Exzellenz verbindet

be part of a worldwide network

Lisa Plitt
Programme Assistant
Selection Department
2010-11-10

The
Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation
Connecting academic excellence worldwide
Knowledge transfer and cooperation at the highest
level

Historical and Intellectual Roots

Alexander von Humboldt (1769 - 1859): discoverer,
universal genius, cosmopolitan and patron of excellent
scientific talent
1953: establishment of todays Alexander von Humboldt
Foundation
international network of academic cooperation and trust

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

What is important to us: Academic

Excellence
sole selection criterion: academic excellence
sponsorship for people, not projects
flexible sponsorship programmes for cutting-edge researchers at
all stages of their careers
no quotas for countries or subjects
free choice of academic host/ collaboration partner in Germany
worldwide excellence network of Humboldtians

Humboldt Foundation Financing

The budget in 2009 was approx. 76,6 Mio. Euro, more than 95
% of which was publicly financed by the Federation. Financing
was distributed as follows:

AA:
Federal Foreign Office
BMBF: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
BMZ: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation a. Development
BMU: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation
and Nuclear Safety

Origin of Guest Researchers

2005 - 2009: a total of 2,890 new research fellows
from abroad

Europe 37%

Asia
36 %

Australia 2 %
Central and South
America 4 %
Africa 6 %

North America
15%

Disciplines of Guest Researchers

Between 2005 - 2009: a total of 2,890 new
research fellows from abroad

Humanities and
Social Sciences
24 %

Engineering
Sciences
11 %

Natural
Sciences
65 %

Sponsorship Programmes at a
Glance

Research Fellowship Programmes

Flexible sponsorship programmes for cutting-edge researchers at all
stages of their careers.
For research stays in Germany:

Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme

Georg Forster Research Fellowship Programme

For research stays in abroad:
Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship Programme

Research fellowships for research stays in

Germany
For postdoctoral and experienced researchers
Humboldt Research Fellowship
worldwide, all disciplines, no quotas
Georg Forster Research Fellowship
researchers from emerging and developing countries, all disciplines, no
quotas
research projects with relevance to development

Research fellowships for research stays in

Germany
Humboldt Research Fellowship /
Georg Forster Research Fellowship

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

2,250 EUR per month

(plus additional benefits)

2,450 EUR per month

(plus additional benefits)

Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship

Programm
For research stays abroad
For postdoctoral and experienced researchers
worldwide, all subjects, no quotas
Humboldtians as hosts
host contribution (negotiated individually)

Our new programme for prospective

leaders: The International Climate
Protection Fellowships

International Climate Protection

Fellowships
Aims
creation of a network to combat climate change and its global
consequences
exchange of knowledge, methods and techniques

Target group
prospective leaders from threshold and developing countries
engaged in the field of climate protection and resource conservation
in academia, business, government or non-governmental organisations

International Climate Protection

Fellowships
Requirements for application
independent project proposal agreed with host
leadership potential
Bachelors or comparable academic degree completed fewer than 12
years prior to start of fellowship
further academic or professional degree or extensive, theme-related
professional experience
deadline for 2nd application round: December 15, 2010

International Climate Protection

Fellowships
Sponsorship provisions

stay of 12 month in Germany, extension of 3 months possible

endowment: 2,150 to 2,750 EUR per month
introductory seminar, training courses, final meeting
language course (2 month, optional), mobility lump sum, family
allowances

International Climate Protection

Fellowships
Schedule for the second selection call

closing date for applications: 15 December 2010

pre-selection: end of March 2011
selection seminar: mid May 2011
language course: 1 July 2011
start date of the fellowship: 1 September 2011

A call for sponsorship beginning in 2012 is currently planned.

Humboldt Foundation Programmes

and Awards
For internationally recognised cutting-edge researchers

Humboldt Research Award; 60,000 EUR; research stays in

Germany over a period of 6 to 12 months (may be divided into
segments); nomination

Alexander von Humboldt Professorship; 3.5 - 5 mill. EUR for a

period of five years, for the long-term recruitment of established
cutting-edge researchers from abroad ; nominations by German
universities (non-university research institutions with a German
university)

Alumni sponsorship and international

networking
The Humboldt Network: over 24,000 scientists and scholars from all
disciplines in more than 130 countries: (43 Nobel Prize winners)
alumni sponsorhip and international networking through e.g.
- further research stays
- Research Group Linkage Programme
- Humboldt Colloquia and Kollegs
- Humboldt Alumni Associations
- Humboldt Alumni Award
Once an Humboldtian always an Humboldtian

National Contact Point (NCP)

Mobility
Task
information and advice for German institutions and researchers on
opportunities and actions in the Specific Programme People of the
7th EU Research Framework Programme which includes the Marie
Curie Actions
Marie Curie Actions
support for research training, career development and
transnational researcher mobility; intersectoral exchange;
international cooperation

Contact
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Jean-Paul-Strae 12
53173 Bonn
Germany
Tel: +49 228 833-0
Fax: +49 228 833-199
www.humboldt-foundation.de
info@avh.de