idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
With the funding program “innovate! Academy” for bio-based materials, the Joachim Herz Foundation supports interdisciplinary, innovative and high-risk research projects at the interface of natural sciences, materials science and engineering. Scientists wanting to put their research into practical application can apply for support with applications being accepted until April 7, 2025.
This year, the Joachim Herz Foundation will provide more than five million euros in total in funding for practice-oriented research projects with a concrete benefit for a fossil-free future.
Bio-based materials can reduce the consumption of fossil raw materials as they are made entirely, or to a significant degree, from renewable resources. Such materials can help, for example, to reduce greenhouse gases, diversify supply chains or improve the recyclability of products. Through the “innovate! Academy” funding program, the Joachim Herz Foundation supports seven scientists in bringing their research projects on bio-based materials from the lab into practice and thus contributes to addressing social challenges such as resource scarcity and climate protection.
“In order to develop bioplastics from corn starch or sports equipment from spider silk, we need visionary ideas from science. At the “innovate! Academy”, we offer excellent researchers the space to rethink their research, examine commercialization options and develop start-up ideas. We support them financially and with a tailor-made range of seminars,” says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. Sabine Kunst, Chair of the Joachim Herz Foundation.
Funding and requirements at a glance
The funding program “innovate! Academy” for bio-based materials is aimed at doctoral candidates at an advanced stage of their doctorate, postdoctoral researchers, junior professors and professors as well as scientific staff from the materials sciences, natural sciences and engineering. Applicants must be affiliated with a research institution in Germany, should be able to demonstrate an entrepreneurial and application-oriented mindset, be talented communicators and have an interest in exchanging ideas with researchers from other disciplines and social stakeholders.
Through the “innovate! Academy”, the funded scientists have the opportunity to further develop their transfer project over a period of two years with targeted financial support and in exchange with other grantees. Each recipient will receive up to 250,000 euros in personnel and project funding as well as up to 5,000 euros for outreach activities. In addition, a range of seminars tailored to their personal needs and interests impart knowledge on topics such as spin-offs, challenges in transferring research results into practice, patent and trademark protection or science communication. The two-stage selection process will take place in summer 2025, with the funding phase starting in October 2025.
Detailed information on the “innovate! Academy” and the online application can be found at https://www.joachim-herz-stiftung.de/innovate-academy. Applications can be submitted until April 7, 2025.
Harnessing research for a fossil-free future
Many of today's problems - from climate change and the energy crisis to the scarcity of resources - are characterized or triggered by our dependence on fossil fuels. Science is already providing promising solutions, but the pace of bringing these into practical application remains too slow. The Joachim Herz Foundation is contributing over five million euros in funding in 2025 to help innovative, promising research projects for a fossil-free future make their way from the laboratory to social and economic application more quickly. This funding will be used to support research projects into resources, materials and technologies and is issued as support to individual scholars and research teams as well as in the form of a research prize. Further information can be found at: https://www.joachim-herz-stiftung.de/fossil-free-future
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