innovate! academy
Funding of interdisciplinary, high-risk research in engineering, natural, and materials sciences with a strong transfer focus. Applications possible from 12 January to 31 March 2026.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for interdisciplinary, innovative, and high-risk research projects in engineering, natural, and materials sciences with a strong focus on transfer, to facilitate the pathway from basic research to practical application.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Material costs
- Outreach activities
- Seminars and training
Eligible to apply
- Individuals
Funding requirements
- Employment relationship at a public-law or tax-privileged research institution in Germany
- Interdisciplinary research project at the interface of engineering, natural, and materials sciences
- Focus on research transfer and entrepreneurial thinking
- Advanced-stage doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, or junior professors
Documents required for application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Master's or Doctoral Degree Certificate or Transcript of Records
- Project Description
- Cost Plan / Funding Budget (Template in Portal)
- Letter of Recommendation
- Confirmation of Position by Research Institution
- Optional: Graphics or Additional Attachments
Evaluation criteria
- Scientific excellence and quality of the research project
- Degree of innovation of the transfer project
- Societal benefit and relevance
- Feasibility and comprehensible planning
- Motivation of the applicant
- Willingness to cooperate with partners
- Extent of interdisciplinarity
Description
The innovate! academy of the Joachim Herz Foundation in Hamburg supports interdisciplinary, high-risk research projects at the interface of engineering, natural, and materials sciences with a strong focus on transfer. The goal is to accompany excellent early-career researchers—particularly advanced doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and junior professors—on the path from basic research to practical application. Participants benefit from a two-year program that includes a personnel position aligned with TVL-14, individual project funds, and an accompanying seminar offering. The next call for proposals runs from January 12 to March 31, 2026, with project start planned from October 2026.
Over a period of 24 months, up to €250,000 can be requested per project—of which up to €100,000 may be allocated for scientific material costs and up to €5,000 for outreach activities. Funding covers personnel costs, material expenses, public relations, as well as seminars and training on topics such as spin-offs, open data strategies, science communication, and transfer methods. Selection is conducted in a two-stage process based on criteria including scientific excellence, degree of innovation, societal benefit, feasibility, and interdisciplinarity. Applications require, among other documents, a CV, project description, budget plan, a letter of recommendation, and confirmation from the research institution. The innovation-oriented funding opens networking opportunities with other participants and partners from academia and industry, thus sustainably supporting the journey from idea to market readiness.
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