Catalyst GER: Support Program for Researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences
April 8, 2026
published by hei_INNOVATION
The nationwide pilot programme Catalyst GER supports researchers in the humanities and social sciences in unlocking the societal impact potential of their work. Through practice-oriented formats and a cross-university network, the programme helps identify areas of application and develop sustainable models for societal impact. The programme will launch at Heidelberg University on 24 April 2026.
Strengthening democracy, reducing social inequalities, and addressing questions of cultural change and sustainable development are among the key challenges of our time – areas where the humanities and social sciences can make important contributions. The goal of the Catalyst GER pilot programme is to turn research ideas into sustainable projects without the pressure to found a company or scale quickly. It is structured in three stages, providing participants with practice-oriented support at each step.
The programme is aimed at interested doctoral candidates, postdocs, and researchers in the humanities and social sciences, and will begin at Heidelberg University with a kick-off event on 24 April 2026 at 9 a.m. During the event, participants will gain insights into how to further develop their own ideas and explore different ways to bring research into practice.
Following the opening by Prof. Dr. Katja Patzel-Mattern, Vice-Rector of Heidelberg University, the Catalyst GER team will present the pilot programme in detail. A subsequent fireside chat with researchers experienced in knowledge transfer will provide an opportunity for discussion and questions: Dr. Simone Burel (LUB GmbH – Linguistic Business Consultancy), Prof. Dr. Giulio Pagonis (Institute of German as a Foreign Language Philology, Heidelberg University), and Prof. Timo Goeschl (Alfred Weber Institute, Heidelberg University) will share insights from their practice and demonstrate how research in the humanities and social sciences can generate impact in society, practice, and policy.
The Catalyst GER program consists of three phases. Participation in the kick-off event is not mandatory. The Discover workshop, the first phase of the program, is a prerequisite for advancing to the next phase.