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 2024/25

News/Upcoming Events

12 March 2024, Brussels, Belgium

A New Boost for Europe's Green Transition with R&I

KEY TECHNOLOGIES FOR OUR FUTURE

With the 2023 revision of the European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, the European Commission has identified the financial, political and societal challenges that need to be addressed in order to promote the development and establishment of key technologies for the Green transition. The promotion of new technologies is a cross-cutting task for EU institutions, national governments, businesses and science alike. 

The event brings together researchers from the technical, economic and social sciences with representatives of the European Commission to discuss technical innovations for green transition and the political an financial frameworks for the developement and application of key technologies.

Please register via eu.hessen.de.

16.01.2024

New Call for Applications 2024/2025 published

The recently published documents for our two fellowship programs can be found here

We look forward to your application!

30.11.2023

Science meets Regions Pairing Scheme completed

The Rhine-Main universities successfully completed the EU pilot project Science meets regions.

Further information in German only.

16.11.2023

First Visit of Fellowship-Track 2023/24

In November, 20 fellows of the Policy Fellowship Programmes visited the Rhine-Main Universities.

Further information in German only. 

31.03.2023

Participants in the Programme visit the ZDF

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

Further information in German only

The Programme in Figures

210 fellows

2,633 meetings

over 730 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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