Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF – Federal Ministry for Education and Research) has issued the funding initiative ‘International Places of Innovation (OdIn)’ to support the development of international innovation hubs in Germany with a focus on computer science, engineering, law, economics, social sciences. The hubs are intended to promote joint research on international value creation and test new, creative methods and develop results. Projects must address at least two perspectives of the overarching Future of Value Creation framework programme.

Eligible for funding are institutions of higher education and non-educational research and science institutions. For the transfer of results, the participation of companies is possible.

Joint projects should be established by two to three scientific institutions based in Germany in cooperation with a researcher located abroad. One of the German institutions will act as host for the foreign researcher. The international team must develop the international site of innovation thematically, methodically and conceptually over the course of the project and conduct research there (including a guest stay). It is expected that a scientific-technical and a non-technical discipline will be represented in each team. The project leader must have doctoral degree at the start of the project. Project leadership by postdoctoral researchers (up to four years after graduation) is desirable but not a requirement.

Funding of up to €500,000 per project is granted based on eligible expenses. Universities and research institutes may receive full funding for eligible project expenses. Projects are designed for two years, of which at least twelve months must include the stay of the foreign researcher.

The programme runs from 2025 until 2027. There are biannual deadlines on 15 July and 15 January each year.