Scientists, come home!

The GAIN meeting of young German scientists in San Francisco provides information on career prospects in Germany / BMBF State Secretary Quennet-Thielen: "We support returnees who want to fill attractive positions."

---

Based on diverse initiatives of the Federal Government and the Länder, the German research scene has developed dynamically in recent years. Germany has become internationally attractive. To counteract a looming skills shortage, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has entered the worldwide competition for the brightest minds and is trying to attract highly qualified people living and working abroad. This is why the German Academic International Network (GAIN), which is supported by the BMBF, has invited over 300 mainly US-based young scientists to the annual meeting in San Francisco where they will be discussing their wishes and ideas with representatives from politics and business on 2 - 4 September. "GAIN provides excellent opportunities to network, initiate contacts at working level and show young scientists that: 'Yes, you are welcome in Germany! We need you!'", explained BMBF State Secretary Cornelia Quennet-Thielen, who opened the meeting in San Francisco. "By means of this meeting, we provide targeted support for the return of German academics." Topics on the agenda are therefore dual-career couples, alternative occupational fields for scientists, company start-ups and mentoring in Germany. "In principle, Germany is in a good position with the current Residency Act provision regarding the immigration of skilled labour and the future Recognition Act. At the same time those we seek to attract also have good opportunities in other countries", said State Secretary Quennet-Thielen. Besides reducing bureaucratic hurdles, Germany therefore urgently needs to develop a welcoming living and working environment. GAIN was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in 2003 and is a joint initiative of different science organizations. With almost 3800 members, it is a network and transatlantic discussion forum for German scientists. The conference in San Francisco is organized by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service and the German Research Association and is funded by the BMBF.

Internationalization of Universities

The rise of globalization requires institutions of higher education to become more international so that they can operate effectively in the global education market. It also calls for more student and scientist exchanges. As a result, international exchange has become an even more important requirement for modern universities, top-quality research and innovation.

The Federal Government supports German universities in their efforts to assert themselves against a growing number of international competitors. University marketing has the aim of encouraging students, young scientists and researchers across the world to study or conduct research at German universities. The universities themselves are moving towards a "European Higher Education Area".

GAIN - German Academic International Network

About 6,000 German scientists work and conduct research in the U.S. GAIN - German Academic International Network is a platform and an important networking instrument. More than 3,000 scientists are already registered. Over the years, GAIN has established itself as a networking forum for German researchers in North America and as a platform for improving transatlantic communication.

GAIN is not only concerned with the return of German researchers to interesting positions in Europe, but also with maintaining contact and working together with researchers who have decided to remain in the U.S. on a long-term or permanent basis.
It offers continuous reporting on new developments in science policy, monthly newsletters, regular regional and national scientist meetings, and recruitment fairs. Attractive job offers are the best way to attract a large number of these academics back to Germany. That is why the GAIN forum also offers practical advice for the period during and after a postdoc as well as a series of career development workshops. GAIN is a joint initiative of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). It was launched in 2003 on the initiative of the BMBF. The Fraunhofer Society, the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, the Max Planck Society, the Leibniz Association and the University Rectors' Conference have joined as associated members.

2011 GAIN Annual Meeting in San Francisco

The annual GAIN meetings take place alternately on the East Coast and the West Coast. In addition to German researchers, high-ranking representatives of the BMBF and of science organizations as well as businesspeople and policy-makers attend the meetings.

The conference took place in San Francisco from 2 to 4 September 2011 and was organized by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The three-day, multi-format event had more than 400 participants and dealt with careers and prospects for researchers in Germany and Europe.

The participants included researchers from Germany who are currently working in the U.S. and Canada and representatives of the German scientific and business communities. There was also a Talent Fair organized by GAIN in cooperation with the German Scholars' Organization.

Engaging in dialogue with these researchers is very important for politics and science. The focus of the annual meetings is therefore on attracting academics back to Europe and on the ongoing dialogue between science, business and politics. Not least in view of the skills shortage in Germany, the skills and knowledge that young scholars acquire in North America offer a great opportunity for innovation in Germany. The GAIN website contains numerous links offering information on funding opportunities for German researchers who are interested in returning to Germany.