Jürgen Renn has been appointed the new chair of the Minerva Centers Committee. funded by the Minerva Stiftung, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the particular host university in which each Center is based, 24 Minerva Centers are currently funded at the six universities and the Weizmann Institute in Israel. The Minerva Centers perform research in various fields, and are dedicated to promoting cooperation between German and Israeli researchers through joint research projects, short-term research exchanges, symposia, and workshops.

The committee, comprised of internationally-recognized German and Israeli researchers, is responsible for selecting and assessing applications of new Minerva Centers and appoints independent committees for the evaluation of already existent ones. Renn will serve in the position for the next three years.