Since 2021, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has been funding anti-Semitism research projects with 12 million euros. This commitment will now be continued at the same level in a further funding phase. The corresponding funding guideline, for which projects can now apply, was published on 16 December 2024. One focus of the funding will be on Israel-related anti-Semitism.
Federal Research Minister Cem Özdemir explains:
‘More than ever, we must confront anti-Semitism decisively and uncompromisingly. The extent of hatred towards Israel and Jews is dramatic: according to the Research and Information Centre on Anti-Semitism (RIAS), there were an average of seven anti-Semitic incidents a day in Berlin alone in the first half of 2024 – and that’s just the reported incidents. This is unacceptable. The Basic Law obliges us to protect people from discrimination and violence. Research can make a key contribution to this: it helps to better understand the causes of anti-Semitism and provides sound knowledge for preventing and combating this abhorrent form of group-based misanthropy against Jews. My ministry will therefore continue to support researchers who work closely with partners in this field. I would like to expressly encourage researchers to focus in particular on Israel-related anti-Semitism and the role of social media.’
Background
With the funding guideline ‘Current Dynamics and Challenges of Anti-Semitism’ (2021-2025), the BMBF is funding 10 research networks at universities and non-university institutions with 12 million euros. In the projects, teaching materials about everyday Jewish life, law related recommendations for dealing with anti-Semitic incidents, and recommendations for anti-Semitism-critical teacher training have been and are being developed. Coaching programmes against hatred of Jews are being created, tested and evaluated on the internet. The projects help politicians and society to counter anti-Semitic words and actions appropriately on the basis of scientific findings and to oppose them effectively.
For the new funding phase, for which both new and already funded projects can apply, the BMBF is once again providing 12 million euros from the end of 2025. The new projects will focus in particular on Israel-related anti-Semitism, which has become increasingly visible again since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and the role of social media in the spread of anti-Semitic attitudes. This requires a strengthening of both basic and application-oriented research. Other goals include anchoring anti-Semitism research more firmly at universities, universities of applied sciences (HAWs) and non-university research institutions. In addition, the new measure promotes networking of anti-Semitism research in Germany and Europe.
Source: BMBF (in German)