A strong signal for education and research in Germany

"Today, the Federal Government and the Länder have sent out a strong signal for education and research in Germany", said Federal Minister Annette Schavan. "With the recently agreed package including the Higher Education Pact, the Initiative for Excellence and the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation, we are significantly enhancing the international competitiveness of German science and research. In times of crisis, we have set the right priorities and laid the groundwork for future sources of prosperity."

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In their meeting on 4 June 2009, the Federal Chancellor and the Minister-Presidents of the Länder approved the proposals of the Joint Science Conference (GWK) on the second programme phase of the Higher Education Pact 2020 as well as the continuation of the Excellence Initiative for the promotion of world-class university research and the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation with non-university research establishments. At its special meeting on 22 April 2009, the GWK had decided to extend the three programmes until 2019 with a total funding volume of €18 billion.