Martin Mann appointed new Managing Director of Berlin University Alliance
Dr. Martin Mann, Prof. Dr. Günter M. Ziegler
Image Credit: Berlin University Alliance
Dr. Martin Mann will take over as Managing Director of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA) on January 1, 2026. The Germanist and sociologist currently heads the “Fundamental Social Issues and Transformations” department at the Office of the Federal President of Germany. Previously, he worked as a science manager at Technische Universität Berlin and at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, where he most recently headed the presidential staff.
News from Oct 23, 2025
“The Berlin University Alliance is an impressive success story for the Berlin research community. It promotes an excellent research environment, strengthens the participating institutions, and makes Berlin shine even brighter on the international stage. I am delighted to be involved in shaping its further development as managing director from January 1, 2026,” said Martin Mann.
As Managing Director of BUA, Martin Mann will also take over the management of the collaboration platform, which functions as a public corporation and provides administrative support to Berlin University Alliance.
"It is good news that we have gained Martin Mann for Berlin University Alliance. He is experienced and has an excellent network – a leader who combines science, administration, and social perspectives in a very special way,“ said Professor Günter M. Ziegler, spokesperson for the Berlin University Alliance and president of Freie Universität Berlin. ”Across the BUA, we look forward to working with him and advancing the further development of the alliance of excellence together."
The Berlin University Alliance
The Berlin University Alliance—a network of excellence comprising Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin—is positioning Berlin as one of the world’s leading knowledge and innovation hubs for integrated collaboration across various disciplines and sectors of society. Together, this ecosystem contributes to the sustainable success of major transformations. The Berlin University Alliance is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR) and the State of Berlin as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments.