Alfried Krupp Award for Promoting Scientific Research
Award for young university professors in the natural and engineering sciences (including medicine), endowed with €1.1 million to support research projects and working environment; expected to be announced again in autumn 2026.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The Alfried Krupp Promotion Award is intended to support promising young university professors in an early phase of their scientific careers in developing and implementing new ideas. The funds can be used flexibly for personnel, materials and travel expenses, laboratory and workplace equipment, professional events, as well as an overhead allowance.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs for scientific staff and scholarship holders
- Material, consumables, and travel expenses
- Funds for subject-related personal use
- Laboratory and workplace equipment
- Travel expenses for professional events
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Eligible to apply
- Individuals
- Educational Institutions
Funding requirements
- First appointment to a W2 or W3 professorship at a German university
- Holder of a fixed-term or permanent professorship (W2/W3)
- Generally not older than 38 years
- Junior professors (W1) and university of applied sciences professors excluded
Documents required for application
- Cover letter stating the most important research achievement
- Two proposal reviews
- Curriculum Vitae (max. 4 pages)
- List of awards and honors
- Description of previous research and teaching activities (both general and detailed)
- Publication list (10 most important + up to 20 additional titles)
- Confirmation of initial appointment by the university
- Proof of tenure-track possibility in case of fixed-term professorship
- Information on teaching load and resources of the professorship
Evaluation criteria
- Outstanding scientific qualifications and excellent research achievements
- Innovative content of the research projects
- Decision by the Scientific Advisory Board
Description
The Alfried Krupp Promotion Award honors outstanding young university professors in the natural and engineering sciences (including medicine) and provides them with up to €1.1 million for five years. The funds can be used to finance scientific staff and scholarship holders, procure consumables and travel expenses, optimize laboratory and workplace equipment, as well as organize specialist events and symposia. In addition, the university receives an overhead allowance of €150,000 to cover indirect costs. The aim is to create freedom for innovative research ideas and foster an inspiring working environment at an early career stage—independent of public funding forms and without a predetermined project description.
Eligible to propose candidates are individuals, universities, and research institutions in Germany; independent applications are excluded. Nominees may be holders of a fixed-term or permanent W2 or W3 professorship, who are generally not older than 38 years. Junior professors and university of applied sciences professors are not considered. A Scientific Advisory Board decides based on excellent research achievements, scientific qualifications, and the innovative content of the projects. The next call for nominations is expected in autumn 2026. For the nomination, among other documents, a cover letter on the most important research achievement, two letters of recommendation, a four-page CV, a publication list (10 key titles, up to 20 additional), as well as proof of initial appointment and professorship resources must be submitted. In this way, the foundation supports distinguished talents in making long-term impactful contributions in their disciplines.
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