The Mercator Science-Policy Fellowship-Programme

The fellowship programme aims at fostering dialogue between senior professionals from different sectors and academic researchers. Based on the topics provided by the senior professionals they receive a tailor-made schedule of face-to-face meetings with researchers in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main area.

News/Upcoming Events

29.06.2023

Second visit of the Fellowship cohort 2022/23

In May and June, the fellows of the 2022/23 cohort visited the Rhine-Main Universities for the second time, had numerous face-to-face meetings with researchers and toured the New Old Town in Frankfurt. Since the beginning of the programme, 181 Policy Fellows have held 2,476 meetings with over 700 researchers.

25.05.2023

Science meets regions - Update May 2023

As part of the European Commission's Science Meets Regions Programme and the Mercator Science-Policy Fellowship-Programme, ten employees from state ministries, regional councils and city administrations from Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate held almost 80 talks with researchers on the topics of green and digital transformation in May and June. The topics ranged from integrated energy systems to resilient digital infrastructures, housing and transport to digital transformation and green finance. An overview of the participating policy fellows can be found here.

31.03.2023

Programme of the Rhine-Main Universities visits the ZDF

Researchers and fellows visited the ZDF broadcasting centre. After a guided tour, policy fellows of ZDF reported.

Further information in German only

30.03.2023

Practice day at the TU Darmstadt - Science meets regions

After keynote speeches, our (alumni) fellows were able to visit research facilities at the TU Darmstadt.

Report on the visit in German only

14.11.2022

Call for Applications for the Fellowship 2023/24 published

The new call for applications has just been published. We are looking forward to receiving applications. 

Further information

28.10.2022

Workshop: Science-Advice Toolkit for Researchers

Practice-oriented workshop on instruments and structures of knowledge transfer to the policy sector.

Further Information in German only

24.10.2022

Dialogue on career opportunities and pathways

Workshop "From academia to ministries/authorities, media and NGOs? Dialogue with practitioners".

Further  Informationen in German only

13./14.10.2022

Practical forum​ together with the research initiative ConTrust 

Trust in Conflict - Practical forum on current research findings in the context of virulent crises and conflicts.

Further Information in German only

13.10.2022

Fellowship cohort 2022/23 at the Rhine-Main Universities

The Policy Fellows had face-to-face meetings in Frankfurt, Darmstadt and Mainz and also took part in further events.

Further Information

12.10.2022

Exchanges on the importance of religion in conflicts

Discussion round and penal discussion with the Research Cluster Dynamics of Religion at Goethe University.

Further Information

The Programme in Figures

181 fellows

2,476 meetings

over 670 participating researchers

About the Programme

Organisation

link to German website

Publications (partly in English)
link to German website

Media coverage 
link to German website

Fellows' Testimonials

"I am very interested in the issues of consumer protection, cybersecurity, intellectual property and the safe use of Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools in justice. By talking to researchers from the fields of computer science, business informatics, management and marketing I have learned new perspectives on the policy challenges I am working on. As a lawyer myself, I have greatly benefited from the exchanges with eminent academics outside my field of specialisation. I have received  valuable input through the programme that I will be able to put to concrete use in my work."

Carl Gösta Petri, Deputy Head of Unit, Deputy Director-General in charge of Directorates - Criminal justice - E-Justice, IT and document management, DG Justice and Consumers.

"I had very thoughtful and productive conversations on current trends on the rise of market based finance, the challenges in the banking sector in the post COVID-19 environment and the increasing focus on ESG and green finance for real estate financing. I will be happy to apply these new academic insights to the analysis of key topical policy issues discussed at the OECD."

Caroline Roulet, Policy Advisor, Directorate of Financial and Enterprise Affairs at the OECD.

“I was deeply impressed by the quality and organisation of the Mercator programme. It gave me the unique opportunity to meet a large number of high-quality researchers who offered very interesting perspectives on the policy questions the European Commission deals with in the field of financial regulation. I am looking forward to staying in touch with the academics I met during the Mercator programme and benefitting from their input for policy development in the EU."

Sven Gentner, Deputy Director General, Financial Stability, DG Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission


"I am thrilled that, despite the pandemic, the programme has enabled not only to establish links with renowned scientists, but also with other policy fellows from the media sector, European institutions and German ministries. I found the interdisciplinary exchanges in particular very enriching."

Kristin Höltge, Head of the Central Asia Desk, Conflict Prevention Centre, Secretariat of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

“The Mercator Science Policy Fellowship programme offers a great opportunity for learning and professional development. The intensive programme of academic exchanges provides me with new insights and fresh perspectives relevant to my work. The organisation is excellent."

Marcel Rommerts, Head of Unit, Horizon2020 Transport Research, Innovation and Networks Executive Agency, European Commission


"I am very interested in the issues of consumer protection, cybersecurity, intellectual property and the safe use of Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools in justice. By talking to researchers from the fields of computer science, business informatics, management and marketing I have learned new perspectives on the policy challenges I am working on. As a lawyer myself, I have greatly benefited from the exchanges with eminent academics outside my field of specialisation. I have received  valuable input through the programme that I will be able to put to concrete use in my work."

Carl Gösta Petri, Deputy Head of Unit, Deputy Director-General in charge of Directorates - Criminal justice - E-Justice, IT and document management, DG Justice and Consumers.

"I had very thoughtful and productive conversations on current trends on the rise of market based finance, the challenges in the banking sector in the post COVID-19 environment and the increasing focus on ESG and green finance for real estate financing. I will be happy to apply these new academic insights to the analysis of key topical policy issues discussed at the OECD."

Caroline Roulet, Policy Advisor, Directorate of Financial and Enterprise Affairs at the OECD.

“I was deeply impressed by the quality and organisation of the Mercator programme. It gave me the unique opportunity to meet a large number of high-quality researchers who offered very interesting perspectives on the policy questions the European Commission deals with in the field of financial regulation. I am looking forward to staying in touch with the academics I met during the Mercator programme and benefitting from their input for policy development in the EU."

Sven Gentner, Deputy Director General, Financial Stability, DG Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission


"I am thrilled that, despite the pandemic, the programme has enabled not only to establish links with renowned scientists, but also with other policy fellows from the media sector, European institutions and German ministries. I found the interdisciplinary exchanges in particular very enriching."

Kristin Höltge, Head of the Central Asia Desk, Conflict Prevention Centre, Secretariat of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

“The Mercator Science Policy Fellowship programme offers a great opportunity for learning and professional development. The intensive programme of academic exchanges provides me with new insights and fresh perspectives relevant to my work. The organisation is excellent."

Marcel Rommerts, Head of Unit, Horizon2020 Transport Research, Innovation and Networks Executive Agency, European Commission


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Contact

Mercator Science-Policy
Fellowship-Programme Office

Research Support
Goethe University Frankfurt

Eschersheimer Landstr. 121
D-60322 Frankfurt/Main
IKB-Building (room 5330)
Map 

Mailing address:
Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1 D-60629 Frankfurt/Main

Phone: +49 (0)69 798 12132 / 12135
Email: science-policy@uni-frankfurt.de