Advanced Professorship – Wübben Science Foundation gGmbH
Funding program of the Wübben Science Foundation gGmbH for German universities for the appointment and integration of international top researchers (R4) over up to four years, including personnel, material, onboarding, and dual-career measures. Application rounds on March 31 and September 30 each year.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for German universities in the appointment, integration, and provision of resources for internationally leading researchers at career stage R4. The program funds professorships for up to four years and provides resources for salaries, personnel, materials, as well as onboarding and dual-career measures.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries for professorship and scientific staff
- Personnel expenses (doctoral candidates, postdocs)
- Material costs and investments
- Onboarding measures (e.g., relocation, language courses, counseling)
- Dual-career measures
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Non-eligible expenses
- General university overheads
- Basic equipment without direct professorship relation
- Printing costs for printed conference proceedings
- Patent costs and intellectual property registrations
Eligible to apply
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- German universities and universities of education with university status
- Completed or planned internal selection process for professorship appointment
- Candidates must have been working abroad for at least three years at the time of application
- Offer of a W2 or W3 professorship or visiting professorship with a subsequent plan for permanent appointment
Documents required for application
- Section A: Relevance and Integration Concept (Project Description)
- Section B: CV and Research Plan of the Candidate
- Section C: Onboarding and Dual-Career Concept
- Section D: Budget Plan
Evaluation criteria
- Scientific excellence and peer review evaluation
- Fit of the candidate to the university's strategy and research priorities
- Quality and feasibility of onboarding measures
- Dual-career concept for partners
- International mobility requirements
Description
The Advanced Professorship program of the Wübben Wissenschaftsstiftung gGmbH supports German universities nationwide in the appointment and provision of internationally leading researchers at the R4 career stage. Funding is provided for up to four-year W2 or W3 professorships as well as visiting professorships with a subsequent plan for permanent appointment. A total of up to €1,600,000 is available for personnel and material resources, salaries for professors and scientific staff, onboarding measures (relocation, language courses, counseling), as well as dual-career concepts. Of this amount, 10% is allocated as an unrestricted research allowance directly to the grantees. The foundation covers 50% of the costs; the remaining funds must be provided by the university in a comparable amount. Eligibility requires an internal selection process, at least three years of international experience of the candidates, and a concrete appointment offer. Funding of basic or overhead costs, printing, and patent costs is excluded.
Applications are submitted electronically twice a year, by March 31 and September 30 respectively. The deadline for the next round begins on March 31, 2026, with decisions made within five to six months. Evaluation criteria include scientific excellence, strategic fit, quality of onboarding and dual-career measures, as well as international mobility requirements. Required documents include an integration concept, CV and research plan of the candidates, detailed onboarding and dual-career concept, and a budget plan. The program supports research & innovation, science, as well as education and training, and is aimed at all German universities and educational colleges with university status seeking to attract excellent international top researchers to their faculties.
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