The Italian Embassy in Berlin, in collaboration with SIGN, the Scienziati Italiani in Germania Network, and FAI, the Forum Accademico Italiano, will host the States General of Italian Research in Germany on Thursday, 23 April 2026, in the early afternoon.
All members of the Italian research community in Germany, not only SIGN member (!), are therefore strongly encouraged to attend the event in person in Berlin on 23 April 2026, registering at the this LINK.
The initiative is grounded in the scale and strategic relevance of the Italian scientific presence in Germany. Approximately 15,000 Italian students, 5,800 researchers and 350 professors are currently active across German universities, research centres and innovation hubs. This constitutes a major human and scientific asset whose value depends critically on coordination, mutual awareness and the capacity to act collectively. Strengthening this community is essential both to increase its impact within the German research landscape and to support Italian research at a time when Europe is called to act with coherence and credibility.
The States General are conceived as a political and strategic forum rather than a purely academic meeting. The objective is to take stock of the current role, visibility and positioning of Italian research in Germany, while also identifying structural challenges, emerging opportunities and priority areas for action. Particular emphasis will be placed on transforming shared analysis into operational proposals and coherent policy directions that can inform institutional dialogue and future initiatives.
In preparation for the event, a
survey
has been launched and addressed to the entire Italian research community in Germany. The questionnaire collects input on professional trajectories, critical issues, expectations and proposals, and represents a key instrument for ensuring that the discussion is grounded in broad and representative evidence. Participation in the survey is strongly encouraged, including by those who do not intend or are not able to attend the event in person. The quality, depth and usefulness of the outcomes of the States General will depend directly on the breadth and diversity of the responses collected.
The questionnaire is available at the following link:
https://grist.sferablu.eu/.
SIGN invites all members, as well as the wider Italian academic and research community in Germany, to give maximum visibility to this initiative. Members are encouraged to share the survey and information about the event within their professional networks, institutions and research groups, with the aim of fostering wide participation and informed discussion.
The States General of Italian Research in Germany are intended as a concrete step toward a more coordinated, visible and influential scientific community, capable of contributing effectively to both the German and European research ecosystems.
