1. Exzellenz verbindet – be part of a worldwide network
Dr. Steffen Mehlich
Director, Department Sponsorship and Network
Lifelong Alumni Sponsorship and Network Opportunities
19 January 2009
“Bonds_of_trust_2009.de – Germany alumni in tomorrow’s world”
At this point the presenter should declare and explain his/her relationship to the Foundation. If the presenter is not a member of staff, he or she should make clear why the Foundation’s work is so important to him/her that he/she is presenting the work of the Foundation.
At the same time, it should be made clear at this point that, not being a member of staff, the presenter cannot answer every question in detail. He/she cannot definitively confirm whether someone is really suitable for a specific sponsorship programme. Nor can he/she agree to award funding. It is important to point out that the listeners can find all the details on the homepage and are welcome to get in touch with the Foundation at any time. The contact details are given at the end of the presentation.
Stand: Januar 2009

2. Networks of the Knowledge Elite
The Humboldt Network: 23,000 scientists and scholars from all disciplines in more than 130 countries in the world (40 Nobel Prize winners)
Unique specialist and personal network
Life-long sponsorship in the Network Programme
More than 130 Humboldt Alumni Associations worldwide
Following Humboldt’s example, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation maintains an international network of academic cooperation and trust. Across the globe it links more than 23,000 Humboldtians, including 40 Nobel Prize Winners.
Humboldt research fellowships and research awards enjoy an excellent reputation across the globe. Being an Humboldtian is something special. This is why the Humboldt Foundation cares for every one of them, both individually and flexibly.
Even after the stay in Germany has come to an end, the Humboldt Foundation maintains close links with its alumni. Consequently, it offers numerous sponsorship opportunities.
After returning from Germany, research fellows and award winners in about 65 countries continue to be active in Humboldt Associations. The objective is to maintain professional and academic as well as private contacts amongst the Humboldtians themselves and also academic links to Germany. They have a close relationship with the Humboldt Foundation and support it by preparing Humboldt colloquia and conferences abroad, for example.
Stand: Januar 2009

3. Origin of Guest Researchers
2004 – 2008*: a total of 2,833 new research fellows from abroad
The distribution of research fellows according to countries of origin changes from year to year because the Humboldt Foundation does not have any quotas for countries but selects people solely on the basis of the academic quality of applications. Thus, the distribution reflects both the countries which have particularly large numbers of applicants and particularly successful applicants and also indicates how attractive Germany is as a research location for certain countries during a certain period. The Humboldt Foundation welcomes excellent applications from all countries equally.
Of the junior researchers from abroad selected in the period % came from a European Member State, 36 % from Asia, 14% from North America, 5% from Central and South America, 6 % from Africa and 2 % from Australia.
*preliminary figures (as of Dec 12, 2008)
Stand: Januar 2009

4. Disciplines of Guest Researchers
2004 – 2008*: a total of 2,833 new research fellows from abroad
The distribution of research fellows according to discipline changes from year to year because the Humboldt Foundation does not have any quotas for disciplines but selects people solely on the basis of the academic quality of applications. Thus, the distribution reflects both the disciplines which have particularly large numbers of applicants and particularly successful applicants and also indicates how attractive Germany is as a research location for certain disciplines during a certain period. The Humboldt Foundation welcomes excellent applications from all disciplines equally.
Of the 2,833 junior researchers who came to Germany from abroad between , 66% were natural scientists, 23% were humanists and social scientists and 11% were engineering scientists.
*preliminary figures (as of Dec 12, 2008)
Stand: Januar 2009

