12 million euros for innovative water research
We support research projects that ensure a smarter use of water with a total of 12 million euros.
Water is an indispensable resource. It is vital for ecological systems, human health, and agricultural as well as industrial processes. However, climate change, overuse, and persistent pollutants threaten the availability of clean water—even here in Germany. According to the Water Atlas 2024, 52.7 percent of lakes, rivers, and streams in Germany were in poor or very poor ecological condition.
At the same time, water serves as an inspiration for new sustainable technologies and materials that harness its physical properties. Therefore, it is essential to protect this resource and use it in a smarter way.
All funding programs start on January 12.
What we support
We support the development of new materials, technologies, and models that protect the water resource or utilize its properties for sustainable solutions. We aim to contribute to greater resource efficiency and climate protection.
Who we support
We award a research prize as well as individual, group, and structural funding. These funding lines support research projects at different stages of development—after basic research and before market readiness.
Our offerings
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.
innovate! center
We specifically support the development of efficient transfer structures at universities in order to sustainably accelerate research transfer through flexible models.
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.
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.