The Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (IAI Ibero-American Institute) has been a new network partner of the Bayerisches Hochschulzentrum für Lateinamerika BAYLAT (external link, opens in a new window) since August 15, 2025. BAYLAT is a service institution of the Bayerisches Staatsministeriums für Wissenschaft und Kunst (StMWK) (external link, opens in a new window) that promotes the networking of Latin America-related research and teaching in all disciplines and supports the cooperation of Bavarian universities and research institutions with Latin America. Bavaria is the only federal state in Germany to have established such a structure.
The partnership is of strategic importance for the IAI and BAYLAT (external link, opens in a new window). Together, the two institutions want to strengthen the visibility of Latin America in Germany and draw attention to the great dynamism and innovative power of exchange with the region.
The IAI has been cooperating with BAYLAT for many years. This formalization of the cooperation between the Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut (IAI) and BAYLAT began with a joint event on 7 July 2025 (external link, opens in a new window) at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU (external link, opens in a new window)), where BAYLAT has its headquarters, and which was also broadcast online. Researchers from a wide range of universities and disciplines took part in the productive exchange on the current status and prospects of Latin American and Caribbean research in Germany.
As part of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (SPK) (external link, opens in a new window), which is funded by the federal and state governments, it is important for the IAI to be aware of developments in the federal states and to incorporate them into its activities. In addition, the IAI has chaired the German Latin American Studies Association (ADLAF) (external link, opens in a new window) for the past year.
Joint activities and measures were agreed in working meetings with Irma de Melo-Reiners, Managing Director of BAYLAT, and Silke Jansen, Chair of the BAYLAT Board of Directors.
