innovate! Academy
Research for a fossil free-future
Are you researching bio-based materials for a fossil-free future? At the "innovate! Academy", we promote interdisciplinary, innovative and high-risk research projects from engineering, natural and material sciences with a strong focus on transfer and provide support on the path from basic research to application.
In 2025, we are focusing on the topic of ‘bio-based materials’, i.e. materials that are produced sustainably from plant, animal or microbial sources. The aim is to replace fossil raw materials such as crude oil with environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives.
What does the funding offer?
At the the "innovate! Academy", we support exceptional scientists who receive the following benefits:
- Staff position for two years at TVL-14 level,
- Up to 100,000 euros in project funds to be used on the basis of the submitted project budget,
- Personnel funds and project funds may not exceed a total of 250,000 euros,
- Up to 5,000 euros for outreach activities, individually selectable seminars on science communication and other aspects of the topic,
- Professional seminar program of 10-15 working days within two years covering the following topics:
- Skills needed for spin-offs, translation and transfer,
- Theoretical and methodological challenges in the transfer of research results into practice,
- Quality criteria, open data versus patent and trademark protection,
- Outreach, science communication and personal development (e.g. management training, training on stress management and team building, etc.).
- Networking with other grantees and players in the start-up scene
The exact design of the seminar program is determined by the participants in order to reflect their interests and needs. These are queried as part of the application process. The "innovate! Academy" also provides grantees with a networking platform so that those receiving funding can learn from and support each other on their path from research to practical application.
Who is the funding aimed at?
The call is aimed at materials scientists, natural scientists and engineering scientist.
We look to support these specific groups:
- Doctoral candidates at an advanced stage of study
- Postdoctoral researchers, junior professors and professors
- Scientific staff at research facilities
Applicants should be able to demonstrate entrepreneurial and/or strongly application-oriented thinking, have good communication skills and be interested in exchanging ideas with both researchers from other disciplines as well as social actors.
All information at a glance: Download our flyer.
Selection procedure
The selection takes place in a two-stage process. First, written application documents are reviewed by a six-member expert panel consisting of representatives from the specialist disciplines and experts in transfer issues. This is followed by a personal interview with the most promising candidates at the Joachim Herz Foundation. Decisions on admission to the "innovate! Academy" will be communicated to the applicants at the end of July with the program starting in October.
Jury
- Dr. Holger Eickhoff, Former Founder and CEO of Scienion and Cellenion, Serial Entrepreneur
- Prof. Dr. Jochen Förster, CTO of Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability
- Thomas Gazlig, Head of Charité BIH Innovation
- Prof. Dr. Manuela List, Vice Dean at Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences
- Prof. Dr. Ruben Rosencrantz, Head of Department at Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP
- Prof. Dr. Ingrid Weiß, Institute Director at University of Stuttgart
Contact
1st Cohort
Focus: application-oriented infection research
Prof. Dr. med. Konrad Aden, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH)
Research topic: "Development of a metabolic biomarker that identifies severe infectious diseases faster and more accurately"
Juliane Bönecke, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)
Research topic: "DiDEX: Digital data and experimental spaces to strengthen interdisciplinary infection research in Nexus One Health"
Dr. rer. nat. Christina König, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
Research topic: "Development of a web-based dosing tool to control personalized drug therapy for invasive aspergillosis"
Dr. rer. nat. Pietro Scaturro, Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV)
Research topic: "Development of novel host-targeted antiviral agents for the treatment of flavivirus infections"
Dr. med. Nils Schweingruber, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
Research topic: "Development of an AI tool for ventriculitis prognosis in neurological intensive care patients"
Dr. rer. nat. Theresa Staufer, University of Hamburg (UHH)
Research topic: "Development of a laboratory system for biomedical X-ray fluorescence imaging"
2nd Cohort
Focus: New materials in medical technology
Prof. Dr. Zeynep Altintas, Kiel University (CAU)
Research topic: "Development of quantum-enhanced bio-responsive hydrogel microneedle dressings: a core-shell strategy for precision sensing and adaptive healing of chronic wounds"
Dr. Indra Apsite-Vinzio, University of Bayreuth
Research topic: "Buckled fiber-reinforced meniscus implants"
Dr. Gerardo Asensio Martín, INM – Leibniz-Institute for New Materials
Research topic: "Self-replenishable drug-eluting contact lenses"
Prof. Dr. med. Rouven Berndt, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus Kiel / University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg (UHZ)
Research topic: "Production of a bioartificial vessel using 4D bioprinting for clinical application as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP)"
Johannes Braig, University Hospital of Würzburg
Research topic: "ENDOLEASE - "ENDOvascular reLEASE": Targeted drug release with maximum efficacy without systemic side effects"
Dr. med. Maximilian Hammer, Heidelberg University Hospital
Research topic: "Novel hydrogel vitreous substitutes with drug delivery function for retinal surgery"
Sara Leal Marin, Leibniz University Hannover
Research topic: "Diabelectric foot treatment"
Priv.-Doz. Dr. rer. medic. Dr. med. habil. Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Martin Schulze, Münster University Hospital (UKM) / University of Münster
Research topic: "APIMEXA - Anti-infective polymer implant coating with extracorporeal activation"
Dr. Oskar Staufer, INM – Leibniz-Institute for New Materials
Research topic: "Artificial Cell Systems for Ex Vivo Expansion of Therapeutic Cells for Immunotherapy"