| Project of the Month - February 2010

D4S - Dialogue on Science for Sustainability

Internationally coordinated research agendas are a must when it comes to finding sustainable solutions to the global challenges of our time. For this reason, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has launched a series of dialogues with key emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Bilateral events are being held under the title “Sustainable Solutions – Science for Sustainability” (D4S). The objective is to establish the foundations for longterm, strategic partnerships in research for sustainability.

Short project description:

The Federal Government of Germany is strongly committed to taking on global responsibility, which is a vital prerequisite for realizing the principle of sustainable development. 2007 at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, a decision was made to establish a dialogue with emerging economies (O5) and develop an internationally coordinated research agenda focussing on central issues such as innovation, energy and resource efficiency and climate protection. This Dialogue on Science for Sustainability supports the implementation of the priority objectives of the Federal Government's Internationalization of Science and Research and High-Tech Strategies.

The key question is how research and technology development can be used most effectively to achieve long-term economic development in a way that is both ecologically sustainable and socially just. Experiences with public and private sustainability research are exchanged with important strategic partners and used to formulate joint initiatives.

Developing and emerging economies have increasing scientific capabilities and play a significant role in meeting global challenges. Scientific cooperation can contribute to solving problems locally. Research-based sustainable solutions will open up new, long-term markets for the industry, too.

Internationally coordinated research agendas are necessary to ensure that research provides sustainable solutions to the global challenges of climate change as well as energy, land and water resource efficiency and environmental technologies.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has taken the initiative of establishing the Dialogue on Science for Sustainability with the emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries. A series of structured research policy dialogues (conferences/workshops) on sustainability-related subjects will generate important developments at three levels:

• Strengthened binational scientific and technological cooperation (e.g. in the areas of water, energy, waste, land use, and climate and environmental monitoring);
• Support for national research framework programmes (FONA in Germany) and the formulation of the international research agenda (G8+5);
• Enhanced dissemination of the results through intensive public relations work.

Objectives

The overall objective is to jointly generate sustainable solutions through research to effectively combat climate change and for the protection of the global environment and the natural resource base. Specifically to:

• Strengthen scientific and technological cooperation between Germany and the partner countries
• Jointly generate sustainable solutions through research to effectively combat climate change and to protect the global environment and the natural resource base
• Develop innovative and structured input for the ongoing process of defining an international research agenda for global sustainable development
• Enhance the visibility of sustainability science and technology and the dissemination of research findings and technology transfer.

Participating countries

• Brazil
• Russia 
• India
• China
• South Africa

Project Partners

• Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
  Division "Basic Policy Issues: Cultural Science, Sustainability, Environmental Law" (721) of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) manages the project in terms of policy and content. The same Division is also responsible for coordination processes within the BMBF - including with the Divisions of Directorate-General 2 - and, if necessary, with other ministries.
• International Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (IB)
  The International Bureau (IB) is in charge of the coordination and realization of the project. The IB (in consultation with the BMBF) also ensures that the project is integrated in bilateral agreements and activities and coordinated with research and development initiatives of other stakeholders. The organization of events, public relations work, and the documentation and saving of the results are carried out together with UNU as a consulting and realization organization.
• United Nations University (UNU)
  The United Nations University (UNU) is dedicated to the generation and transfer of knowledge, and the strengthening of individual and institutional capacities in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are a concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States. Within the "D4S" project, the organization of events as well as the documentation of the results are carried out by the UNU.
• German Development Institute (DIE)
  In the first project phase of "D4S" the German Development Institute organized the first conference (C1) with South Africa in June 2008 and with Brazil in March 2009. The analyses and results on central issues of sustainability research in the partner countries that were developed by the German Development Institute are now being used.

Photos

On the occasion of the 6th Forum for Sustainability  in Hamburg on 9 September, State Secretary Professor Frieder Meyer-Krahmer (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) and five outstanding "Green Talents" from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa symbolically launched the BMBF's new "Dialogue for Sustainability (D4S)" website:

In March 2009, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (MON) agreed to establish a bilateral dialogue on "Research, Technology and Innovation for the efficient use of natural resources":

Contact persons:

PD Dr. Lothar Mennicken
Project Coordinator
International Bureau of BMBF
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)228 3821 475
Fax: +49 (0)228 3821 444
lothar.mennicken[at]dlr.de

Ms. Karola Gowers
Project Assistance
International Bureau of BMBF
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)228 3821 477
Fax: +49 (0)228 3821 444
karola.gowers[at]dlr.de