Patrons, supporters, sponsors … or simply: friends. This is what WZB needs – men and women who are interested in what WZB does and in the topics that are researched diligently, passionately, and from different perspectives. Friends who understand why an institution - not coincidentally founded by the German parliament - can still contribute valuable insights to our understanding of our societies. And friends who can make a worthy case for the social sciences.

It can be enormously benefitting to have such partners in politics, economy, and culture. For this reason, the “Freunde des WZB” association was founded in May 2013. Its members contribute their companionship, their networks, but also the financial means that make possible the transfer of WZB research findings. Because even though WZB is reliably state-funded and does not depend on private generosity in order to do its research it nevertheless cannot finance everything through its basic budget. There are projects that are out of the ordinary and still should have their place at WZB. And that’s what these friends are for.

Furthermore, the founding of “Freunde des WZB” will also be a tribute to the social sciences – a token that the European Union has not quite been able to bring itself to show in its most recent framework program for research and innovation, Horizon 2020.

Have we aroused your interest? We would be very grateful for your sympathetic, generous and active support – by being a “Friend of WZB”, by making a donation, by providing ideas or by being actively committed. You can find our statutes and our membership form on this website. Should you have questions or comments, we are always ready to answer them.

We look forward to teaming up with you.