With the innovate! academy, the? Joachim Herz Foundation supports interdisciplinary, high-risk research projects in the engineering, natural, and materials sciences that are positioned between completed basic research and market readiness (Technology Readiness Levels 3 to 6).

The innovate! academy 2026 theme is??Water-Enabled Materials“. Funding is provided for transfer-oriented approaches that use water as inspiration or as an active component to generate novel functions, improve processes, or develop sustainable solutions. Whether in energy conversion, filtration, surface engineering, or sensing technology – the Joachim Herz Foundation is seeking ideas that demonstrate how innovation can be driven by water.

The call is aimed at materials scientists, natural scientists and engineering scientists:

• 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.

Further information on the funding and the application requirements can be found? here.