Interdisciplinary research and the promotion of early career scientists are the main concerns of the Heidelberg Academy. Within the framework of the Young Academy | HAdW, the academy has supported outstanding young scientists in Baden-Württemberg in organizing WIN Conferences since 2007. For this purpose, the academy provides financial resources, supports the organization and also offers scientific advice. The aim is to give this group of early career researchers the opportunity to organize international, interdisciplinary scientific conferences on their own responsibility and with full independence. In accordance with the Academy's self-image, these conferences should serve the scientific discussion across disciplinary boundaries and must therefore be thematically interdisciplinary.
With these conferences, the Academy deliberately wanted to reach beyond the scope of the usual promotion of young scientists. Since 2019, up to three conferences per year have generally been funded in this format. The previous Academy conferences demonstrated a high level of commitment, inventiveness, and responsible and successful implementation. The funding of the independent organization for young researchers thus proved to be particularly fruitful and innovative and encourages the Academy to continue this project with great interest and enthusiasm and to further promote young research.
Scientists are eligible to apply exclusively if they are in an early scientific career phase after their doctorate. Applicants must be working at a research institution in Baden-Württemberg and may not yet be appointed to a tenured professorship at the time of application. Researchers already affiliated with the academy are not eligible to apply.