Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) – Hessen has awarded 20 scholarships to refugee students and two threatened researchers. Nine of the scholarships go to scientists who have fled Ukraine and are now doing research at Hessian universities, as the Ministry of Science announced in Wiesbaden on Thursday. The state program “HessenFonds-Scholarships” also supports a scientist who is exposed to political persecution in their home countries and now wants to do research in Hessen. Eight scholarships go to refugee students and one doctoral student who come from Syria, Iran and Ukraine and have distinguished themselves through special achievements.

“Through the HessenFonds, the state supports people who had to flee from war or political persecution with their studies or the continuation of their scientific careers in Hessen,” said Science Minister Angela Dorn (Greens). The program supports people in an emergency situation, but at the same time promotes the international networking of the science location Hessen.

In the 13 application rounds of the “HessenFonds” program to date, a total of 261 people have been supported, including 222 students, 23 doctoral candidates and 16 scientists.