Research for and with Society
An important step toward achieving an integrated research environment in Berlin: Scholars and scientists from the three major universities in Berlin along with Charité are working together conducting research in interdisciplinary teams to address global challenges of the 21st century. They work closely with external partners in academia and society. Researchers based at Freie Universität Berlin are involved in these projects, as principal investigators or head of the project. By bringing innovative approaches to this work, they contribute to driving important research focuses of the university.
WHAT IS A GRAND CHALLENGES INITIATIVE?
Within the Berlin University Alliance Grand Challenges are topics of pressing global significance for the 21st century. The issues are particularly complex and require collaboration among researchers from numerous disciplines. The groups also include individuals or groups outside of academia who can contribute practical knowledge or experiences. The research is solution oriented.
With its Grand Challenge Initiatives, the Berlin University Alliance provides funding for cross-institutional or international projects. Networks are established that include scholars and scientists as well as other key actors.
What Is an Einstein Research Unit?
The Einstein Foundation Berlin supports joint research projects of the Berlin University Alliance in a format called Einstein Research Unit. The projects receive up to 2 million euros per year. The initial funding period is for up to three years, and there is an option to extend.
This funding is intended to support projects in strategically important fields. For example, it can be applied for as a follow-up to projects that were funded through the Grand Challenges Initiative.
With this format the Einstein Foundation provides additional funds from the State of Berlin for projects within the Berlin University Alliance that are funded through the German Excellence Strategy.
So far two Einstein Research Units are being funded. A third one is in preparation.