In 2015, the global community adopted the 2030 Agenda under the umbrella of the United Nations, thereby pledging its commitment to pursuing a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development within the framework of the 17 global goals. With the FONA Strategy, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has set itself the task of supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. The Strategy and funding priorities such as SURE focus on the innovation potential of research. FONA is, among others, effective in the fields of green hydrogen, the circular economy, climate protection and the bioeconomy. By promoting future technologies, the FONA Strategy actively contributes to the energy transition, resource efficiency and climate protection.
Which green innovations can be used to initiate sustainable changes in urban and rural areas? How can economically underdeveloped regions be strengthened and equal living conditions be realised? Where and when is a sustainable use of resources particularly urgent? Equally important: How can an acceptance of sustainability and an awareness of responsibility be created in society? The FONA funded research answers questions like these by means of interdisciplinary competence. FONA goes beyond the German borders and is understood by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education as a global strategy. In addition to the SURE funding priority, a large number of measures lay the tracks for international cooperation between scientific institutions. The repertoire of these measures not only includes research funding and the implementation of achieved results, but also the development of new strategies or roadmaps for a sustainable future.
The funded research make a decisive contribution to people-oriented and sustainable research and action by focusing on three areas:
- achieve the climate goals
- research, protect and utilise habitats and natural resources
- develop society and the economy – good living conditions throughout the country
With the FONA Strategy, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research contributes to more sustainability and resilience in Germany and worldwide over the next five years. In doing so, the FONA Strategy deals with issues that span all the goals, fields of action and actions. Particular attention is paid to these cross-cutting topics: digitalisation, knowledge and technology transfer, European and international cooperation and the strategic planning of research infrastructures.
BMBF – Research for Sustainability
