The Zukunftsbrücke – Chinese–German Young Professional Campus brings together 15 young German and 15 young Chinese leaders from all sectors for intensive dialogue each year. The program is aimed at Germans and Chinese with two to ten years of professional experience who already hold key positions in politics, economics, science or civil society and who wish to take an active part in shaping German-Chinese relations.
For any questions about the Zukunftsbrücke please contact Christian Straube.
Each year, the Zukunftsbrücke offers the 30 participants professional and intercultural training as well as membership in a growing network of outstanding young professionals from Germany and China. The programme is held in both countries – in alternating years. Costs for travel, room and board are covered. In addition to the campus programme, activities for Zukunftsbrücke alumni regularly take place in China and Germany.
Due to the pandemic and existing travel restrictions, the Zukunftsbrücke will focus on alumni activities in 2021 and 2022.
Participants of the Zukunftsbrücke campus conduct off-the-record conversations with well-known experts, go on thematic excursions and attend intercultural training sessions. Within the group and with experts, they discuss trends, current developments and challenges in Germany and China as well the countries’ bilateral relationship. Distinguished deans from both countries guide the Zukunftsbrücke.
Dr. Michael Schaefer, former Chairman of the Board of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and former Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, and Dr. Astrid Skala-Kuhmann, Advisor on China and Former Country Director GIZ China, acted as German deans.
The Zukunftsbrücke – Chinese–German Young Professional Campus seeks to create an intersectoral network of dynamic young leaders from China and Germany united personally and professionally to advance their countries’ sustainable partnership.
The German and Chinese governments support the Zukunftsbrücke goals, which are regularly mentioned in joint declarations of German-Chinese government consultations, most recently in 2016.
The Zukunftsbrücke – Chinese-German Young Professional Campus is a project by Stiftung Mercator and BMW Foundation. Former cooperation partners in China are the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
