Calls for Application
Calls with deadlines
CfA: CSL Research Acceleration Initiative 2026
Organisation: CSL
Target Group: Early-stage biotechs and research organizations
Deadline: February 24, 2026
CSL Behring's Research Acceleration Initiative is a program for the further development of new therapeutic approaches. Its aim is to support early-stage biotechs and research organizations to fast-track the discovery of groundbreaking biotherapies. The funding is up to $400 000 for two years, and applications are possible until February 24, 2026.
CfA: Health + Life Science Alliance: Alliance HighTech Program
Organisation: Health + Life Science Alliance
Target Group: Researchers
Deadline: February 27, 2026
The Health + Life Science Alliance supports interinstitutional platform and technology development, shared use of advanced technologies, and the transfer of research and innovation. The Alliance is now accepting applications for its HighTech Program, including funding for the development of Co-Scientist Approaches or Self-Driving Laboratories (up to €1,000,000), the development of prototypes and demonstrators (up to €100,000), and the further structural development of existing Alliance platforms (up to €200,000). Applications are open until February 27, 2026.
CfA: KlarText Prize for Science Communication 2026
Organisation: Klaus Tschira Foundation
Target Group: Recent PhD graduates
Deadline: February 28, 2026
The Klaus Tschira Foundation is looking for young researchers who have recently completed an excellent doctoral thesis and are interested in explaining their research to a non-scientific audience. Eligible applicants are recent PhD graduates (within the past two years) from biology, chemistry, geosciences, computer science, mathematics, neuroscience, or physics. Winners will receive €7,500, have their work published in KlarText magazine, and join the foundation’s alumni network. Applications are open until February 28, 2026.
CfA: Equality Programs at the Medical Faculty Heidelberg
Organisation: Medical Faculty Heidelberg
Target Group: Physicians, dentists, scientists, and psychologists with a PhD
Deadline: March 16, 2026
Rahel Goitein-Straus Program: The program supports women in underrepresented fields with a one-year, half-time faculty position alongside a half-time research post. Physicians, dentists, scientists, and psychologists with a PhD pursuing an independent research project at Heidelberg Medical School can apply until March 16, 2026.
Short-Term Funding: The Medical Faculty also offers short-term fellowships for women to take leave from clinical duties to develop their research projects. Applications are open until March 16, 2026 for physicians with a PhD, during or after specialist training.
CfA: Add-on Fellowships for Interdisciplinary Science and Transfer
Organisation: Joachim Herz Foundation
Target Group: Early-career researchers in engineering, economics, and life sciences
Deadline: March 22, 2026
The Joachim Herz Foundation is offering up to 80 add-on fellowships for early-career researchers in engineering, economics, and life sciences working on interdisciplinary projects with transfer potential. Eligible applicants are doctoral students, postdocs, and junior professors at German universities or non-profit research institutions. Fellows will receive up to €15,000 over two years. Applications are open until March 22, 2026
CfA: WSW Sandpit Program 2026
Organisation: Wübben Stiftung
Target Group: Postdoctoral researchers
Deadline: March 31, 2026
The Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft’s Sandpit program is an intensive, collaborative workshop where postdoctoral researchers from different disciplines come together to develop bold, high-impact ideas in unconventional constellations. Up to 20 participants who have not previously collaborated will spend three days shaping a shared topic in a highly open, team-oriented setting. The 2026 Sandpit focuses on “Understanding, Shaping, and Transforming Bureaucracy,” with each selected team receiving up to €50,000 in funding. Applications are possible until March 31, 2026.
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.
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.