5. Five out of twenty-three thousand
Robert Grubbs – 2005 Nobel Prize for Chemistry
László Sólyom – President of Hungary
Tricia Striano – Sofja Kovalevskaja Award Winner
Hamadi Boga – Georg Forster Research Fellow
Erin Taylor – German Chancellor Scholar
More than 23,000 scientists and scholars from all disciplines from more than 130 countries with a special relationship to Germany belong to the active family of Humboldtians worldwide. A few current examples demonstrate the potential of this network for foreign cultural policy, for research and for development cooperation.
From left to right you can see five Humboldtians at different stages of their careers, from different disciplines and different countries of origin. The Humboldtian, Robert Grubbs, won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in The Humboldtian, László Sólyom, was elected President of Hungary in The globally sought-after psychologist Tricia Striano, came to Germany on the strength of the most valuable award in Germany, the Humboldt Foundation’s Sofia Kovalevskaja Award. The research carried out by the Kenyan biologist and Humboldtian, Hamadi Boga, is contributing to knowledge transfer between Africa and Europe. The American Humboldtian, Erin Taylor, is working on German and American strategies in the dialogue with the Islamic world.
Stand: Januar 2009

6. Alumni and Network Sponsorship (1)
Return fellowships
Renewed research stays (up to 3 months) and short-term visits to Germany (up to 30 days)
Equipment, book, and book publishing grants
Short term visits by academics from Germany
Long term stays by scientists and scholars from Germany (Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship Programme)
Stand: Januar 2009

7. Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships for researchers from Germany
Requirements
doctorate
academic publications
Humboldt alumnus/a as academic host abroad
independent research project
host contribution
Duration
postdoctoral researchers: 6-24 months
experienced researchers: 6-18 months
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation offers within the framework of the Feodor Lynen Programme highly qualified German scholars from all disciplines an opportunity to carry out long-term research projects at institutes outside Germany. The host must be a foreign scholar formerly sponsored by the Foundation (research fellow or research award winner).
The Humboldt Foundation tries to involve the host in financing the research fellowship. In the first year, the host institute is usually expected to make a contribution towards the cost of the fellowship of between 25% and 50% which increases in the following years to between 50% and 75% at least. However, host institutes in developing and threshold countries (c.f. list of countries) are not required to make a financial contribution. It may also be possible to find solutions for host institutes in other countries which have proven difficulties in raising the host’s contribution.
Stand: Januar 2009

8. Alumni and Network Sponsorship (2)
Research group linkage programme
Humboldt Colloquia abroad
Humboldt Kollegs
Humboldt Alumni Associations
Humboldt Ambassador Scientists
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9. Research group linkage programme (1)
Aim
to build a sustainable basis for long-term collaboration
to integrate junior researchers
Application requirements
one of the applicants is an alumnus/a of the AvH
one of the applicants is working at a research institute in Germany
countries: see current list (industrialized countries are excluded)
Stand: Januar 2009

10. Research group linkage programme (2)
Funded activities, funding amount and period
reciprocal research visits, joint specialist conferences
academic auxiliary staff, scientific equipment, publications and consumables
up to 55,000 EUR; up to 3 years
Assessment criteria
originality of the project, applicants’ academic credentials
potential to promote long-term reciprocal collaboration
integration of junior researchers
One of the hallmarks of the Humboldt Foundation is to give guest researchers as much individual assistance as possible.
At the end of August or early in September each year, a study tour is arranged for research fellows and their spouses. Several regional network meetings are held annually for research fellows newly arrived in Germany. These meetings take place in German university cities. The AvH annual meeting takes place in the summer. All research fellows and research award winners from all disciplines and countries staying in Germany as well as Feodor Lynen Research Fellows who returned in the preceding year are invited together with their families to attend this meeting.
It is the aim of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to sponsor their research fellows on a long-term and individual basis. Contact should be maintained after the initial research stay in Germany in order to ensure that the relationships to specialist colleagues in Germany, which have developed during the fellowship period, can be sustained and strengthened and academic collaboration consolidated long-term. The Alumni sponsorship is not subject to an age limit.
After successfully completing the initial visit sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, it is possible for Humboldt fellows, Roman Herzog research fellows of the Hertie Foundation and Georg Forster research fellows to apply for a return fellowship to sponsor reintegration into an institute abroad. After the end of the fellowship Feodor Lynen Research Fellows are offered the return fellowships as well. Upon application the return fellowship can be granted for a period of maximal 12 months.
Stand: Januar 2009

