More attractive funding for cutting-edge research

Thanks to financing provided by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space through the Global Minds Initiative Germany, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation can now further expand its portfolio.

The amount of funding provided for a recipient of an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship will be increased from a previous maximum of €5 million to up to €10 million. In addition, the standard sponsorship period will be extended to seven years. Prior to this time, after a five-year sponsorship period recipients could submit an application for a two-year extension. As emphasized at the press conference held in Berlin on 18 December to present the first recipients of funding provided through the Global Minds Initiative Germany, the changes are aimed at making the Humboldt Professorship more competitive internationally. 
Other steps taken to achieve this include increasing the amount of the lump sum ‘administrative flat rate’ for covering the costs incurred by nominating universities to 20% of the award amount and the introduction of more flexible salary rules for Humboldt Professors. The Alexander von Humboldt Professorship – Germany’s most valuable research award – puts German universities in a position to collaborate with top international researchers on a long-term basis. In this way this professorship will contribute to maintaining Germany’s attractiveness as a location for research on a sustained basis.

New research award: Humboldt Research Professorship 

In addition, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has established a new research award. Robert Schlögl, President of the Humboldt Foundation: "Using the flexible sponsorship format of the Humboldt Research Professorship, universities in Germany can enlist top-level researchers from abroad who are internationally active and want to contribute their expertise here on a long-term basis. We thank the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space for providing financing for the new programme which opens up new avenues for universities to recruit excellent minds to work on topics that are the subject of fierce competition in the international arena."

Effective immediately, German universities and research institutions may nominate outstanding researchers from abroad for a Humboldt Research Professorship. In contrast to the Humboldt Professorship, the aim of the Humboldt Research Professorship is to recruit leading international researchers for innovative research projects in Germany without them having to leave their current position or working group in another country. During their sponsorship period, Humboldt Research Professors can continue working as a professor or leading a research group in their home country on a parallel basis. The funding regulations also allow recipients to move to Germany where long-term residency is entirely possible and can be negotiated on location for the respective individual case.  

The new sponsorship format closes the gap in the Foundation’s portfolio between the Humboldt Research Award and the Humboldt Professorship. The award will come with €1.5 million in funding for a period of five years for researchers working in theoretical fields and €3 million, also for a period of five years, for individuals conducting experimental research. Host institutions will have flexible options for integrating Humboldt Professors and ensuring close institutional relationships, using, for example, shared professorships and lab-to-lab professorships. The funding comes with the expectation that recipients initiate long-term collaborative activities with colleagues in Germany, establish and lead an international working group in Germany, and develop other creative and promising research formats.

Nominations for the award may submitted by any university in Germany. In addition, nominations may also be submitted together with non-university research institutions in Germany. Plans foresee awarding 20 Humboldt Research Professorships a year in at least three selection rounds to be held in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Financing is currently still subject to change.

Every year, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables more than 2,000 researchers from all over the world to spend time conducting research in Germany. The Foundation maintains an interdisciplinary network of well over 30,000 Humboldtians in more than 140 countries around the world – including 63 Nobel Prize winners.