Think – Debate – Inspire: Five Years of the Robert Bosch Academy

• To date, 70 decision-makers, influencers, and experts from 34 nations and various disciplines have been fellows at the Robert Bosch Stiftung’s Academy
• Focus on globally relevant issues
• Robert Bosch Academy contributes international perspectives and expertise to public and expert discourse in Germany and Europe
   

Stuttgart/Berlin, June 4, 2019. The Robert Bosch Academy is celebrating its 5th anniversary this month. Founded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, the Academy has established itself as a place for confidential exchanges and solution-oriented cooperation on global affairs. Every year, the Robert Bosch Academy invites international decision-makers, opinion-leaders and experts from various disciplines to spend several months as Richard von Weizsäcker Fellows in Germany’s capital. To date, some 70 renowned individuals from 34 countries have accepted the invitation.

Fellows contribute international perspective and expertise

Richard von Weizsäcker Fellows are provided the intellectual and physical space to pursue individual research and outreach activities on topics beyond their normal professional commitments. Providing their perspective and expertise, they contribute to the public and expert discourse in Germany. The Robert Bosch Academy organizes around a thousand background discussions annually with representatives of German and European politics, media, civil society, science, and business, as well as 25 public events.

Variety of topics makes Fellows popular conversation partners

"Global challenges require globally negotiated answers," comments Sandra Breka, Member of the Board of Management of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. "The Robert Bosch Academy pursues the legacy of Robert Bosch, whose socio-political commitment was characterized by a broad range of topics and a holistic approach. Our Fellows are sought-after as conversation partners beyond Berlin – especially because of the Academy's wide variety of topics." In recent months, for instance, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellows have dealt with the growing importance of cities as political stakeholders, the changed world order, and tense transatlantic relations, as well as the social effects of digitalization and artificial intelligence.

Creating an interdisciplinary, global expert network

With its community program, the Robert Bosch Academy strengthens interdisciplinary exchange between Fellows during their stays. The program enables Fellows to exchange ideas independently of their project plans and areas of expertise, and to get to know Germany better. Even beyond their Fellowships, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellows are encouraged to continue to work together and remain connected to Germany.

Current guests at the Robert Bosch Academy:

• Julianne Smith, National Security Advisor to the Obama Administration;
• Rafal Dutkiewicz, mathematician, Solidarnosc member, mayor of Wroclaw until 2018;
• Dennis Shirley, Professor of Education, director of an international research project on the future of education and work;
• Woo-ik Yu, geographer and former Korean Minister of Unification;
• J.P. Singh, Professor of International Trade and Politics;
• Sheila Jasanoff, Professor of Science and Technology at Harvard Kennedy School;
• Oby Ezekwesili (from July 1), Nigerian activist and politician, co-founder of Transparency International and BringBackOurGirls.