Esther Seng | Secretary-General

Esther Seng has been Secretary-General of the German Science and Humanities Council (WR, Wissenschaftsrat) since July 2025.

A fully qualified lawyer, she brings more than two decades of experience in German science and research policy.

From 2019 to 2025, she was Head of the Division for Fundamental Issues, Digitalisation and Transfer at the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Her work focused on cooperation between the Federal and the State Governments, the strategic development of the science system, and overarching issues relating to science management. Her key projects included the realignment of the Pact for Research and Innovation and the further development of instruments to strengthen knowledge transfer from the scientific community.

Prior to this, she had held various positions at the BMFTR since 2003, including Head of the Legal Department.

Esther Seng was Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Weizenbaum Institute and member of the Senate of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).

She studied Law in Würzburg and Nottingham and holds a Master's degree in International Environmental Law.