Established in 1830 as the Higher Institute of Forestry (Höhere Forstlehranstalt), the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) embarked on a new chapter in academic teaching in 1992 at its historic forest and wood research site just outside Berlin. Since then, the university has been dedicated to forward-looking industries and key sectors such as nature protection, forest management, organic farming, climate change adaptation, sustainable economics, timber construction, and sustainable tourism management.

Renowned for its holistic approach to sustainability, diverse courses addressing future-oriented topics, and steadfast commitment to sustainability research, HNEE stands as a driving force for sustainable development. With approximately 2,300 students representing about 60 nations and over 400 employees engaged in teaching, research, and other roles, the modern university aims to lead the transformation towards a sustainable society. The mission of HNEE is to forge viable model solutions and empower students with the skills needed to shape the future.

Within the German context, HNEE brings expertise in agriculture, communications, and marketing and actively supports and contributes to the activities of the FLIARA project.