The Center for Development Research - ZEF is an internationally and interdisciplinary oriented research institute of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.
The research activities of ZEF focus on three core areas: economic development and technological change, ecology and management of natural resources, and political and cultural change.
The ZEF attaches a central importance to scientific training and post graduate studies, in particular also of junior scientists from developing and transforming countries. Since October 1999, ZEF offers the three years study course: "International Doctoral Studies Program for Development" exclusively in English. ZEF cooperates with ZEI under one roof in the International Science Forum Bonn IWB (see there).