Joachim Herz Stiftung

The Joachim Herz Foundation is a legally recognized foundation under civil law based in Hamburg. Founded in 2008 by the Hamburg entrepreneur Joachim Herz, it supports application-oriented research, interdisciplinary science, vocational education, entrepreneurship education, science communication, and German-American dialogue. With programs such as the Azubi Kolleg, the Media Forward Fund, the Begegnungszonen, and a conference venue in Atlanta (Joachim Herz House), it promotes knowledge transfer, digital and professional skills, sustainable innovations, and international networking.

We stand for courage, pioneering spirit, and willingness to take risks. Change and innovation arise where someone dares to take the first step – even when the outcome is uncertain. As a foundation, we aim to promote this courage to venture and start anew. Our goal is to enable effective solutions for current challenges such as climate protection, resource scarcity, and skilled labor shortages, to bring innovation and transfer from cutting-edge research into practice, and to strengthen transatlantic exchange.

The funding programs of the Joachim Herz Foundation are aimed at scientists (doctoral candidates, postdocs) and research institutions in Germany, students (bachelor’s and master’s), as well as pupils in secondary levels I and II, trainees and vocational schools, and non-profit organizations and public-law institutions that wish to carry out innovative projects in the fields of research, education, sustainability, and transatlantic exchange.