Dr. Eckart Bierdümpel obtained his PhD from the University of Cologne. He worked 14 years for the German National Research Institute for Information Technology (GMD) where he held the position as director of the department for international cooperation. Thereafter, he spent 23 years at the headquarters of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, heading the group of the department International Research Collaboration in St. Augustin near Bonn. Over the years, he and his group were responsible for the relations of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to many regions worldwide (Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific). In more than 30 years, Eckart Bierdümpel has undertaken several international projects for the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and the Commission of the European Union. He participated actively in establishing different international networks and has represented his employers in these networks. For example, for four years he acted as representative of Fraunhofer in the European Association of Research and Technological Organizations (EARTO), 13 years he served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM), 16 years as deputy director in the Global Research Alliance (GRA) and 20 years in different roles at WAITRO (Regional Representative for Europe, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President and Secretary General from 2019 till 2022). Additionally, he was a member of several selection committees and evaluation boards. Freshly retired, he acts as consultant for WAITRO Operations e.V.