The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) performs a number of different tasks in following areas:

• support for research – basic research, key technologies, research aimed at solving future problems
• promotion of the international exchange of trainees, students, instructors, academics and scientists
• vocational education and training
• talent promotion and support of young researchers.

BMBF is responsible for developing and implementing the international cooperation strategies in science and technology of the German Federal Government. Germany cooperates with more than 50 countries around the world, in many cases on the basis of intergovernmental agreements.

Previous experience:
Concerning the Western Balkans, in 2000, the BMBF launched an initiative to revitalise cooperation in correspondence with the EU Stabilisation and Association process (SAP) for South East Europe and the Stability Pact. BMBF concentrates its activities on strategic issues such as the bilateral and multilateral dialogue and cooperation, policy development, institution building and regional networking.
The Balkan region is considered to be an important partner for Germany and, respectively, the BMBF. BMBF has been assessing and modernising its instruments for international cooperation, placing, for instance, more emphasis on projects in a regional context. A first Call for Proposals was launched in April 2004 and has recently been extended until March 2008. With this call entitled "International Cooperation in Education and Research - Central, Eastern and South Eastern European Region” (Regional Call)", BMBF funds are being made available for preparatory projects in the field of applied research, development and education. The aim is to place project applications in current BMBF funding programmes and to prepare projects in thematic priorities of the Seventh Research Framework Programme as well as in other EU programmes which are relevant to research. The call concentrates on New Technologies, Life Sciences, Environment and Sustainability, Social Sciences and the Humanities.
In the framework of the EU SEE-ERA.NET and SEE-ERA.NET PLUS projects, BMBF is the focal point for respective activities in Germany.