The Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship

The Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship (BFF), formerly known as the Congressional European Parliamentary Initiative (CEPI), offers a unique transatlantic hybrid experience spanning four months, designed to foster connections, knowledge transfer, and learning. Each year, the fellowship delves into global challenges confronting the transatlantic alliance. Commencing with a series of virtual programing, the fellows meet weekly with experts relevant to the year's theme, before embarking on an in-person trip to Washington, D.C. The fellowship culminates with a visit to Brussels, Belgium facilitating further in-person engagement. At the program's conclusion, fellows collaborate on a final writing segment pertaining to the chosen topic, released as an outcome of the BFF initiative. Fellows also become part of a larger, active Alumni network, finding opportunities to engage with the Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship beyond their cohort year.

Now accepting applications for BFF 2026 - Strategic Triangle: Exploring the Future of EU-U.S.-Asia Dynamics.

Editions

The 2026 Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship will focus on transatlantic policy coordination in Indo-Pacific region.

The Class of 2025 focused on EU-U.S. Space Cooperation, regulatory alignment, and industrial competitiveness.

The BFF Class of 2024 centered around defending democracy.

The BFF Class of 2023 focused on the future of work.

The BFF Class of 2022 focused on the topic of a Transatlantic Approach to the Developing World.

CEPI 2021 focused on sustainable innovation.

CEPI 2020 focused on artificial intelligence.

CEPI 2019 focused on policy and regulatory challenges for the digital economy.

CEPI 2018 centered on topics crucial to the digital economy, including GDPR and transatlantic data flows, technological innovation, and artificial intelligence.