The Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW) was started in the US by the National Postdoctoral Association to recognize the significant contributions postdocs and researchers make towards research and academic life in general. The PAW is also widely celebrated in the UK and Ireland. In 2022, the Research and Innovation Services of the Leibniz University of Hannover (LUH) and the Munich Postdoc Network (particularly Helmholtz Munich and the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry) teamed up to establish this initiative in Germany.

Postdocs are usually not a very visible group in Germany and do not receive the appreciation they deserve for all their hard work. All contributors hence promote the cause of giving more attention and appreciation to postdocs in Germany and the joint program offers postdocs a more extensive program during this week than any single institution could provide. The formats also promote the exchange of postdocs and a collaboration of institutions, organizations and networks across Germany.