News
Without international guest houses, there can be no world-class international research in Germany—the German IBZ network calls for political action
On February 26, the IBZ Verbund—the nationwide network of international guesthouses and university-affiliated guesthouses—invited members of the Bundestag, as well as representatives from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service, and the EURAXESS initiative, to a parliamentary breakfast at the Paul-Löbe-Haus in Berlin. The focus was on a question of fundamental importance: How can Germany compete for talent on the international stage if key infrastructure for international researchers is disappearing? After all, the IBZs are far more than just a “business card” for universities: they are a crucial building block for Germany’s future as a center of science. Without reliable, inclusive, and internationally oriented housing and social spaces, it will become increasingly difficult to attract top researchers and hold them here in the long term. The reality on the ground is alarming: rising energy and operating costs, a significant backlog of renovations, and a lack of investment funds are coupled with unclear responsibilities between universities and federal states. The result is structural underfunding, which has already led to closures—for example, in Potsdam and Hamburg—and is acutely threatening other facilities. Instead of international networking, managing the crisis dominates in many places. Individual rescue efforts, such as the recent one in Leipzig funded by short-term state funds, do demonstrate possibilities for action, but at the same time highlight the fundamental problem: there is a lack of permanently reliable financing and responsibility structures. Especially in times of tight public budgets, it is short-sighted to cut corners here. Investments in the IBZs are investments in one of Germany’s key resources: its scientific capacity and international appeal. The announcement by Member of the Bundestag Lukas Krieger (CDU), who served as patron of the event, to bring the issue into the budget deliberations is an important signal. However, it remains insufficient as long as no concrete political measures follow. The federal and state governments are now called upon to jointly create sustainable financing models, clearly define responsibilities, and invest specifically in maintaining and expanding the IBZ infrastructure. Because one thing is clear: if you want world-class international research in the country, you must also ensure the conditions for it! www.ibz-deutschland.de info@ibz-berlin.de
Mar 27, 2026
German Foundation for Monument Protection (DSD) supports restoration projects at the IBZ
We are delighted and would like to express our sincere thanks for the generous support of €25,000 from the German Foundation for Monument Protection (Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz, DSD) for the restoration of the steel windows of the IBZ Club and the metal trellises on the south facade of the IBZ.
Sep 09, 2025
Guided tours on Open Monument Day 2025 – Places still available for Saturday
There are still places available for our guided tour on Open Monument Day on September 13, 2025. The meeting point is at 2:00 p.m. at the main entrance of the IBZ, Wiesbadener Str. 18 (corner of Ahrweiler Str.). Experience the unique architecture of the Otto Steidle building and take a look behind the scenes.
Sep 09, 2025
Open Monument Day 2024
Aug 20, 2024
HURRA, WIR SIND DENKMAL!
Pressemitteilung zum Download: Pressenotiz_230329_Denkmalschutz_für_das_IBZ_Berlin.pdf
Mar 30, 2023