Cuts in the BMZ budget: red alert for development cooperation!

Cuts in the BMZ budget: red alert for development cooperation!

In an alarming development for the research landscape, significant budget cuts are expected in Germany in the coming year. These changes not only affect scientific institutions, but also international cooperation in research. In view of the planned decrease in the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to 11.22 billion euros, which corresponds to a decrease of 940 million euros compared to the previous year, the situation is becoming increasingly precarious. According to a report by Global Citizen, the loss of 200 million euros for crisis management and 500 million euros for humanitarian aid in the Federal Foreign Office is leading to a massive reduction in Germany's ability to respond to global crises.

The planned cuts are in direct contradiction to the commitments in the coalition agreement to invest at least 0.7 percent of economic power in development cooperation. This development could have serious consequences for many people around the world, especially in crisis regions. According to the UN, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance is expected to rise to 300 million in 2024 - an alarming doubling compared to 2014.

Challenges for research

In the context of these cuts, a symposium of the TU Science Management course will take place on July 10, 2025. Under the title “Budget cuts – just a challenge or an opportunity to raise your profile?” Numerous discussion participants, including renowned professors, hope to gain new perspectives on the situation. The event offers space for a differentiated consideration of the effects on the scientific landscape and international research collaboration. TU Berlin reports that the event will take place at the Nexus Institute in Berlin and starts at 5:00 p.m.

The internationality of research in particular could suffer from the cuts. Professors like Dr. Heike Graßmann and Dr. Thomas Schildhauer point out the worrying effects. Graßmann, who is also active on the selection committee for the Humboldt Research Scholarship Program, warns that the selection rate for this important program, which is currently around 30 percent, could fall further due to budget cuts. The high quality of rejected applications from international young researchers is a serious sign of the growing challenges in the research landscape.

International cooperation under pressure

The cuts also affect personal research activities and existing international collaborations. As Graßmann emphasizes, programs aimed at exchange with countries such as Mexico or within the framework of a German-Chinese graduate school are severely affected. A third of her team is made up of young international researchers who are often funded by the Humboldt Foundation or the DAAD. Nevertheless, the political importance of international research collaboration is often not sufficiently recognized. Humboldt Foundation notes that researchers act as ambassadors and directly experience political and social developments.

The challenges posed by the proposed cuts are diverse. Experts demand that greater focus should be placed on the motivation of researchers and the value of international collaborations. There is a risk that the cuts will not only affect the quality of research, but will also deter potential talent, which could have a long-term negative impact on Germany's innovative strength.