For over 25 years, the EU Bureau of the BMBF has been providing services in the field of European innovation and research policy. It is the main contact point for questions related to the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
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The EU Bureau of the BMBF was established by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) at the German Aerospace Center’s Project Management Agency (DLR Projektträger) in 1994. In the beginning, it focused on providing advice on the EU mobility measures (today known as the Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Actions) as well as on socio-economic research. Since then, its fields of activity have expanded continuously.
The EU Bureau supports the BMBF in further developing the European Research Area (ERA) – both in the political committee work at European level and in the national coordination and subsequent implementation. The implementation of the ERA is supported by a dedicated national funding programme.
Since May 2004, the EU Bureau has been providing services to the BMBF in matters pertaining to European coordination in education and has been hosting the national coordination office and contact point for "Eurydice" - the information network on education in Europe.
The EU Bureau furthermore advises and supports the BMBF in examining and assessing requirements under state aid law and in the modernisation of EU state aid law.
The EU Bureau assists the BMBF with its expertise in the preparation and implementation of the European Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation and in questions regarding European research policy and educational cooperation.
It hosts the so-called "Front Office", which provides general information on Horizon Europe, as well as several German National Contact Points (NCPs). The German NCPs for Horizon Europe are spread throughout Germany and act as intermediaries between applicants, the European Commission and the Federal Ministry. Their main tasks are to provide information and advice to applicants and to participants in ongoing projects as well as to the interested public. The NCPs offer their services free of charge and ensure confidentiality.
In addition to the NCPs, several other contact points are also located at the EU Bureau of the BMBF. Among them is the Contact Point Women into EU Research (FiF) which aims to increase the participation of women in the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
The German NCPs and contact points are organised in the German NCP Network, which is coordinated by the EU Bureau of the BMBF. The EU Bureau also maintains the German Horizon Europe Web Portal.
