The Academies Programme, the joint research programme of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities, serves long-term fundamental research in the humanities, historical legal sciences, as well as economics and social sciences. Research questions and materials in the overlapping field of these scientific areas with natural science disciplines can also be addressed within the framework of the Academies Programme. The central task of the Academies Programme is the provision, preservation and visualization of cultural traditions of overriding scientific and social relevance.
The Academies Programme is currently funded with approximately 70 million euros annually as part of the joint research funding provided by the federal and state governments. These funds are currently used to finance 131 projects in 192 workplaces (external link).
Researchers who have completed their doctorate and have institutional ties in Germany can apply (as individual applicants or together with one or more co-applicants) to one of the academies listed with a research project. In terms of focus, scope and duration, the project must meet the following requirements and criteria for applying to the Academies Programme.
Application Requirements
- The project must be of cross-regional significance and of interest to national scientific policy.
- The application is limited to projects in the previously mentioned scientific fields.
- The proposal must be characterised by high disciplinary or interdisciplinary relevance.
- The proposal must consider the current state of research in thematic and methodological terms and have the potential for scientific innovation.
- Projects must consist of long-term elements (at least 12 and no more than 25 years), have a modular structure and be completed within the framework of the project's duration. The project modules must be conclusive in terms of time and content.
- The annual funding budget must be at least 120,000 euros.
- The further qualification of academic staff in the project, especially in early career stages, must be guaranteed.
- The inclusion of digital humanities in terms of methodology is explicitly expected. Thorough concepts and strategies for the provision of digital resources and information offerings as well as for digital processing and publication concepts must be submitted.
- Only projects that cannot be carried out more expediently by a higher education institution, another research institution or by another organisation will be accepted.
Application procedure and criteria for application
The application procedure takes place in two stages within a two-year cycle. First, a preliminary application must be submitted to the Academy (maximum up to ten pages including appendix, 11 pt. font, 1.2 lines). The academy examines the preliminary application and the possibility of accepting it into its academic and organisational supervision
Applicants are requested to have a consultation with the Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften before submitting the pre-proposal. Applications from female scientists are expressly encouraged.
The deadline for submitting a pre-proposal to the Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften is January 31st, 2024. Submissions are possible digitally in a single PDF.
The preliminary application must identify the project concept, the need for its long-term pursuit and the planned method of implementation and must contain the following information:
- Name, professional and institutional affiliation of the applicants
- Title, Subject area and special scientific field of work of the project
- Intended duration as well as material and personnel resources
- Brief summary of the project and the research objective (if applicable, description of the collection to be indexed) and research method, including initial considerations for a digital humanities concept
- CVs of the applicants with a list of publications (no more than one DIN A4 page per person) and information on current externally funded projects.
A separate information bulletin (PDF) contains instructions on the size limits and the formal structure of new applications to the Academies Programme.