Here, you find selected calls for applications for awards, prizes and funding programs aimed at scientists of different fields and career levels.
Cross-status:
Pioneering Research – Exploring the unknown Unknown
The Volkswagen Foundation supports groundbreaking and risky research ideas with high scientific relevance which explore the “unknown Unknown” | Volkswagen Foundation | application deadline: 27 August
IBT EXPLORE: Funding for innovative biomedical research
The Niedersachsen.next innovation network supports promising biomedical projects in the early stages of their translation with up to 150,000 euros through the IBT EXPLORE funding scheme run by the IBT INCUBATOR | Niedersachsen.next | applications accepted on an ongoing basis
Hochschulperle des Monats
Call 2026: Projects that promote “Future Skills 2030 – Skills for the world of tomorrow” | Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft | applications accepted on an ongoing basis
DFG funding opportunities
The German Research Foundation (DFG) regularly offers online info talks on its funding instruments for early career researchers (DFG funding for Postdocs, Walter Benjamin Programme, Emmy Noether Programme, Heisenberg Programme)
Funding programmes of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation offers a wide range of funding programmes for researchers at all career stages. The focus is on exchange between German and international researchers
Funding programmes of the DAAD for international researchers
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a wide range of funding opportunities for international researchers who would like to come to Germany to carry out their research. You can find plenty of information on the linked website
Federal Funding Advisory Service
An easily accessible resource provided by the German Federal Government to inform researchers about the wide range of research funding opportunities. Also contains the latest announcement
For postdocs / advanced researchers:
Klaus Tschira Boost Fund
Flexible funding programme designed to provide young researchers with the freedom to pursue their own, riskier and interdisciplinary projects at an early stage of their careers | Klaus Tschira Foundation | application deadline: 1 October 2026
Funding programme for the support of AI research groups in Lower Saxony
Funding of up to two million euros is available per project. The programme is not restricted to any specific field | zukunft.niedersachsen | application deadline: 28 January 2027
Hermine Heusler-Edenhuizen Prize for the best paper
Award for high-quality publications by researchers of the School VI – Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Oldenburg | Verein Freunde und Förderer der Universitätsmedizin Nordwest | regular application deadlines: 28 February (for early-career researchers) and 31 July (for advanced researchers)
“Impuls Forschung” to support collaborative research
Funding support for postdoctoral researchers from the member universities and university medical centres of the HUA (Bremen, Greifswald, Groningen, Hamburg, TU Hamburg, Kiel, Lübeck, Lüneburg, Oldenburg, Rostock) | HUA – Hanse University Alliance | regular application deadlines: 30 June and 15 December
Doctoral Award of the KIND Hörstiftung
Award for the best doctoral thesis in the fields of phoniatrics and paediatric audiology | KIND Hörstiftung | regular application deadline: 15 July
Meyer-zum-Gottesberge Prize
Award for outstanding work by early-career researchers in the field of audiology | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Audiologie | regular application deadline: 31 August
Henriette Herz Scouting Programme
for international Humboldt Research Fellows at institutes in Germany | scout applications accepted on an ongoing basis
For PhD students and regular students:
DGA Sponsorship Award
for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral theses in the field of audiology that make a significant contribution to a better understanding of hearing and hearing loss | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Audiologie | regular application deadline: 15 December
