Calls for Application
Calls with deadlines
CfA: CZS Innovation Teams
Organisation: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
Target Group: Research-based founding teams from the natural, life, and engineering sciences
Deadline: October 30, 2026
The CZS Innovation Teams program supports research-based founding teams in developing scientific results into market-ready applications and preparing for external follow-up financing. Funding is available for up to two years, with up to €400,000 for two-person teams and up to €600,000 for larger teams. Projects must be based on the team’s own research, and the team should already have a preliminary business model as well as an initial understanding of the market potential and customer needs. Applications must be submitted through an eligible research institution or non-profit technology transfer organization, as individuals cannot apply directly. At Heidelberg University, teams should contact hei_INNOVATION at gruendungsberatung@heiinnovation.uni-heidelberg.de by mid-September 2026 to prepare for the October 30 deadline.
CfA: Young Scientists Pitch Competition
Organisation: bioRN
Target Group: Master’s and PhD students and young postdocs
Deadline: November 15, 2026
Master’s and PhD students as well as young postdocs are invited to submit research abstracts on “AI in Health” for the Young Scientists Pitch Competition at life – the biomedical convention. The five best abstracts will be selected for a 5–10-minute pitch during a dedicated session at the conference on February 3, 2027, in front of an expert audience from academia and industry; the winner will receive €1,000. Abstracts should be submitted to Nicole Hetch nh@biorn.org .