# Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Afrikanistik

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q101262681](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101262681)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/goethe-universitat-frankfurt-am-main-institut-fur-afrikanistik

## Summary
The Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Afrikanistik is a research institute located in Frankfurt, Germany, that operates as part of Goethe University Frankfurt. It is an organization dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation in the field of African studies. It is officially classified as a research institute and is identified by the Ringgold ID 235538.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Instance of a research institute.
- **Parent Organization**: Constituent part of Goethe University Frankfurt.
- **Location**: Headquarters located in Frankfurt, Germany.
- **Country**: Germany.
- **Identifier**: Ringgold ID is 235538.
- **Wikidata Description**: Described as a "research institute."

## FAQs
### Q: What is the specific function of this institute?
A: The institute functions as a research institute, which means its primary purpose is to conduct research and generate new knowledge, distinct from universities that combine research with teaching or companies that research for commercial ends.

### Q: Where is the Institut für Afrikanistik located and who operates it?
A: It is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, and operates as a part of Goethe University Frankfurt.

### Q: How is the institute identified in scholarly databases?
A: The organization is uniquely identified by the Ringgold ID 235538, a code used to identify research organizations in global systems.

## Why It Matters
Research institutes serve as dedicated engines of discovery, providing spaces where researchers can pursue long-term, high-risk investigation free from the teaching obligations typical of universities. The Institut für Afrikanistik contributes to this landscape by focusing resources on the systematic investigation of African studies. By concentrating talent and infrastructure purely on research, such institutes accelerate breakthroughs and provide critical infrastructure for advancing human knowledge and solving complex problems.

## Notable For
- Being a dedicated research institute rather than a teaching-focused university department.
- Membership in the global research community, evidenced by a unique Ringgold identifier.
- Classification as a distinct operational entity conducting hands-on investigation.
- Status as part of a major German university system (Goethe University Frankfurt).

## Body
The Institut für Afrikanistik at Goethe University Frankfurt represents a specific organizational form within the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions. Unlike universities that balance teaching and research missions, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends, this entity exists as a research institute to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation.

### Organizational Structure and Affiliation
The institute is formally classified as an instance of a "research institute." It operates as a sub-unit or part of Goethe University Frankfurt (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main). This relationship integrates the institute into the broader academic infrastructure of the university while maintaining its specific classification as a research-focused body.

### Geographic Location
The headquarters of the institute are situated in Frankfurt, Germany. This location places the organization within one of Germany's major urban centers and within the national context of the country's research landscape.

### Identification and Data
The organization is tracked in scholarly databases with the Ringgold ID 235538. Ringgold IDs are used to identify organizations in the scholarly supply chain. The entity's Wikidata entry provides a concise description as a "research institute," aligning with its formal classification.

### Distinction from Related Entities
As a research institute, the organization is distinguished from other similar entities. It is an operational entity conducting investigation, unlike scientific societies or learned societies which are membership-based organizations. It also differs from think tanks, which primarily conduct policy-oriented research, as research institutes pursue fundamental inquiry across disciplines.

## References

1. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions