The Alumni Project Week "Global Digital Health - Interdisciplinary Challenges from International Perspectives" is a collaborative initiative bringing together international Research Alumni and local researchers from 6 German partner institutions (DKFZ, KIT, and the Universities of Cologne, Heidelberg, Münster, and Siegen) from 20 – 26 November 2025 in Cologne and Heidelberg.
Alumni Researchers from developing, emerging, and industrialised countries are invited to apply. For successful applicants travel and lodging will be supported. The project week will be supported by the DAAD with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
'Global Digital Health - Interdisciplinary Challenges from International Perspectives"
Activities will include keynote lectures, discussion panels, interdisciplinary exchanges, lab tours and a cultural programme. The interactive and participatory design seeks to facilitate sustainable scientific transfer of knowledge, strengthen international and interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhance alumni connections with German research institutions.
Overall, the scientific excellence and interdisciplinary approach make this project a groundbreaking initiative in digital health that will also strengthen connections between international Research Alumni and German institutions.
PROJECT GOALS AND STRUCTURE
Bringing together international Research Alumni and researchers from the six collaborating institutions, the project week focuses on addressing the societal, developmental, and global relevance of digital advancements in disease prevention, diagnostics, medical care and therapy, bio medical informatics, ageing research as well as health policies and health education, alongside their challenges and opportunities from a global perspective.
The project aims to engage researchers from various disciplines and expertise areas, focusing on interdisciplinary dialogue and leveraging the diverse competencies of international alumni to discuss the development of global digital health and the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The interdisciplinary and international perspectives are seen as key to identify open questions and challenges in scientific discussions, with contributions from the partner institutions serving as a catalyst.
Online Kick-off
Tuesday 30 September 2025: Virtual pre-meeting
Project Week in Germany
Thursday 20 - Saturday 22 November in Cologne
Sunday 23 November: transfer from Cologne to Heidelberg
Monday 24 - Wednesday 26 November in Heidelberg
2026
Follow up digital events to continue discussions and foster sustainable collaborations.
TARGET GROUP
International Research Alumni from the 6 partner institutions with diverse backgrounds from developing, emerging, and industrialised countries, facilitating a North-South dialogue are invited to Germany to share their expertise and take part in an interactive project week with many interdisciplinary discussions. Our Research Alumni are defined as international researchers, who studied or conducted research at one of the participating institutions and have spent at least 3 months in Germany as a part of their academic career.
VENUES
From Thursday 20 November - Saturday 22 November the project week will take place at the University of Cologne.
On Sunday 23 November there will be a travel day between Cologne and Heidelberg.
From Monday 24 - Wednesday 26 November the project week will take place at the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg.
LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE ORGANISER
CO-ORGANISERS
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FUNDED BY
The project Global “Digital Health - Interdisciplinary Challenges from International Perspectives” is supported by the DAAD with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
