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

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

Max Planck Institutes

Helmholtz Centres

Fraunhofer Institutes

GreifswaldRostock

Hamburg

Bremen

HannoverBerlin

Magdeburg

Halle

Leipzig

DresdenJena

Nürnberg

MünchenFreiburg

Saarbrücken

Frankfurt a. M.

Dortmund

Münster

Bonn

Göttingen

Heidelberg

Stuttgart

Kiel

Aachen Marburg

Mainz

Karlsruhe

Köln

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-the-network.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

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Programmes „coming to Germany“

Humboldt-FoundationDAAD

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Humboldt-FellowGeorg-Forster-Fellow

Kovaleskaja-Award

Bessel-AwardHumboldt-Award

Humboldt-Prof.

years after PhD

B M PhD PD PD Ass AP FP

18

Georg-F-Award

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 ofsponsorship

Application period

Fellowship amount

● 6 to 24 months

● applications at any time, doctorates completed less than 4 years ago

● 2,650 EUR per month(plus additional benefits)

● 6 to 18 months, may be divided up into 3 stays

● applications at any time, doctorates completed less than 12 years ago

● 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

● academic publications

● agreement by academic host

● independent research project

● knowledge of German and/or English

● independent academic activity, e.g. as an assistant professor

● comprehensive list of academic publications with own, clearly defined academic profile

● agreement by academic host

● independent research project

● 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 non-governmental 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, theme-related

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

Asia28%

North America 18%

Middle East, North

Africa4%Central and

South America6%

Australia,New Zealand,

Oceania3%

Europe37%

Sub-SaharanAfrica

4%

Disciplines of guest researchers

Humanities andSocial Sciences

27 %

Engineering Sciences10 %

Natural Sciences63 %

2009–2013:2,745 research fellowships granted to academics from abroad

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 forInnovative 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

Yesid Reyes Alvarado, Colombia,Minister of Justice and Law (2014)

Lado Chanturia, Georgia,Ambassador of Georgia in Germany (2014)

Ernest J. Moniz, USA,Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (2013)

Enge Wang, China,President, Peking University (2013)

Eva Illouz, Israel,President, Bezalel Academy of Arts (2012)

Randa Abou-bakr, Egypt,Cairo University,Humboldt Alumni Award (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 profilewww.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

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1

1

1

11

1

1

1

11

1

1

1

1

1

1Humboldtianson Campus

The Foundation’s Ambassador Scientists

1

1

2

1

1

1

2

2

1

2

1

31

1 1

11

1

1

3

3

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 Forster-Research 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

2012 (special initiative)48 13

201318 4

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 1253173 BonnGermanyTel: +49 228 833-0Fax: +49 228 833-199