To ring in the New Year, the Einstein Foundation welcomed around 100 guests from science, politics and business, for the first Einstein New Year’s Reception on 18 January 2016 at the Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus), a historic landmark in the heart of Berlin that houses the city’s Senate and Governing Mayor.
Chair of the Executive Board of Einstein Foundation Berlin Prof. Dr Dres h.c. Günter Stock spoke to the 100 guests from science, politics and the private sector and emphasised the foundation’s commendable balance sheet since its creation in 2009. All told, the foundation has granted approximately 86 million euros for 70 fellows and professors, 50 projects and 4 Einstein Centres. In the future, the acquisition of private funding will constitute a stronger focus, particularly since the State of Berlin has created clear incentives in this area.
In her welcoming address, Sandra Scheeres, Berlin Senator for Education, Youth and Science, accentuated the foundation’s positive development, which, as she stated, is reflected by the increase in public funds at its disposal. The Berlin Senate has also decided to match funds from private sources acquired by the foundation by half. In other words, when the foundation receives 3 million euros, the State of Berlin will grant an additional 1.5 million euros public money.
Prof. Dr Amélie Mummendey, Chair of the Foundation Council confirmed that “the Einstein Foundation has gained considerable recognition in recent years”. She remarked that other German federal states often look to Berlin as a positive example and that establishing the foundation was yet another step in the right direction: “Berlin’s policymakers and scientific community can be proud”. Mummendey announced that an independent commission will start to evaluate the foundation later this year. The commission’s report will document the results of the foundation’s work and shed light on procedures, structures and processes in the spirit of continuous quality improvement. This analysis should generate crucial insights and new ideas for the foundation’s development.
In relation to the next stages of the Excellence Initiative, Stock stated: “Thanks to the formats and programmes we have developed at the Einstein Foundation to support local research, Berlin is extremely well-equipped to compete for national and EU funding and it can look to the next round of the Excellence Inititative with confidence”. In recent years, regular talks between the Foundation Council and University Presidents as well as various specialists in Berlin have led to a shared understanding of what it takes, and what it will take, to support sustainable excellence in research in the city. Günter Stock cited examples of individual funding with the Einstein Visiting Fellows programme. More permanent support is provided through so-called Einstein Professorships. Stock expressed the hope “that we will be able to achieve most strategic appointments through the Einstein Foundation in the future”. Meanwhile, the first Einstein Junior Fellows have begun to receive permanent positions at their respective universities – a strong indicator of the success of the foundation’s programmes. Senator Scheeres commented on the role of Einstein Visiting Fellows for Berlin’s international standing as a research location: “Bringing international research ‘stars’ to Berlin and creating ties with the city – even though we cannot always create permanent positions – is simply an excellent idea and we have to thank the Einstein Foundation and the universities for making it happen”.
In addition, Günter Stock announced that in the course of this year, a new award will be granted for outstanding doctoral programmes at the Berlin universities and Charité.
Wrapping up his speech, Stock thanked the committee members, all of whom work in an honorary capacity, for their hard work and dedication to the foundation and wished all attendees a new year full of happiness and health in the name of the entire Einstein Foundation – here’s to 2016!
Picture: Pablo Castagnola // Einstein Foundation
