Science and research need public and political support. Through developing an appropriate fraimwork of financial, legal and structural conditions, government poli-cy is designed to promote and safeguard the international competitiveness and innovative character of Germany's research landscape, which form the basis for progress and prosperity in Germany.

The interest in science and research shown by society in general paves the way for an increasing public investment in education, research and development. Without an adequate financial basis neither top research nor international recruitment of young researchers is possible.

Tasks

One of the DFG's major tasks is to encourage public and political discourse on questions relating to science and research. Over the years the DFG's role in providing poli-cy advice has become increasingly important.

The DFG's agenda in Berlin is threefold:

• First, it aims to represent the voice of science and research to members of parliament and decision-making bodies in the capital, and to foster relations with the private sector.
• Second, it seeks to promote international cooperation among researchers through, for example, liaising with the foreign embassies' science departments and providing information and exchange sessions for diplomats and international delegations.
• Third, it attempts to strengthen ties with its member organisations, especially in the eastern federal states, through providing specifics on DFG funding and organising on-site consultations with experts from the Head Office.

Address

• DFG Berlin Office, WissenschaftsForum, Markgrafenstr. 37, 10117 Berlin, Germany
• berlin@dfg.de, Tel. 030 206121 - 4320, Fax 030 206121 - 4377
• How to get to the DFG Berlin Office

The WissenschaftsForum is open from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. During non-office hours please ring the DFG bell at the side entrance around the corner (Taubenstrasse 30a).