A central aspect of the interaction between the Project Teams and creation of the IGSSE´s own identity has been the setting-up of the annual IGSSE Forum. During this three-day symposium, approximately 200 members of the IGSSE meet up with international guests in scientific workshops, lectures and ambitious training programs. The Forum takes place in the Monastery of Raitenhaslach, which has now come to be regarded as a hallmark of the Graduate School.

Located in Burghausen in the south-east part of Bavaria, this former Cistercian monastery is gradually evolving as TUM´s Off-Campus Study and Residence Center.

The Forum is of utmost importance for IGSSE´s goal of opening up the minds of its young researchers and encourages them to look beyond the borders of their own research interests. In Raitenhaslach, IGSSE members learn about various aspects, solution concepts and visions of divergent research fields. The doctoral candidates are required to present their own projects to an interdisciplinary audience and get the opportunity to exchange and develop ideas in the inspiring atmosphere of the century-old abbey.

The IGSSE hosted five Forums between 2007 and 2011. During the first part of each Forum (day 1 and 2), about 80 doctoral candidates would gather for enabling skills courses designed according to the special needs and wishes of the IGSSE members (entrepreneurial skills, scientific paper writing, leadership in science, etc.). In the evenings, networking and social events were organised by the IGSSE Graduate Council. The second part (day 3) focused on the exchange of scientific ideas between larger clusters of Project Teams. This part would be designed, organised and led by the doctoral candidates and Project Team Leaders themselves. Renowned international guests were invited but the doctoral candidates also took the opportunity to speak in front of a larger audience or to present in a poster competition. The third part (day 4) used to be a large networking and celebration event with over 200 doctoral candiates and guests from both science and industry. Renowned keynote lecturers were invited to address a scientific topic that would be of interest to a larger audience. Past speakers have included Prof Wolfgang Heckl, Director General of the Deutsches Museum, Prof Bert Sakmann, Nobel Prize Winner, and Prof Raoul Weiler, Club of Rome.