In 2001, the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius and its chairman Prof. Dres. h.c. Manfred Lahnstein has established the Bucerius Institute for Research of Contemporary German History and Society at the University of Haifa. The institute aims to reveal the complexities of contemporary German history through research, collective projects and analyses of identity formation, multiculturalism and citizenship. It promotes research in contemporary history as well as the social, cultural and political realities of Germany and strives to foster greater familiarity and understanding of modern Germany among the academic community. Furthermore it is trying to facilitates academic exchange between Israel, Germany and Europe.
