BMBF Framework Programme Research for Sustainable Development (FONA)

If the quality of life shall be maintained in industrialized countries and be improved in developing and newly industrialized countries, we must find ways to achieve apparently opposed goals: it is imperative to secure prosperity, to enable development and a future that is worth living as well as to reduce the consumption of natural resiurces and the emission of ecologically harmful sustances.

Research for sustainability offers an integrated system-oriented approach that develops innovative concepts and solutions for these challenges. It is meant to be the basis for decision making for future-oriented acting. For this purpose, the Framework Programme integrates the entire research process from the basis to the application. Until 2015 the Federal Ministry of Education and Research will fund more than 2 billion euros.

The Framework Programme focus on the following fields of action:

• Global responsibility - International networking 
• Earth system and geotechnologies 
• Climate and energy 
• Sustainable management and resources 
• Social development

These fields of action are supplemented by cross-sectional issues. Initially, land management, economy and sustainability as well as research infrastructures are addressed as central cross-sectional issues.

The goals:

• Achievement of the ambitious national climate protection goals and development of concepts for the adaptation to climate change. The Federal Government offers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below the level of 1990 by the year 2020 as the German contribution to an international climate protection convention after 2012.
• Energy supply must become sustainable and future-oriented. Until 2020, the percentage of renewable energies in the total energy supply is to rise to 20 percent and energy productivity is to be doubled
  compared to 1990. 
• The productivity of resources is to be doubled by 2020, the current rate of land consumption of 130 hectares per day is to be reduced to 30 hectares per day. The worldwide loss of biodiversity must be stemmed and ecosystem functions preserved.
• Understanding and shaping social change in terms of sustainable development.

To achieve these goals, we must engage in international cooperation and develop globally viable solutions in cooperation with the affected and dynamically growing regions in the world. At the same time, the goal of global sustainable development is a unique opportunity for industry. Climate protection, resource efficiency and future-oriented energy supply are the lead markets of the future.

The instruments:

For us, innovation policy means sustainability policy. We develop lead markets for sustainable growth and new workplaces. Because already today, technologies, products and services for climate protection that are "made in Germany", are leading in many fields.

• We support networking between science and economy. The participation of SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) in research is to be enhanced, the gap between research and utilization to be closed. By
  setting the appropriate framework conditions, efforts for a high participation of enterprises are made.
• We boost international networking of research. Germany increases its cooperation with partners from developing and newly industrialized developing countries. We will further develop our research landscape
  and make it attractive for talents from all over the world.
• We open up export potentials. Our funding policy is focused on fields that will open up future markets and further increase our exports. However, what and how much we are going to export will depend decisively on whether we react adequately to challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity or water supply.
• We expand transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary research concepts. We want solutions for a sustainable society. In order for research to be fully effective, we integrate all relevant social groups. This is what
  transdisciplinarity means to us.
• We strengthen the moderating role of the BMBF. The division of labor within the Federal Government provides the reliable basis for a coordinated approach and a complementary funding policy of the departments. In future, the BMBF will expand its moderating role in order to develop business-related relevance and industry-specific contributions. With the approaches and insights of sustainability research, the BMBF will provide contributions for the structuring of legislative processes.

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  Aus dem Themenbereich Society and Economy

  Social Dimensions of Climate Change and Climate Protection

  The topic "Social Dimensions of Climate Change and Climate Protection" addresses an area of social concern that is hugely topical. To this end, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding 12 projects. more
  (URL: http://www.fona.de/en/9874)
   
  
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  Aus dem Themenbereich Energy

  Funding Initiative Energy Storage Systems

  The “Funding Initiative Energy Storage Systems” intends to accelerate the development of energy storage technologies in Germany, thus supporting the Federal Government’s ambitious goals for the future energy supply for Germany, as laid out in the energy concept of ... more
  (URL: http://www.fona.de/en/9982)
   
  
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  Aus dem Themenbereich Global Change

  Climate (only available in German)
  

  Heute in Forschung zum Klimawandel investieren, um den Klimawandel zu begreifen, zu vermindern und damit umgehen zu lernen. more
  (URL: http://www.fona.de/en/9968)
   
  
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  Aus dem Themenbereich Resources and Sustainability

  Chemical Processes

  For a broader resource base and a decrease of CO₂-Emissions more
  (URL: http://www.fona.de/en/9852)
   
  
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  Aus dem Themenbereich System Earth

  Coastal Research

  Territorial seas such as the North and Baltic Seas connect terrestrial and oceanic habitats. At the interface between land and ocean, apart from changes due to climate change and the growing pressure of exploitation, also reactions on changes in the catchment area of ... more
  (URL: http://www.fona.de/en/9951)
   
  
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