International Partnership Harvard - Heidelberg Cooperation
The Jellinek Center for Ethics (JCfE) is part of the effort to join the strengths of Harvard and Heidelberg Universities. The Jellinek Center encourages co-operation in the field of ethics between the two universities across the atlantic.
The State of Baden-Württemberg supports the Heidelberg | Harvard Cooperation through its »Global Partnership in Science« program, enabling the creation of two funding lines through which concrete research partnerships between both universities are being initiated and developed into lasting structures: Strategic Partnership Grants and Explorer Seed Funds. Since April 2026, the cooperation has entered its operational phase: 23 joint projects from a broad range of disciplines of both universities have been approved and are underway.
The »Strategic Partnership Grant« supports the development of long-term institutional structures between units of both universities, with a focus on collaborations designed to extend well beyond the funding period. The »Explorer Seed Fund« enables researchers and research groups to initiate new transatlantic partnerships.
Explorer Seed Funds at the Jellinek Center
The Jellinek Center has successfully applied for two »Explorer Seed Fund« grants. Both projects are interdisciplinary, connecting scientists from several institutions and departments in Heidelberg and Harvard. Exchange between the researchers began in May 2026.
The »Explorer Seed Fund« (ESF) provides new impetus for collaborative projects and intensifies partnership activities. The focus is on individual research stays by Harvard University researchers at Heidelberg University as well as academic events, targeting both leading and early-career researchers. The program aims to further strengthen the international excellence of both institutions.
Links
Beyond Transfer and Regulation: A Catalyst Lab for AI and Health Equity in LMIC Contexts
Wissenschaftler:innen und Ärtz:innen der Universitäten Heidelberg und Harvard untersuchen die Möglichkeiten eines Catalyst Labs für KI und Health Equity in Ländern mit niedrigem und mittlerem Einkommen (LMIC). Die derzeitige, mangelhafte Regulierung von KI behindert nicht nur Anwendungen mit hohem gesellschaftlichem Nutzen, sondern verschärft auch die globale soziale Ungerechtigkeit durch fehlgeleitete Vorgaben, welche den spezifischen Risiken in LMIC – wie Datenextraktivismus, Machtungleichgewichten und unzureichende Gewinnbeteiligung – nicht gerecht werden.
Project Leads: Prof. Dr. Ed Hundert (Harvard) & Prof. Dr. Dr. Eva Winkler (Heidelberg)
Universalism, Particularism, and Power. The Rise and Fall of ‘Transatlantic Values’
Wissenschaftler:innen der Universitäten Heidelberg und Harvard untersuchen die Bedeutung „transatlantischer Werte“ in der heutigen Zeit. In den Jahrzehnten nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg gründete sich die internationale Ordnung auf die Überzeugung, dass bestimmte Grundsätze – in Bezug auf die Menschenrechte und das Recht – für alle Menschen überall gelten. Heute befindet sich dieses Bild in einer tiefen Krise.
Project Leads: Prof. Dr. Mathias Risse (Harvard) & Prof. Dr. Thorsten Moos (Heidelberg)
