Green Talents - International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development

The German Federal Government recognises global warming, energy shortages, resource scarcity, and massive environmental contamination as some of the biggest global challenges of today. To address these issues and to work towards realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) believes in cultural plurality and creativity to encourage the development of global solutions. This international approach is supported by the annual Green Talents competition, focusing on young outstanding minds active in the field of environmental and sustainability research. The BMBF announces the competition since 2009 to promote Germany's strengths as a centre of research and innovation as well as to foster and intensify the global exchange of ideas in the field of sustainable development.

On the basis of their scientific excellence and innovative research potentials a high-ranking jury of German experts from academia and industry selects the Green Talents from numerous applicants. Open to a broad spectrum of disciplines, the competition invites young scientists to participate in a two-week Science Forum in Germany. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Science Forum currently takes place virtually. The awardees get to know hot spots of sustainability research and gain first-hand information about the country's renowned research landscape. These connections also lay the foundation for the establishment of international research cooperation in the future.

On top of that, this matchmaking aspect is even enhanced by specifically connecting the awardees to German specialists in their respective field of interest during individual expert meetings. This, furthermore, allows an individual access to the German research community. The exchange of ideas as well as the discussion about potential collaborations is in the focus of these encounters.

Moreover, the Green Talents are given the unique opportunity to conduct a Research Stay of up to three months at an institution of their choice the year following the Science Forum. This enables the participants to learn about sustainability research in Germany while building up or strengthening their professional networks. Both the Science Forum and the Research Stay are fully funded by the BMBF.
With already 282 awardees spread over 72 countries around the world, the Green Talents Alumni are part of a unique global network of High Potentials working in the field of sustainable development. By being awarded as a Green Talent, the young scientists get exclusive access to this growing network.^To find out more about the Green Talents initiative, to explore the winning scientists and participating organisations and to watch the video documentaries, please visit www.greentalents.de.