The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is supporting the U4 Network. For its academic collaboration in this network, the University of Göttingen will be receiving grant money from the DAAD totalling close to € 935,000.
With this support, the partner universities aim to promote the international academic research of their doctoral candidates, further develop joint research projects and identify new areas of cooperation in research and education. The funding flows from DAAD’s “Strategic Networks and Partnerships” programme. Out of a total of 117 grant applications submitted, only 21 were granted.
“The U4 Network joins Göttingen University with three outstanding, fully fledged universities in Europe. Based on our excellent and long-term contacts, with the support of the DAAD we will be able to target funding for our young researchers and thereby better pave their future career paths,” explains Professor Hiltraud Casper-Hehne, Vice President for International Affairs at Göttingen University. In concrete terms, the cooperation partners will use these funds to enable more studies abroad at the partner universities for their doctoral candidates in all subjects.
A total of 17 mutual summer schools and specialist conferences are planned along with workshops on joint research projects and potential new areas of collaboration. Moreover, the partner universities want to increase the number of their joint international degree programmes and provide continuing education in intercultural competencies to their administrative staff.
From 20 tot 22 March 2013 Student delegations from Groningen and Uppsala visit Ghent University for launching the U4 students network. 
