Germany and Russia

Germany presented itself in another campaign initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which ran in Russia from 2012 to 2014 and was titled “Research in Germany – Land of Ideas”. The Russian Federation is a strategically important partner for Germany in education, research and innovation.

Moscow with Kreml by night

© Dmitry Berkut / iStock / Thinkstock

March 2012 - March 2014

The science and research collaboration is a crucial pillar of German-Russian relations. These were reflected in the “German-Russian Year of Education, Research and Innovation” 2011/2012, which ended in celebrations in Berlin in May 2012. In addition to the Year of Science, a Russia Country Campaign was also launched in March 2012. The aim was to foster greater awareness of Germany as a location for innovation in the target region of Russia.

Germany was aiming to use the dedicated national campaign to present itself as an attractive partner in the fields of education, research and innovation, as well as to raise the profile of world-class German research and technology in Russia. Its thematic priorities were: nanotechnology, environmental technology/energy efficiency, health and optical technologies. Innovation networks and clusters of these priorities were selected in a funding competition, which supported the BMBF in increasing its presence in Russia and in intensifying its collaboration with Russian partners in many ways.

The networks and additional German research institutions, universities and funding organisations were active as representatives of German innovation performance in Russia for two years. In addition, several key measures are organised in the context of the campaign, including joint booths at important trade fairs in Russia such as “Open Innovations” in Moscow and expert trips to initiate contact and cooperation. The networks and research organisations view the Russia Country Campaign as positive. The funded projects in their areas gained valuable specialised and industry information, added wide-ranging personal contacts and expanded their networks to Russia.