Putting research into practice
We support researchers in turning scientific discoveries into real-world impact. Here you'll find funding, insights, and practical resources for research transfer, entrepreneurship, and science-based innovation.
Who we fund
Our programs are designed for individual researchers, prospective founders, and research groups.
What we fund
We support transfer-oriented, interdisciplinary research projects in that are in the transitional phase between completed basic research and market readiness.
Our fundings
innovate! fund
Our innovate! fund supports projects positioned between research and application that demonstrate new ways to improve the efficient use, purity, and availability of water.
innovate! academy
We support researchers in engineering, natural, and materials sciences with a transfer focus directly on the path from basic research to market readiness.
Add-on Fellowships for Interdisciplinary Science and Transfer
Our Add-on Fellowships support researchers who want to develop and implement bold new ideas for the resources of the future.
Joachim Herz Award
We award 500,000 euros to researchers whose projects on the smart use of water are driven by economic analyses and methods.
Events
August 26 | Community Day
We are bringing together the foundation’s diverse network of funded participants to strengthen professional and personal exchange. The focus is on interactive sessions with experts on entrepreneurship, non-academic career paths, and transfer-oriented research.
August 27 | Deeptech Innovation Conference
The Deeptech Innovation Conference brings together leading figures from science, politics, industry, and startups to discuss how to accelerate deeptech innovations, featuring keynotes, panel discussions, and the presentation of the Joachim Herz Award 2026.
Market Discovery Lab Germany 2026
The Market Discovery Lab Germany takes place from September to November 2026 and is a 10‑week intensive program that supports research teams in identifying real-world applications for their technology. For doctoral candidates, postdocs, and deep tech teams.