Community

The diverse activities of the Robert Bosch Academy and its Fellows create an international community of decision-makers and opinion leaders with personal and professional ties. Since its founding in 2014, more than 100 experts from a wide range of disciplines and over 35 countries have spent several months at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin. The community of fellows is characterized by interdisciplinary and multilateral exchanges that continue beyond their residencies. Once a year, the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum brings together the whole community of Fellows in Berlin.

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum

The Richard von Weizsäcker Forum was established in honor of the former federal president, who served for many years on the Board of Trustees of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The forum is the largest event of the Robert Bosch Academy. Each year, it brings together former, current, and future fellows. During the opening event ‘Fellows in Conversation’ in Berlin, the fellows discuss current global challenges with leading decision-makers and intellectuals from all over the world. Subsequently, the Robert Bosch Academy organizes a study tour to expand and deepen the fellows’ knowledge of Germany. Through dialogue with representatives from politics, business, civil society, culture, and media the participants learn about positions on and actors of current socio-political topics in Germany.

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2023

Political polarization and rising populism threaten our democracies and social cohesion. During this year’s Richard von Weizsäcker Forum, former, current, and future fellows came together for a study trip to Berlin and Saxony to discuss the roots and consequences of political polarization in Germany and around the world.

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2022

This year’s Richard von Weizsäcker Forum took former, current, and future Robert Bosch Academy fellows to the Bavarian Alps for a study tour about the global climate crisis and Germany’s energy transition.

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2021

As part of the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum from October 11 to 14, 2021, former, current, and future fellows of the Robert Bosch Academy convened for a study tour to the Saar-Lor-Lux region and Berlin.

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2020

The unequal distribution of power, wealth, and privileges in and between societies is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Growing inequalities worsen social polarization and undermine the legitimacy of political institutions. At the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum, held from October 12 to 15, 2020, some 50 former, current, and future fellows of the Robert Bosch Academy addressed the complex dimensions of the topic of inequality.

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2018

To play a role in the 21st century, or at least to have some relevance in today's globalized world of politics and economics, we must act together as Europe”, said President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schäuble in a conversation with the fellows. From 7 to 11 October 2018, the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum reunited former, current, and future fellows of the Robert Bosch Academy. In Berlin, they discussed current global challenges with international guests. The subsequent three-day study trip took the fellows to Stuttgart and Karlsruhe to talk to German interlocutors about how Germany is preparing itself for the future.

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2017

„Germany right before federal elections“ was the focus topic of the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2017 from 10 to 14 September. Around 45 former, current and future Fellows explored Grimma, Leipzig...

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum 2016

Richard von Weizsäcker Forum from 4 to 9 September 2016 with 25 former, current, and future Fellows was dedicated to the topic “Germany and the Refugee Story.”

First Richard von Weizsäcker Forum

The Richard von Weizsäcker Forum began on 10 November 2015 with over 200 invited guests in the Berlin Representative Office of the Robert Bosch Stiftung.