Stiftung Universitäts-Förderpreis der Mainfränkischen Wirtschaft

The "Universitäts-Förderpreis der Mainfränkischen Wirtschaft" Foundation was established in 1982 by the Würzburg-Schweinfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) as an "IHK corporate donation" to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the University of Würzburg. Today, it is anchored within the Universitätsbund Würzburg e.V. and holds capital of approximately 1.2 million euros. From the interest income, around 25,000 euros are allocated annually to support an economically relevant research project at the Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg. Since its inception, the foundation has supported over 90 individual projects with more than one million euros, without diminishing the principal capital.

The purpose of the foundation is to promote scientific research and teaching at the University of Würzburg as well as to strengthen the collaboration between science and commercial industry within the Mainfranken Chamber of Industry and Commerce district. It focuses on application-oriented technologies, business-related projects, and startup initiatives to further develop the Mainfranken economic region and enable innovative products or services.

Eligible to apply are researchers and students of Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg. The funding is aimed at individual projects with a clear economic relevance that have the potential for new technologies, the founding of companies, or the securing and creation of jobs in the Mainfranken region.