Inter-institutional research workshop/retreat 2025 brings four major institutions together in Bonn

The Inter-Institutional Research Workshop/Retreat 2025 took place on 6–7 November at DEval and IDOS in Bonn, bringing together around 40 researchers from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy/EIPCC, DEval, IDOS, and GIGA for two days of exchange, learning, and collaboration.

This year’s retreat offered a rich program. The first day opened with a seminar by DEval on emerging debates in development cooperation evaluation, followed by a World Café that encouraged participants to share perspectives across institutional boundaries. On the second day, an ERC funding information session and a career transition panel provided valuable guidance for researchers at different career stages.

A key innovation of the 2025 retreat was the thematic panel research presentation session, introduced this year to strengthen cross-institutional dialogue. Researchers presented their ongoing projects within four thematic clusters:

• Digital Futures & Social Change
• Climate, Energy & the Development Nexus
• Power, Institutions & Democratic Resilience
• Rethinking Aid? The Effectiveness of Development Cooperation

The new format was met with strong enthusiasm, offering researchers the chance to showcase their work, receive constructive feedback, and identify potential collaborations across the four partner institutions.

Participants highlighted the retreat’s open atmosphere, strong engagement, and the value of bringing together diverse research communities.

The organizers thank all participants for their contributions and look forward to continuing this joint initiative. The next workshop will take place in Erfurt in 2026.