On May 17 and 18, 2026, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) launched the new framework program for the humanities and social sciences, with the thematic focus “Guidance for a Changing World” (“Orientierung für eine Welt im Wandel”), in Berlin.
Among the many scholars, policymakers, and representatives of research institutions, KHK c:o/re director Stefan Böschen actively participated in the program.
In the workshop “Humanities and Social Sciences Under Pressure: What Impact Do (Geo)Political Changes Have on the Freedom of Research,” he discussed threats to academic freedom amid rising authoritarian regimes in different regions of the world. The workshop not only provided food for thought regarding the position of the humanities and social sciences in Germany and Europe but also aligned perfectly with the c:o/res event series, “Freedom of Research: A European Summit,” which we organize with the Charlemagne Prize Foundation and RWTH Aachen University’s Knowledge Hub each year.
After the workshop, Stefan Böschen presented the main discussion points in the plenum with participants from other workshops. Several representatives of the Käte Hamburger Centers furthermore presented the transdisciplinary, collaborative, and international research framework of the funding line collectively at the “Marketplace of Ideas.”
If you would like to learn more about the BMFTR’s new framework program, check out their website.
Photos 1, 2 and 4: Anna Warum
Photo 3: DLR Projektträger