High interest in third "Green Talents" competition

The award under the patronage of Federal Minister Professor Annette Schavan was presented for the second time in 2010 and has just closed its third application round. Talented young (up to 35 years old) researchers from around the world specialising in the area of sustainable development were invited to apply for "Green Talents - The International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development". After two successful rounds in 2009 and 2010 with a total outcome of about 400 submissions, the third round has exceeded the expectations by far. This year, the high-calibre expert jury will have to choose among more than 300 applications. A decisive selection criterion is the crucial contribution of the applicant's research to mastering global challenges such as climate change, declining energy resources and massive environmental pollution.
20 winners will be invited to participate in a ten-day international science forum taking place in December 2011 and therefore will have the opportunity to meet and exchange views with today's leading experts in the field of sustainability in Germany. Touring through Germany, the "Green Talents" will visit leading universities, research institutions and companies active in the field of sustainable development. They will gather specific information about research activities on-site and learn about opportunities for cooperation with German partners. The forum will also include individual meetings with experts, as well as cultural events and the award ceremony in Berlin.

During the year following their participation in the "Green Talents Forum", the winners of the competition will be invited to return to Germany for an additional research stay (up to three months). Both the Forum and the research stay will be fully financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Germany is one of the leading locations in the world for sustainability research, and is a strong partner for international cooperation in this field. The country takes global responsibility by promoting sustainable development and green growth. The German Federal Government is providing important funds for the development of sustainable innovations in research and development, also for further increasing collaborations with outstanding researchers throughout the world. The country's innovative power in this area is especially attractive for young international scientists who can benefit from the exchange with a strong partner.

If you have any questions about the programme, contact us at greentalents@dlr.de.