The Franco-German PHC/PPP Procope program is 40 years old in 2026 ! On this occasion, the French Office of Science and Technology in Berlin and the German Academic Exchange Service are jointly organizing a special day at the French Embassy in Germany on May 28th 2026 focused on Franco-German scientific diplomacy and its challenges, in partnership with the Campus France Alumni Days.
SCIENCE AT THE HEART OF FRANCO-GERMAN RELATIONS
French Embassy in Germany | Wilhelmstrasse 69, 10117 Berlin | May 28 2026 (1.30 – 9.30 p.m.)
Scientific cooperation between France and Germany is essential to building a more sovereign, competitive, and secure Europe. It is a key driver for addressing major challenges – such as climate change, technological transitions, and geopolitical tensions – as well as for defending democratic values. This vision was an important outcome of the last Franco-German research forum, that took place on June 16, 2026 in Berlin, leading to the joint signature of a Franco-German research roadmap.
Over the years, the two countries have built a strong joint scientific community, notably with the support of the PHC Procope / PPP Frankreich program since 1986. The 40th anniversary of the program provides the opportunity to valorize its contribution to longstanding cooperation between French and German research teams. Beyond the celebration of this specific program, the event is part of the 4th edition of France Alumni Day, a worldwide initiative aiming at promoting the French higher education and research system around the world on the topic “Scientific talents: discover, innovate, undertake”. Therefore, the first part of the event will be dedicated to an information session on Franco-German cooperation programs, mobility scholarships and career opportunities. Meanwhile, a closed-sided workshop will gather about twenty participants to reflect upon the PHC Procope / PPP Frankreich program as driver for the development of scientific networks and scaling up of cooperations.
Beyond the valorization of scientific programs and scientific talents, the event aims at reflecting upon science diplomacy in the light of global challenges. What common message should be conveyed together by France and Germany at the European level to address these challenges? What progress and limitations have been made on priorities defined within the Franco-German Research Forum? What place and role could research institutions and scientists have in science diplomacy?
PART. 1 – Franco-German scientific talents: initiating collaboration, building networks & scaling up cooperation (1.30 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.)
1.30 – 2.15 p.m.: Doors open at 1.30 p.m. (Wilhelmstrasse 69 entrance) and participants are welcome until 2.30 p.m.
2.15 – 2.30 p.m.: Welcome address (Auditorium)
- Siegfried MARTIN-DIAZ, Counselor for Science and Technology at the French Embassy in Germany
- Donatienne HISSARD, General Director of Campus France
- Muriel HELBIG, Vice-President of the German Academic Exchange Programme
Information sessions: France Alumni Day 2026
Auditorium | 2.30 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.
The French Embassy in Germany undertakes to anchor the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the PHC/PPP Procope within the 4th edition of “France Alumni Day” related to the topic “Scientific talents: discover, innovate, undertake”. Its objective is to promote the French higher education and research system around the world and valorize the career path of Alumni who have completed a mobility stay in France. Therefore, these information sessions are seen as a networking event to promote both Franco-German cooperation program as well as the scientific talents who have benefited from these funding possibilities.
Information sessions will include:
- Presentations of scientific mobility programs between France and Germany, of which the PHC / PPP Procope is the cornerstone as historical program for scientific cooperation between both countries;
- Promotion of alumni profiles who have completed mobility periods within the framework of the PHC Procope as well as other programs (French government scholarships, DAAD mobility grants, Campus France mobility grants, etc.);
- Career prospects for researchers, including pathways between scientific and diplomatic careers.
Moderation: Ms. Aline Luick, Ambassadrice France Alumni Hamburg
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.: Session 1: Mobility programs for young researchers between France and Germany
Presentation of the cooperation programs and mobility scholarships funded by the Germany Academic Exchange Service
- Natalia JAUFMANN, Research Mobility Officer at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Testimonies of beneficiaries of cooperation programs and mobility scholarships funded by the French Embassy in Germany
- Adrian MENGEDOHT, Master student with a Franco-German double degree in mechanical engineering (ENSAM and and KIT), laureate of the mobility grant “Technologies of the Future”(for master, doctoral and postdoctoral students)
- Robert WEIßENBORN, doctoral student, beneficiary of the mobility grant “Français Langue Etrangère” (FLE)
3:30 – 3:45 p.m.: Coffee break (Rue de France)
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.: Session 2: Franco-German career prospects for young researchers
- Kristina BERKUT, Training and International project manager at the Association Bernard Gregory
- Maike HANSEN, advisor for doctoral and postdoctoral research funding at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
INTERLUDE (4.45 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.)
- Information booths on Franco-German research cooperation programs, mobility scholarships and career opportunities
- Broadcast of promotional video portraits in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the PHC Procope / PPP Frankreich program
PART. 2 – Franco-German Science Diplomacy – Facing Together Global Challenges (5.30 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.)
Auditorium | Doors open at 4:45 p.m. & welcoming of participants until 5:30 p.m.
France and Germany have launched ambitious programs to attract best scientists worldwide, the latest ones being the 1000 Köpfe plus program and Choose France for science. These initiatives are strong assets for the European research area, promoting common values and principles for international science cooperation, such as scientific freedom. At the same time, the two countries have built over the years a strong joint scientific community, notably with the support of the PHC Procope / PPP Frankreich program. As historian specialized in Franco-German cooperation and former beneficiary of this program, Prof. Dr. Corinne DEFRANCE will share her insight on how the past sheds light on current geopolitical issues for science diplomacy. Then, a policy round table will reflect on the challenges of scientific diplomacy for France and Germany amid rising geopolitical tensions and global challenges such as climate change, AI governance, and pandemics. How can France and Germany join forces through their research talent pools to promote open, free and secure international science cooperation contributing to solving global challenges?
5:30 – 5:45 p.m.: Welcome addresses
- E. François DELATTRE, Ambassador of France to the Federal Republic of Germany
- Philippe BAPTISTE, French minister of Higher Education, Research and Space
- Frau Vivien BAGANZ, head of division International and European Policy Issues, Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologien und Raumfahrt
5:45 – 5:50 p.m.: Video on the 40th anniversary of PHC Procope / PPP Frankreich program
5:50 – 6:10 p.m.: Short insight: Franco-German scientific cooperation – Past and present issues
- Dr. Corinne DEFRANCE, Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne / Freie Universität Berlin, historian specialized in Franco-German cooperation
6:10 – 6:15 p.m.: Video on the 40th anniversary of the PHC Procope / PPP Frankreich program
6:15 – 7:30 p.m.: Policy Round table
- Thierry DAMERVAL, Special Envoy for science and technology at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Ministry of higher education, Research and Space
- Muriel HELBIG, vice-president of the German Academic Exchange Service
- Donatienne HISSARD, General director of Campus France
- Dr. Dr. h.c. Christoph M. SCHMIDT, Designated-President of the Leibniz association
7:30 p.m.: Aperitive dinner (Rue de France)
9:00 p.m.: End of the event
