Berlin, 18 December 2025 — Germany has launched a €600 million research initiative aimed at attracting leading international scientists and offering them long-term career prospects in the country. The program, known as “1000-Köpfe-Plus” (Global Minds Initiative Germany), is designed to strengthen Germany’s research landscape amid growing global pressure on academic freedom.

Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär (CSU) presented the first group of participants at an event in Berlin on Thursday. Among them are Karen Christman, Sevgi Gökçe Kafali Tekat, and Johannes Stein, who were selected as part of the program’s initial intake.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the initiative seeks to provide research freedom, institutional support, and attractive career pathways for outstanding researchers from abroad. Since the program’s launch in July 2025, 166 international scientists have already been selected.

Minister Bär described the initiative as an “enormous boost” for excellent research in Germany, emphasizing that scholars in many countries are increasingly facing political, financial, or institutional constraints. The program aims to position Germany as a safe and stable hub for high-level scientific work.

The 1000-Köpfe-Plus program is part of Germany’s broader strategy to remain internationally competitive in key research fields while reinforcing the principles of academic freedom and open science. Funding will support research positions, laboratory infrastructure, and long-term integration into German universities and research institutions.

With this initiative, Germany joins a growing number of countries seeking to attract global scientific talent as competition for researchers intensifies worldwide.

Image Credit: © Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space / Hans‑Joachim Rickel