Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship
The Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship is at the core of the Robert Bosch Academy. It was established in honor of former Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker, a long-time member of the Robert Bosch Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
More than a Residency
Time and independence
Fellows decide what they work on during their residency at the Academy. The Fellowship is designed to create the time and institutional independence needed to pursue the projects, research, writing, or strategic reflection that are often difficult to develop in their everyday professional lives. The Academy supports Fellows with a customized program of meetings and conversations, deliberately incorporating less visible perspectives and institutional contexts. Distance from daily routines promotes new ideas and creative approaches.
Germany and Europe in context
Fellows engage with political, historical, economic, cultural, and social developments in Germany and Europe throughout their residency in Berlin. Supplementary programs provide insights into institutions, decision-making processes, and public debates. Fellows’ outside perspectives on German affairs foster mutual learning.
Once a Fellow, always a Fellow
The Fellowship is not limited to the residency in Berlin. Fellows become part of a community that continues far beyond their time at the Academy. A key event in this network is the annual Richard von Weizsäcker Forum, which brings together Fellows from all years to carry forward their work and further expand the conversation.
International Fellowship activities
Exchange and conversation are central to the Fellowship. Fellows arrive with a question, project idea, or research topic, and the Academy team works with them to build a curated conversation program with relevant figures in Berlin, Germany, and Europe. These meetings take place in an environment of trust.
Alongside these individual exchanges, Fellows engage closely with one another through weekly Fellow Lunches, Library Talks, Academy on Tour, the Discover Berlin cultural program and – if desired – a German language course. The Academy also organizes public events, including lectures, round tables, workshops, and strategic conversations that connect Fellows with wider political, academic, and public audiences. A central moment each year is the Richard von Weizsäcker Forum, which brings together Fellows from different cohorts and regions for several days in Berlin.
Become a Fellow
Admission to the Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship is exclusively by invitation. We identify potential Fellows through a continuous, global nomination process. This process leverages our extensive network of partners, alumni, and expert advisors from various regions and sectors.
We seek distinguished individuals who have demonstrated exceptional professional success and international experience. Ideal candidates are those who can enrich our community in Berlin through active participation in interdisciplinary and cross-regional dialogues. We are deeply committed to fostering a diverse cohort of Fellows, ensuring a multitude of perspectives and backgrounds are represented.
Contact
Alexander Thamm
Senior Project Manager
On Richard von Weizsäcker and his impact
Historian Fritz Stern speaks about Richard von Weizsäcker with Roger Cohen, New York Times columnist and Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy.
FAQs on the Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship program
How are Fellows selected?
The Richard von Weizsäcker Fellowship does not have an open application process. Fellows are nominated by the Academy’s networks, partners, former Fellows, and advisory contacts across different regions and sectors.
What support does the Robert Bosch Academy team offer?
To assist with the practical aspects of your move to Berlin, we provide future Fellows with an official letter of recommendation for visa applications and can connect them with trusted agencies to help them find an apartment.
Furthermore, we act as their strategic partner throughout their Fellowship. Our team serves as a sounding board to help Fellows refine their project aims, facilitates connections to influential figures and key organizations across Europe, and provides the resources and guidance to help you organize workshops, discussions, and other events to share their work.
How long is the Fellowship?
Residencies typically last between three months and one year.
What happens after the Fellowship residency ends? Do Fellows remain connected to the Academy?
What happens after the Fellowship residency ends? Do Fellows remain connected to the Academy?