Event in Costa Rica
Strengthening Bilateral Collaboration in Research and Higher Education between Costa Rica and Germany
We would like to invite the scientific community at Osnabrück University to participate in the hybrid-event 'Strengthening Bilateral Collaboration in Research and Higher Education between Costa Rica and Germany', which will take place from 8–11 September 2025.
The event is hosted by the National Council of Rectors of Costa Rica (CONARE) and will feature representatives from the DFG, DAAD, Max Planck Society, as well as universities and research institutions from both countries.
The general objective of the event is to foster multilateral collaboration among higher education institutions and research centers from Costa Rica, Central America, and Germany through the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and resources for the joint development of high-quality scientific projects and cooperation in various fields of knowledge.
The activity will take place in a hybrid format over four days and will include, discussion panels, research presentations, networking sessions, and visits to Costa Rican public universities. The event program can be found in the attached concept note.
Registration link: https://forms.gle/zqnAFLhnCMdT6ZWTA
Osnabrück University will be represented in Costa Rica by Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Kühnberger, Vice President for Research, Social Dialogue, and Transfer, and Ms. Sonja Schulze from the Strategic Controlling Department.
San José, Costa Rica - September 8–11, 2025
Since 2018, the National Council of Rectors (CONARE) has actively promoted the strengthening of academic and scientific cooperation between Costa Rica and Germany through strategic partnerships with institutions such as the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the Max Planck Society. The internationalization of higher education has been a shared priority for institutions from both countries, which have established collaborative links in research, academic mobility, and knowledge transfer.
Strengthening Bilateral Collaboration in Research and Higher Education between Costa Rica and Germany
General Objective of the Event
To foster multilateral collaboration among higher education institutions and research centers from Costa Rica, Central America, and Germany through the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and resources for the joint development of high-quality scientific and academic projects in various fields of knowledge. The event aims to generate spaces for dialogue on scientific and academic cooperation, as well as to present success stories in multilateral collaboration. These dynamics seek to facilitate the creation of partnerships among representatives and experts from different institutions, while also contributing to the identification of best practices in developing high-quality collaborative proposals, thereby increasing the chances of accessing funding opportunities.
Event Methodology
The activity will take place over four days and will include discussion panels, research presentations, networking sessions, and visits to Costa Rican public universities. Participants will include representatives from embassies, national and international higher education institutions, research centers, cooperating agencies, and other stakeholders.
Expected Results
The event is expected to result in the development of a roadmap to strengthen academic collaboration among the participating countries, increase the success rate of fundable research proposals, and establish joint research lines, areas of common interest, and potential projects with funding potential.
Monday, September 8
| Time | Activitiy |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. | Reception and Registration |
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Welcome Remarks |
| 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Panel Discussion: International Scientific and Academic Cooperation and Collaboration |
| 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Coffee Break and Cultural Activity |
| 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Lecture: Max Planck Society: International Strategies and Programs |
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Lecture: DFG funding opportunities: Collaboration and research with and in Germany |
Tuesday, September 9
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Lecture: DAAD promotion programs |
| 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Lecture: Tübingen: Opportunities for Scientific and Research Cooperation |
| 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Lecture: International Research Cooperation - Osnabrück |
| 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Panel: Presentation of CSUCA Projects and Success Stories |
Wednesday, September 10
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Lecture: International Perspectives in the Field of AI and Recommendations for Costa Rica, Vice President of Osnabrück University |
| 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Parallel Lecture: Sustainability Challenges in Coastal and Marine Socio-Ecological Systems: Current Situation and Governance Recommendations https://forms.gle/izDxGRpEnoBCSH9U6 |
| 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Coffee Break |
| 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Thematic Sessions for Academic Exchange: CALAS Session |
| 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Thematic Session for Academic Exchange: Nagoya Protocol and EU Legislation - Facilitating Research Collaborations between Costa Rica and Germany. Leibniz Institute - DSMZ |
| 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Thematic Sessions for Academic Exchange: Baylat |
Thursday, September 11
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Parallel Networking Session |
| 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Presentation of Success Stories: DFG-Max Planck Collaboration |
