The German Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Germany) was founded in April 2014 by leading German knowledge centres. The network pools knowledge, experience and capacities of German academic, corporate and civil society organisations in order to contribute to the sustainable development of Germany as well as to German efforts for sustainable development across the globe.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has broken new ground in 2015: it comprises universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that go beyond previous Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as they address all dimensions of sustainable development in all countries. Germany, too, will have to find solutions for its own future development, and in this sense be a developing country. Therefore, SDSN Germany aims at promoting sustainable development as a guiding principle for politics, business and society with a particular focus on Germany and Europe.

Member organisations of SDSN Germany are at the same time members to the global SDSN. Other organisations and individuals are invited to join the network as partners. Anna-Katharina Hornidge (IDOS) and Gesine Schwan (HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA Governance Platform) co-chair the SDSN Germany Leadership Council.

The secretariat is hosted by the German Instiute of Development and Sustainablity (IDOS, formerly DIE).