National Policy Advice on International Issues

International cooperation is indispensable to science and is often inherent in the research fields themselves, for example in climate-related research. In the face of growing geopolitical change, however, the challenges of international collaboration are increasing. On questions relating to international scientific cooperation, the International Relations Department maintains close exchange with relevant stakeholders in politics and government ministries and regularly organises background discussions on current issues with an international dimension.

The thematic scope is broad. It includes advising on the structure and performance of other countries’ science systems, as well as providing background knowledge on the specific challenges and necessary framework conditions for successful international cooperation, particularly with so-called difficult partners. In doing so, the Leopoldina relies on direct exchange between Academy members and representatives from politics and public administration in order to bring the scientists’ practical experience into the discourse.

In addition, the Academy contributes international subject-specific expertise to German contexts on a case-by-case basis. Examples include exchanges with international partners during the pandemic or meetings with representatives of ministries and funding organisations following international specialist symposia, with a view to drawing attention to promising fields of cooperation.