DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR HOCHSCHUL- UND WISSENSCHAFTSFORSCHUNG GMBH

Their core work

DZHW is Germany's leading research center for higher education and science studies, based in Hannover. They specialize in analyzing how research systems work — from how grants are awarded and whether gender bias affects funding decisions, to how scientific impact should be measured and how science diplomacy shapes international relations. Their core contribution is producing evidence-based analysis that informs research policy across Europe, including developing indicators for science, technology and innovation (STI) and studying the dynamics of public research and firm innovation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

DZHW's early H2020 work (2016–2018) focused on open science mechanics — peer review processes, altmetrics, open access frameworks, and innovative dissemination methods. By 2019–2023, their focus shifted decisively toward structural research policy questions: how STI indicators shape policy, how gender bias affects grant allocation, and how public research connects to firm innovation capabilities. This evolution shows a move from studying how science is communicated to studying how research systems are governed and who benefits from them.

DZHW is moving toward research system governance — expect future work on funding fairness, diversity in research careers, and evidence-based STI policy design.

How they like to work

DZHW operates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator in H2020, which positions them as a specialist contributor bringing analytical expertise to larger research teams. With 37 unique partners across 14 countries in just 4 projects, they work in broad, diverse consortia rather than tight recurring groups. This suggests they are a sought-after expert partner valued for their methodological capabilities in research policy analysis.

DZHW has built a broad European network of 37 partners across 14 countries through only 4 projects, indicating consistently large consortia. Their collaborative reach spans most of the EU, reflecting the pan-European scope of the research policy questions they study.

What sets them apart

DZHW occupies a distinctive niche as a dedicated research-on-research institute — they don't do science, they study how science works. This meta-analytical position makes them uniquely valuable for any consortium that needs rigorous evidence on research impact, funding equity, or policy effectiveness. For consortium builders, partnering with DZHW adds credibility on governance and evaluation dimensions that funders increasingly require.

Highlights from their portfolio

• S4D4C
  Their largest single grant (EUR 335,762), tackling the unusual intersection of science and diplomacy — a topic with growing geopolitical relevance.
• GRANteD
  Directly examines gender bias in EU grant allocation using advanced statistical methods — a politically significant and policy-relevant topic.
• RISIS 2
  Part of a major European research infrastructure for STI policy studies, giving DZHW access to and influence over pan-European research data systems.