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.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2023/24

News/Upcoming Events

Visit of the Fellowship cohort 2022/23 to the Rhine-Main Universities

From 11-13 October, the Policy Fellows of the new cohort visited the Rhine-Main universities for the first time. On 12 and 13 October, the Fellows had face-to-face meetings with researchers in Frankfurt, Darmstadt and Mainz and also took part in further events.

Further Information

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 Possibilities and Paths outside Science

Workshop "From science to ministries/public administration, media and NGOs"

Further Information in German only

13./14.10.2022

Practical Forum with the ConTrust Research Initiative 

Trust in times of conflict - practice forum on current research results in the context of virulent crises and conflicts.

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.

Further Information

20./21.09.2022

Congress: Chemicals Policy in Dialogue with Science

Discussion on current challenges in chemicals policy, including the transformation towards sustainable chemistry.

Further  Information

14./15.09.2022

New Horizons for  Health Issues - Research & Innovation

Delegation from the Rhine-Main-Universities visited Brusses. Penal discussion „Tackling Future Health Challenges“.

Further information

16.08.2022

​New Publication on Science Advise in Times of Crises

Understated or overrated - Reflections on science advice for policy in times of crises. 

Further Information

The Programme in Figures

181 fellows

2,230 meetings

about 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