and advisory service on behalf of the BMFTR for internationally mobile researchers who wish to come to Germany or go abroad for scientific work.

Under the Global Service Facility framework agreement, we have implemented measures for the European Commission to internationalise research and innovation.

In line with the European Green Deal, the European and International Cooperation Division contributes to greater sustainability in many areas, taking into account the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Examples include the BMFTR's framework announcement on green hydrogen and the funding initiative "Research on strengthening resilience and structural development in African cities and conurbations".

Staying in the international conversation

On behalf of our clients, we work to convey a positive, innovation- and future-oriented image of Germany abroad and to position Germany as an attractive partner. For example, we implement international campaigns under the brand "Research in Germany – Land of Ideas". For the German Space Agency at DLR, we also networked international researchers, start-ups and SMEs with innovators from space and industry in Germany as part of the international innovation competition INNOspace Masters .

In the Brussels Future Talks - the new political discussion series of our Brussels office - we also deal with important current topics such as Science Diplomacy or Strategic Foresight.

We cooperate with more than 130 countries worldwide and represent our clients at the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and at European level – for example, as a National Contact Point for STIP-Compass, a global database for research initiatives jointly funded by the OECD and the European Commission, or in the design and implementation of initiatives in the European Research Area (ERA) and in negotiations on the European Research Framework Programme.