Research and Science – Josef and Luise Kraft Foundation

The Josef and Luise Kraft Foundation is committed nationwide to promoting pioneering research and teaching in the fields of elderly care, gerontology, and human rights in old age. It supports universities, universities of applied sciences, institutes, non-profit and public institutions, as well as individuals who develop projects with a clear research or teaching orientation. The foundation provides scholarships, professorships, awards, and material resources for this purpose and initiates independent studies. Calls for proposals and applications can be submitted informally and at any time to the foundation. Projects are evaluated based on criteria such as compliance with the foundation’s statutes, scientific quality, as well as the sustainability and effectiveness of the planned measures. Funded initiatives range from doctoral scholarships on topics such as “Human Rights in Old Age” and “Age Discrimination” to interdisciplinary research networks and chairs for health services research and ethics in medicine for the elderly.

Interested researchers, research teams, and educational institutions submit, in addition to a detailed project description, a financing plan, schedule, and evidence of sustainability. The foundation emphasizes cooperation with practical partners to ensure that results have immediate impact. A special focus lies on projects that anchor human rights in everyday care and address medical ethical issues in the context of demographic change. Awards such as the “Human Rights Prize – Human Rights and Ethics in Medicine for the Elderly” honor outstanding practical initiatives with up to 3,000 euros. Regular reports and final documentation ensure transparency and long-term impact of the funded projects.