Der Start ist das Ziel

The beginning is the end – that’s probably what the small group of colleagues thought as they held the official certificate establishing the Joachim Herz Foundation in their hands in the summer of 2008. And then it took off. This summer, the Joachim Herz Foundation turns 18! We’re celebrating this milestone this week together with grant recipients and partners through various events. 

Over the past 18 years, a network of people who want to make a difference has grown. During our week of celebrations, we’re bringing people together, launching new initiatives, and providing impetus for putting ideas into practice: in science and research, in science-based entrepreneurship, in vocational training, and in transatlantic dialogue.

To date, we have invested more than 280 million euros in over 100 projects. For us, the central question has always been – and continues to be – what comes of it. For 18 years, we’ve been driven by the ambition to build something meaningful – with entrepreneurial spirit, the courage to start anew, and a willingness to continually ask ourselves the big questions:

• How does research turn into progress?
• How do innovations make their way into society?
• And what do we need to initiate today so that we can move forward tomorrow?

The answers to these questions are constantly evolving. The challenges in 2026 are different from those in 2008 – such as AI, resource scarcity, or changes in the world of work. We adapt to these changes and strive to find solutions. Because standing still is not an option.
 

What We Have Planned for Our Celebration Week

Our celebration week kicks off with our symposium on vocational education and training: We’ll welcome the new scholarship recipients of the Azubi Kolleg, along with their trainers and guests from professional chambers and vocational schools – with opening remarks by Dr. Dorit Stenke, Minister of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research, and Culture in Schleswig-Holstein, a keynote address, and inspiring presentations. 

On Wednesday, our fellows from the Add-on Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Science and Transfer, the innovate! academy, the innovate! fund, and the innovate! center will meet for the first time: At the “From Lab to Leverage” networking event, we’ll offer our grantees the opportunity to engage with Hamburg’s startup and innovation ecosystem and provide insights into entrepreneurship, non-academic career paths, and transfer-oriented research through hands-on sessions.

On Thursday, at the “Deeptech Innovation Conference,” we’ll bring together leading voices from politics, business, science, venture capital, and the startup scene to discuss how deeptech innovations can be accelerated in Germany. Following that, we are very pleased to present the 2026 Joachim Herz Award – featuring a keynote address by Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius, President and CEO of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and other exciting guests.

We’ll bring the week of festivities to a festive close with our “Evening by the Water,” featuring invited guests and opening remarks by Senator Leonhard, President of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Innovation.