Space to Think. Reason to Act.
What is the next question to be asked?
When leading thinkers are given room to ask the questions that will shape the future, they can gain clarity, highlight what is left unsaid, and point towards what is not yet understood.
The Robert Bosch Academy provides this space.
139
Fellows
50
Countries
6
Continents
>1000
Background meetings
Our principles
Mutual respect, empathy, intellectual freedom, openness to different perspectives, and a spirit of generosity, integrity, and courage define the way we work together. They form the foundation of the Academy and are embodied by its Fellows.
On this foundation, the Robert Bosch Academy provides a trusted and independent space for the exchange of political, academic, cultural, and economic ideas. It welcomes diverse viewpoints while recognising that Fellows speak only for themselves.
Fellowship
The Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship forms the core of the Robert Bosch Academy’s activities. Each year, up to 25 international leaders, thinkers, and researchers are invited to Berlin for several months to gain new perspectives, deepen their work, and pursue questions that everyday life rarely leaves room to explore.
Dr. Grzegorz Nocko
Director of the Robert Bosch Academy
"Intellectual freedom matters because it keeps open the possibility that things might be otherwise. From this emerge new questions - and, at times, better answers."
Events at the Robert Bosch Academy
Our Team
Our team curates programs and creates a space where people, questions, and perspectives can come together.
Would you like to learn more about our work or our Fellows?
Dr. Pradnya Bivalkar
Senior Project Manager
Bilal Bağ
Senior Project Manager
Alexander Thamm
Senior Project Manager
Barbara Uchdorf
Senior Project Manager
Carla Kühleis
Project Manager
Susanne Henneicke
Program Support
FAQs on the Robert Bosch Academy
What is the Robert Bosch Academy?
The Robert Bosch Academy is institute in Berlin that offers outstanding individuals space for independent thinking and dialogue on global challenges. In addition to its Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship, which invites leaders from a variety of fields for a residency in Berlin, the Robert Bosch Academy organizes public events, such as round tables, Academy Lectures and AVoid: Missing Questions for a Just Future.
When was the Academy founded?
The Academy was founded in 2014 by the Robert Bosch Foundation. Since then, over 135 Fellows from 50 countries have joined the Robert Bosch Academy community.
Where is the Robert Bosch Academy located?
The Academy is located in Berlin at the headquarters of the Robert Bosch Foundation. Berlin serves as an interface between global perspectives and discourse in Germany and Europe.
How is the Academy connected to the Robert Bosch Foundation?
The Robert Bosch Academy is an institution of and is funded by the foundation.
As independent scholars, the views expressed by Richard von Weizsäcker Fellows are made in their personal capacity and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
What distinguishes the Academy from a think tank or research institute?
The Robert Bosch Academy has neither a policy agenda, nor research goals. We focus on the thinking and reflection that takes place prior, facilitating curated conversations with relevant actors, and allowing for flexibility and changes to Fellows’ projects.
Who can become a Fellow?
The Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship is by invitation only. Fellows are chosen through an ongoing international nomination and recommendation process. We look for individuals with outstanding professional achievements and international experience who can actively contribute to interdisciplinary and cross-regional exchange.
Are Academy events open to the public?
The Robert Bosch Academy organizes both internal events to strengthen exchange among Fellows and with other key actors, as well as events open to the public.
Our public event formats include Academy Lectures and AVoid: Missing questions for a just future.
Does the Academy work with partner institutions?
The Robert Bosch Academy connects its Fellows and a broad range of actors and organizations relevant to their projects. It, however, does not engage in formal partnerships.