German states are counting on federal help to modernize their universities and attract top researchers from around the world.
According to the chair of the Science Ministers’ Conference, Bettina Martin of the Social Democratic Party, there is a massive investment backlog at the country’s science hotspots, which urgently needs to be addressed. In an interview with the Handelsblatt, she emphasized the importance of the federal minister making a strong case within the federal government for the allocation of a significant portion of the special fund for research and science. Only then, she argued, can the science system remain competitive on the international stage and thus preserve the country’s prosperity.
Several states plan to make use of the federal government’s 1,000-head program to expand their own recruitment programs for researchers from around the world. In response to a survey by the Handelsblatt, several state governments indicated that they are currently exploring the possibilities of expanding existing programs and creating new offers in consultation with the relevant federal authorities. For instance, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Science in North Rhine-Westphalia stated, “The state government is currently examining, in consultation with the relevant federal authorities, the possibilities of expanding existing programs and creating new offers.