Rise up!
Funding for outstanding and unusually creative W2 professors at German universities to provide start-up financing for innovative basic research with up to €600,000 over a maximum of three years. Applications can be submitted by March 15 and September 15 each year.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Creating space for creativity and risk-taking during the critical career phase of newly appointed W2 professors to enable sustainable contributions in the life sciences through bold and innovative research programs.
Eligible expenses
- Scientific personnel
- Consumables
- Project-specific equipment
- Travel and publication expenses
Non-eligible expenses
- Funding of W2-equivalent research groups at non-university institutions
- Replacement or expansion of the basic equipment of the professorship
Eligible to apply
- Individuals
Funding requirements
- Accepted a call to a W2 professorship at a German university and have held the position for less than 12 months before the application deadline
- First appointment to a temporary or permanent W2 professorship or equivalent professorship
- Substantial international research experience
- Research focus on fundamental questions in biology, chemistry, or medicine (excluding classical zoology, botany, or pure organic/inorganic chemistry)
- Proposal of a particularly bold and creative research program with potentially sustainable impact
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Documents required for application
- Cover letter
- Academic CV
- Certificates of academic degrees and appointment letter
- Complete list of publications
- Five most important publications (separate PDF files)
- Detailed project proposal (max. 20 pages)
- Written confirmation of basic equipment and personnel resources by the university
- Cooperation agreements
- Quotations for equipment over €10,000
Evaluation criteria
- Scientific excellence
- Innovative content and creativity of the research program
- International track record
- Potential for transformative impact in the field
Description
The Rise up! program of the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation is aimed at outstanding and unusually creative W2 professors at German universities who have taken up their first appointment less than twelve months ago. With start-up funding of up to €600,000 over a maximum of three years, the grant creates freedom for bold, innovative basic research in the life sciences. The goal is to take creative risks during this crucial career phase and enable sustainable contributions in the biological, chemical, and medical sciences. Interested applicants can submit proposals by March 15 and September 15 via the online portal, which opens four weeks before the deadlines.
A prerequisite for funding is substantial international research experience as well as a clear focus on fundamental questions of overarching significance—such as in biophysical, computational, or biochemical approaches. Only a uniquely creative research program may be proposed, which does not rely on additional institutional or private third-party funds and has not previously been financed by other funding sources with a comparable purpose. Eligible expenses include scientific personnel, consumables, project-specific equipment, as well as travel and publication costs. Selection is based on scientific excellence, degree of innovation, international track record, and potential for transformative impact. The program offers newly appointed professors a unique opportunity to boldly shape their research field and set long-term impulses in basic research.
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