International Profile Partnerships

About the Program

Excellence in science, advances in medicine, and high-quality patient care depend on international collaboration. Exchange across countries and institutions provides access to knowledge and expertise. It brings together different scientific and clinical perspectives and enables partners to tackle complex challenges together. International collaboration drives new discoveries and innovative approaches and helps translate them into research and patient care.

Stiftung Charité has long been committed to strengthening international networks in the Berlin life sciences. Since 2026, the Foundation is supporting the Profile Partnership Program (Charité intranet), which develops long-term institutional partnerships between Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and strategically selected institutions worldwide. Stiftung Charité is providing a total of 900.000 euros for the program.

The program funds joint initiatives with profile partners in research, teaching, patient care, and administration. It supports both long-term collaborative projects and new collaborations. By facilitating collaboration on strategically relevant topics, the program contributes directly to the implementation of Charité’s Internationalization Strategy #IntStrat2030 (Charité intranet). Stiftung Charité previously provided seed funding for the development of the strategy. The Profile Partnership Program adds an institutional dimension to Stiftung Charité’s existing funding programs with an international perspective.

Stiftung Charité funds the Profile Partnership Program and contributes to its strategic development as a member of the Strategic Program Board. Charité’s International Affairs Office is responsible for the program’s design and coordination, including its calls for applications and selection processes.

Press release announcing Stiftung Charité’s commitment to funding the International Profile Partnership Program (in German)

International Profile Partnerships

Profile Partnerships are long-term, institutionalized partnerships between Charité and selected international partner institutions. They go beyond individual projects and may encompass research, teaching, patient care, and administration. They bring together the strengths and expertise of the participating institutions to address strategically relevant topics.

The Charité Executive Board selected the profile partners in line with the “Charité 2030 – Rethinking Health” strategy. The partnerships strengthen key areas such as digitalization and AI, prevention, innovation management, crisis preparedness, cell and gene therapy, and teaching. They also provide opportunities to establish joint international research consortia and to recruit and develop skilled professionals.

Profilpartner

Based on these strategic criteria, the Charité Executive Board selected the following international partners for the development of Profile Partnerships:

Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
Vanderbilt Health and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, USA
Sheba Medical Center, Israel, with a focus on innovation
Partner region: India, with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Apollo Group

The partnerships are at different stages of development and focus on different areas.

Funding Lines

Three funding lines support the development of the Profile Partnerships:

Signature Projects

Signature Projects provide seed funding for major strategic initiatives with profile partners that aim to build sustainable structures. Examples include joint research consortia, professorships, study programs, and continuing education programs. Preference is given to projects co-funded by the respective partner institution.

Target group: Charité institutes, clinical departments, and administrative divisions; lead applicants are individuals in leadership positions.

Funding: 20.000 to 40.000 euros per year for up to two years.

Flexible Funds

Flexible Funds provide short-term seed funding to launch or deepen collaborations with profile partners. Examples include short research stays, lab visits, networking between research groups, joint symposia, and participation in events hosted by partner institutions.

Target group: Individuals at all career stages and research groups.

Funding: 2.000 to 10.000 euros per application for up to twelve months.

International Talent Fellowship

The International Talent Fellowship supports the international mobility and professional development of Charité staff. Funding is available for activities such as job shadowing, staff exchanges, and stays at profile partner institutions. The program particularly aims to reach professional groups that have so far been less internationally connected.

Target group: Dedicated staff and leaders from different professional groups.

Funding: Up to 6.000 euros for up to three months.

Ausschreibungen

Current calls for applications, application deadlines, funding conditions, and information on how to apply for the International Profile Partnerships are available on the website of the International Affairs Office of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

→ Current calls for applications (Charité intranet)

Stiftung Charité’s consistent approach to internationalization

Internationalization and international collaboration have long been important priorities of Stiftung Charité’s research funding. Through the Visiting Fellows program and its predecessor programs, Stiftung Charité brings renowned scientists to Berlin for extended stays. Together with their hosts, the Fellows develop new research ideas, carry out joint projects, and build lasting scientific collaborations. Through Recruiting Grants, Stiftung Charité supports the permanent recruitment of established or leading scientists to the life sciences and university medicine in Berlin.

At the same time, Stiftung Charité supports physicians already working at Charité in developing their international networks. Through the Internationalization Grants for Clinician Scientists, Stiftung Charité supports fellows of the BIH Charité Clinician Scientist Program in establishing and deepening international scientific collaborations. The Clinical Fellows program provides protected time for experienced physicians. This protected time can be used for professional development and knowledge exchange, with observerships in Germany and abroad explicitly included.