About us

BICC - Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies deals with a wide range of global topics in the field of peace and conflict research centring the causes and repercussions of violent conflicts. These topics range from the (de-)mobilization of violent actors, arms exports and small arms control to the importance of organized violence in global migration flows and the use of natural resources. 

Based on applied and transdisciplinary research, the Centre offers technical and policy advice and contributes to public debates.

At the same time, its practical experience and the interaction with experts offer opportunities for further academic research, creating a unique ‘knowledge circle.’ 

BICC is a non-university, non-profit research institute with international staff. It was founded in 1994 and is a member of the Johannes-Rau-Research Community. BICC’s Director holds a chair for Peace and Conflict Research at Bonn University. The Center receives annual core funding by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Its donors come from German and international research institutions, German federal ministries and international organisations. 

Our mission is to conduct policy-relevant research in response to the problems of organised violence and to explore ways to address them.

To do so, BICC engages in dialogue and active exchange with scholars, politicians, practitioners and civil society organisations.  

BICC’s work is based on a ‘knowledge circle’, which intends to bridge the gap between research and practice. We believe in mutual learning processes. With our applied research, being credible, relevant, and legitimate, we aim to have an impact on political and social processes. At the same time, our practical experiences and interactions with non-academics should open up avenues for further academic research 

BICC’s portfolio includes: 

• Applied research (background and evaluation studies, research reports, impact evaluations, development of indicators, feasibility studies to support program implementation). 

• Policy advice (background analyses, publications, databases, presentations, and informal talks). 

• Technical advice and capacity development (training of stakeholders, expert workshops, and allocation of long- and short-term experts as well as preparation of concepts and modules for the further education). 

• Data, and Geographic Information Systems (collection, analysis, and preparation of data). 

• Information of the public (publications, websites, events, exhibitions, press work). 

BICC was founded as a non-profit limited company in 1994 with the support of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Shareholder is the State of NRW. The Center is headed by a Director. The governing bodies are the Supervisory Board, the Board of Trustees, and the International Board.
The Center’s concept focuses on applied research and frames the institute’s activities for the next five years. 

BICC's vision and mission is to strive for a more peaceful world. An implicit part of this vision is gender equality, which BICC strives towards in every aspect of its work. While BICC has always been committed to gender equality, our commitment is made explicit in the following Gender Equality Plan (GEP). The GEP is effective immediately and will be evaluated every two years. 

The Center is subject to the Public Corporate Governance Code of the state of NRW, understood as the measure of good and responsible management and control.

The Code aims at making a company’s decisions with regard to management and control transparent and comprehensible
See “Corporate Governance Bericht”: 

• 2022
• CGP-Archive

BICC is a founding member of the Johannes-Rau-Research Community, an umbrella organisation for 15 independent non-university research institutes with more than 1,000 employees in North Rhine-Westphalia, established in 2014. The Community is dedicated to conducting holistic research and advisory activities with regard to issues that a society that is becoming increasingly more complex will have to face in the future. It believes in co-operation that crosses disciplinary borders. Being part of the Johannes-Rau-Research Community requires excellent research on issues important for the future and meeting uniform quality standards. This is why member institutes are externally evaluated on a regular basis. 

BICC receives a core funding from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). This funding enables the Center to perform research projects and research-based policy advice with funding from a variety of donors.

Bonn University is the seat of the professorship for Peace and Conflict Research held by BICC’s Director.