Calls for Application
Calls with deadlines
CfA: Alliance Translational Research Program
Organisation: Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim
Target Group: Group leaders and postdoctoral researchers from Alliance institutions
Deadline: April 15, 2026
The Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim invites group leaders and postdoctoral researchers from Alliance institutions to apply to the Alliance Translational Research Program. The program supports early-stage translational research projects with potential for future commercialization. Two funding tracks are available: a Pilot Track, offering funding of up to €100,000, and a Development Track for more advanced projects, with funding of up to €200,000. Applications are open until April 15, 2026.
CfA: Gerda Henkel Foundation "Prospect Utopia"
Organisation: Gerda Henkel Foundation
Target Group: Postdoctoral researchers
Deadline: April 15, 2026
To mark its 50th anniversary, the Gerda Henkel Foundation is launching a funding program inviting postdoctoral researchers worldwide to explore the future through the lens of their disciplines, including visions of progress, social coexistence, and the role of science and technology. The program encourages flexible, experimental approaches with results aimed beyond academia. Up to 50 projects will be funded with grants of up to €50,000. Project proposals can be submitted until April 15, 2026.
CfA: BMFTR - MedTech for Women
Organisation: BMFTR
Target Group: Researchers and industry partners in women’s health technology
Deadline: April 30, 2026
The BMFTR funding initiative MedTech for Women supports the development of innovative medical technologies to improve women’s health. It focuses on advancing treatment pathways for female-specific conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women, particularly in gynecology, neurology, and clinical immunology. Interdisciplinary, application-oriented projects from academia and industry are eligible. Selected projects will receive funding for up to 36 months, and project outlines can be submitted until April 30, 2026.
CfA: German Datacenter Talents & Impact Awards 2026
Organisation: German Datacenter Association (GDA)
Target Group: Students, graduates, and university start-ups
Deadline: August 1, 2026
The German Datacenter Association (GDA) invites students, graduates, and university start-ups to submit their visions for the digital infrastructure of the future. The award focuses on two categories: “Young Talents,” honoring outstanding bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral theses with €2,500, and “Innovation & Future Technologies,” recognizing teams and start-ups developing solutions for data centers. The initiative aims to support emerging talent and bring innovative research closer to real-world application within the industry. Applications are open until August 1, 2026, and the award ceremony will take place on September 17, 2026, at the German Datacenter Conference in Bad Vilbel.
Open Calls
BMWK – Sustainable Impact Promotion Of Companies Oriented Towards The Common Good
Organisation: BMWK Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz
Target Group: Small and medium-sized enterprises
The BMWK is pursuing the goal of professionalizing and expanding the expertise of small and medium-sized enterprises that are oriented towards the common good to support networking and cooperation. The funding program with a volume of 110 million euros consists of two modules: An individual module aimed directly at public benefit-oriented companies and start-ups, and a multiplier module aimed at public benefit-oriented companies and their institutional ecosystem. This includes incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, business development agencies, chambers, technology and start-up centers or universities. Applications can be submitted until the end of 2028.
Start-up BW Innovation Voucher
Organisation: Land Baden-Württemberg
Target Group: Young companies
The Start-up BW innovation vouchers support young companies (up to five years after their founding) in carrying out scientific work and realizing projects that focus on the development of particularly progressive ideas in forward-looking areas. This also covers the cost of materials for these innovative projects. Eligible services are scientific activities prior to the actual development of new products, production methods and services. This includes research on technologies, patents or markets, feasibility studies, material or design analyses and studies on manufacturing technology.