"The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is a well-established national funding organisation with longstanding expertise in managing fellowship programmes for highly qualified researchers based on individual-driven trans-national mobility. Along with the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers in accordance with the Foundation's Implementation Protocol, Community co-funding reinforces the existing, highly successful Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme for Postdoctoral Researchers and increases the number of incoming fellows sponsored. High standards of excellence and open competition are combined with professional management and the highest possible degree of freedom for applicants regarding the chosen field of research, host institution, and duration of the research stay. The Foundation's client-friendliness and post-scheme network support have set benchmarks in the past. By participating in the COFUND scheme, it wishes to share its expertise and help exploit synergies between European funding programmes to increase mobility options and life-long career development of researchers in Europe."