Students and researchers in Lower Saxony and Israel will benefit from a new grant programme currently being developed at Leibniz University Hannover. The programme aims to foster joint research projects as well as exchange with regard to teaching. Over the past years, the Association of Jewish Communities in Lower Saxony and Sartorius AG, a company based in Göttingen, have been organising and supporting numerous mobility programmes between Lower Saxony and Israel. For an initial period of three years, the new programme will be in receipt of funding from the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony amounting to 50,000 euros per year. Additional funding will be provided by the Association of Jewish Communities in Lower Saxony (25,000 euros), Sartorius AG (15,000 euros per year), as well as Leibniz Universitätsgesellschaft Hannover e. V. (3,000 euros per year). Other funding bodies - such as industry partners - are welcome to join the programme. An online portal for the award of funding will be launched in summer 2020.
"As a result of numerous contributions, the long-standing tradition of research projects between Lower Saxony and Israel will be enriched by a vital element. Implementing new funding opportunities for the younger generation will strengthen our partnership and highlights the role of Israel as a special partner in academic exchange. I would like to thank all those involved in the programme", says Björn Thümler, Minister for Science and Culture.
"The State of Lower Saxony has been providing funding for research collaborations between institutions in Lower Saxony and Israel for more than 40 years", says Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheper from the Institute of Technical Chemistry at Leibniz University Hannover, who coordinates the new programme. "The programme will provide straightforward funding opportunities for students enrolled in master''s degree programmes or graduates programmes enabling them to acquire knowledge in specialised fields at our partner universities, while completed course units will be recognised at their home university", explains Scheper.
The programme addresses university members in Lower Saxony and Israel. Moreover, students from universities in the Palestinian territories may be considered for exchange programmes with facilities in Lower Saxony. Within the scope of the programme, grants for short-term mobility will be available for students (4-6 weeks) and postdoctoral researchers (6-8 weeks), as well as travel grants for participating in conferences. Furthermore, partners in Lower Saxony and Israel may apply for an "Incubator Grant" for the purpose of pursuing collaborative activities, such as preparing a joint research proposal.
Eighty percent of the sum provided by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony (MWK) will be allocated to mobility grants; the remaining funds will be used to host the biennial "Conference of Scientific Cooperation between Lower Saxony and Israel", as well as for travel grants awarded to researchers participating in the conference. At the conference, researchers will present MWK-funded projects in the fields of humanities and social sciences, life sciences, medicine, natural science, mathematics and engineering. Belit Onay, mayor of Hannover, actively encourages collaborations with academic institutions in Israel. The city of Hannover will promote the conference as well as an annual summer school.
Note to editors:
For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Thomas Scheper, Institute of Technical Chemistry (Tel. +49 511 762 2509, Email scheper@iftc.uni-hannover.de).
