Since the beginning of the year 2007 the City of Hannover, the seven Hannover higher education establishments and the Volkswagen Foundation have been taking new paths towards stronger cooperation and networking. The ‘Initiative Wissenschaft Hannover’ (Hannover Science Initiative) was founded to enhance the city’s attractiveness as a science and high-quality investment location and create an innovation-friendly climate.

The Initiative focuses on improving services and general conditions for students, mutual marketing activities, and raising third-party funds for Hannover as a science location. Furthermore, cooperation between science and business will be developed and the international orientation of Hannover’s scientific community enhanced.

A selection of Hannover Science Initiative projects:

• Maintaining and extending the joint science portal www.initiative-wissenschaft-hannover.de

• Hannover Science Month in November 2008: a showcase for universities, scientific institutions, businesses and schools with a range of activities. Participation welcome!

• Service for foreign students. Every year at the beginning of the winter semester, foreign first semester students are welcomed by Lord Mayor Stephan Weil at the town hall. The range of services and advice for foreign students is being extended.

• Improving conditions for living and studying in Hannover. The ‘Hausmarke’ discount card entitles students who register their main place of residence as Hannover to rent rebates with some housing associations and reduced admission to museums, swimming pools, bars and events.