11. Humboldt Kollegs (1) Goal
to strengthen regional and professional networking
Eligibility
Humboldt Alumni and Humboldt Alumni Associations
responsibility for planning, concept, and organisation
Subject
should cover the full spectrum of a scientific subject area
Stand: Januar 2009

12. Humboldt Kollegs (2) Participants Humboldt Alumni (at least a third)
junior researchers
researchers from Germany as well as other researchers
Funding
flat rate of 125 EUR per day and participant; max. 40,000 EUR
Programme advertisement and marketing
promotion of AvH programmes, contacts to German colleagues
One of the hallmarks of the Humboldt Foundation is to give guest researchers as much individual assistance as possible.
At the end of August or early in September each year, a study tour is arranged for research fellows and their spouses. Several regional network meetings are held annually for research fellows newly arrived in Germany. These meetings take place in German university cities. The AvH annual meeting takes place in the summer. All research fellows and research award winners from all disciplines and countries staying in Germany as well as Feodor Lynen Research Fellows who returned in the preceding year are invited together with their families to attend this meeting.
It is the aim of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to sponsor their research fellows on a long-term and individual basis. Contact should be maintained after the initial research stay in Germany in order to ensure that the relationships to specialist colleagues in Germany, which have developed during the fellowship period, can be sustained and strengthened and academic collaboration consolidated long-term. The Alumni sponsorship is not subject to an age limit.
After successfully completing the initial visit sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, it is possible for Humboldt fellows, Roman Herzog research fellows of the Hertie Foundation and Georg Forster research fellows to apply for a return fellowship to sponsor reintegration into an institute abroad. After the end of the fellowship Feodor Lynen Research Fellows are offered the return fellowships as well. Upon application the return fellowship can be granted for a period of maximal 12 months.
Stand: Januar 2009

13. Humboldt Alumni Award for Innovative Network Initiatives (planned)
Goal
to establish an incentive for new initiatives by Humboldt Alumni
to contribute to sustainable academic links
Assessment criteria
originality of initiatives beyond existing instruments
integration of scientists and scholars beyond the Humboldt Network
sustainability, contribution to mutual understanding
Funding amount
up to 25,000 EUR; 3 awards annually
One of the hallmarks of the Humboldt Foundation is to give guest researchers as much individual assistance as possible.
At the end of August or early in September each year, a study tour is arranged for research fellows and their spouses. Several regional network meetings are held annually for research fellows newly arrived in Germany. These meetings take place in German university cities. The AvH annual meeting takes place in the summer. All research fellows and research award winners from all disciplines and countries staying in Germany as well as Feodor Lynen Research Fellows who returned in the preceding year are invited together with their families to attend this meeting.
It is the aim of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to sponsor their research fellows on a long-term and individual basis. Contact should be maintained after the initial research stay in Germany in order to ensure that the relationships to specialist colleagues in Germany, which have developed during the fellowship period, can be sustained and strengthened and academic collaboration consolidated long-term. The Alumni sponsorship is not subject to an age limit.
After successfully completing the initial visit sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, it is possible for Humboldt fellows, Roman Herzog research fellows of the Hertie Foundation and Georg Forster research fellows to apply for a return fellowship to sponsor reintegration into an institute abroad. After the end of the fellowship Feodor Lynen Research Fellows are offered the return fellowships as well. Upon application the return fellowship can be granted for a period of maximal 12 months.
Stand: Januar 2009

14. Humboldt Network Online
Network Building
Humboldt Network Online
search and find Humboldtians electronically
Humboldtians update their own data online
Bibliographia Humboldtiana
publicly accessible
Stand: Januar 2009

15. Contact Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Jean-Paul-Straße 12
53173 Bonn
Germany
Tel:
Fax:
Stand: Januar 2009