Ten Years and Counting

The Robert Bosch Academy is an unique institution that will only become more relevant in decades to come. Its goal is to help make the world safer, more inclusive, more equitable, and more prosperous.

In 2014, the Robert Bosch Foundation understood the need for increased collaboration between global thinkers and the German political system. Then and now, we are convinced that leaders from politics, academia, civil society, and media across the world must come together to address the ever-greater global interconnectedness and crises that go along with it. We also observed that Germany’s political establishment was not fully prepared to assume growing global responsibilities and rise to international expectations.

Thus, we decided to create the Robert Bosch Academy where the two meet. The Academy brings bold thinkers who practice policymaking to Berlin for a residency of several months. This gives them the space to think about and work on the most pressing issues of our age and connect them with German decision-makers and experts. We foster the exchange of people from all over the world on a diversity of topics because we believe that overcoming siloed thinking is essential.

The Academy does three things: firstly, it gives renowned, brave, and successful leaders the space to think and debate with their peers. Secondly, the fellowship allows them to inspire the “Berlin bubble”, which in many instances is still quite provincial, as well as be inspired themselves by the world around them and their counterpart. And lastly, Fellows share their expertise and networks with the Foundation so that we as an organization can grow.

Even beyond our Fellows’ Berlin residency, we care for a vibrant community: once a Fellow, always a Fellow! We invest substantial effort in keeping this unique community of more than 100 Fellows from 47 countries connected and in constant exchange on global issues.

The Academy’s mission is more important than ever considering the world’s multiple crises: wars and suffering, domestic and global polarization, and uncertainty about the rules-based international order. Instead of coming together, the world seems to fall back into the logic of spheres of influence and regional camps in self-referential ideological bubbles.

We believe in the productivity of being challenged in our views. We are convinced that we need to listen to different perspectives, ask painful questions, and hear even more painful answers. This type of constructive diversity will hopefully trigger more heated and unexpected discussions. We are convinced that this kind of conversation – leading to concrete action – is what the 21st century needs. One high-ranking official in Berlin told me: the Academy is a pearl of the Foundation. I want this pearl to grow over the next ten years.

Since I will be leaving this wonderful institution during the summer, I will observe this growth from afar. Handing over the reins to my colleague Atje Drexler, I know the Academy is in good hands. I would love to stay in touch on LinkedIn.