DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) is the world's largest funding organization for the international exchange of students and researchers.

DAAD supports the internationalization of German universities, promotes German and German language learning abroad, helps developing countries build effective universities and advises decision-makers on cultural, educational and development policy issues.

The DAAD budget is formed mainly by federal funding from various ministries, primarily the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, as well as the European Union and a number of enterprises, organizations and foreign governments. Its head office is in Bonn, but DAAD also has an office in the German capital, Berlin, with which the famous Berlin Resident Artist Program (Berliner Künstlerprogramm) is closely associated. He maintains contacts and provides advice to his main partner countries on all continents through a network of regional offices and information centers.

Through targeted marketing measures such as higher education fairs and information events, DAAD is presenting a contemporary image of Germany and thereby acquainting talented scientists with Germany's reputation as an attractive destination for study and research.