Robert Bosch Stiftung to Support New Topics in Its International Programs
Stuttgart, Germany, July 8 – As a major European foundation, the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH aims to help improve societal conditions and developments through its areas of support and chosen topics. To this end, the Foundation is realigning its international programs after more than 50 years. Starting in 2020, the Foundation will focus on the following topics: Conflict, Climate Change, and Migration. The Foundation also has the mandate to explore the topic of Inequality. This decision was made last week by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees at its summer meeting. Effective 2020, the Foundation is also renaming the field formerly known as International Relations to International Understanding and Cooperation.
"In today’s world, the key to peaceful coexistence is finding and implementing solutions to the global challenges of our time both within and between societies," said Sandra Breka, Member of the Board of Management of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. "We firmly believe that together with partners around the world, we can have a relevant and effective impact on the four topics that now form the focus of our work."
The new topics are the result of a comprehensive strategic review process of its international portfolio which began in late 2017 in view of wide-ranging changes across the globe. In this framework, the Foundation decided in 2018 to end all existing projects and programs in its international relations portfolio.
In the months ahead, the Foundation will further define its future work in the new topics of Conflict, Climate Change, Migration, and Inequality. Operational activities and grant making will start in early 2020.
The Foundation also plans to focus more on strategically selected topics in its other areas of support, namely health, science and research, society, and education. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees will make the final decision at its winter 2019 meeting as to which topics will serve as the focus in each of these portfolios.