The aim of the funding is to give researchers additional time by exempting them from their teaching load (teaching buyout) or by providing them with support from student assistants so that they can carry out a project in the field of “knowledge exchange with society”. The aim is to incorporate societal perspectives into research and to apply university knowledge to current social issues.

NEW: The Open Humboldt Freiräume funding programme 2026/27 provides personnel resources and offers two different types of support. Please choose between:

1. Funding for a teaching buyout and substitute

This funding covers the cost of a teaching substitute for a six-month teaching buyout, enabling selected applicants to carry out a project in the field of “knowledge exchange with society.”
Benefit: To compensate for the teaching, the respective institutes can hire a substitute for the 2026 summer semester or 2026/27 winter semester, funded by the Berlin University Alliance / Humboldt-University.

• Scope: The funding programme will cover the costs of a guest professorship or guest lectureship for professors selected in the programme. For postdoctoral researchers (including those with habilitation) and doctoral candidates selected, research associates (TV-L 13) can be hired as teaching replacement.
• Start of funding: Summer semester 2026 OR winter semester 2026/27
• Funding period: 6-month teaching substitute for summer semester 2026 OR winter semester 2026/27
• Target group: Eligible applicants are professors, postdoctoral researchers (including those with habilitation), and doctoral candidates from all disciplines at Humboldt University who are currently employed at Humboldt University of Berlin and will remain so until at least the end of the 2026 summer semester or the 2026/27 winter semester. The position of the applicant must include a teaching load and be financed by HU’s own budgetary resources (Haushaltsmittel). Funding for the teaching substitute is provided to individuals.

2. NEW: Funding for hiring student research assistants

This funding supports project-based positions for student research assistants involved in a transdisciplinary or participatory research project in the field of “knowledge exchange with society.”

• Benefit: The respective institutes of the selected projects can use funds from the Berlin University Alliance for the year 2026 to hire student employees.
• Scope: Project-based positions for student research assistants working 40 hours per month
• Start of funding: January 2026
• Funding period: Project-related positions for student research assistants for a maximum of 12 months between January and December 2026 (funding limited until December 2026).
• Target group: Eligible applicants are professors, postdoctoral researchers (including those with habilitation), and doctoral candidates at HU Berlin who currently have an ongoing or planned transdisciplinary or participatory research project in collaboration with actors from outside academia, and who can advance this project through the involvement of student research assistants. The financing of student research assistants requires the respective faculty or institute to carry out the hiring and administration processes and to have the necessary resources (workplace, equipment) available.

Selection process and organisation of funding

Selection process: The HU Open Humboldt Advisory Board reviews project applications based on the funding criteria and makes a funding recommendation. The HU Executive Board then decides on the final selection and award of funding, based on this recommendation and within the limits of the available funding. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in December 2025/January 2026.

Organisation of the funding: The organisation of the teaching substitutes and student assistants is the responsibility of the selected applicants in cooperation with their respective institutes/departments, and takes place within the framework of the current HU employment agreement (Dienstvereinbarung). Please note that, in accordance with this agreement, positions must be publicly advertised, so please plan recruitment timelines accordingly. Please ensure that appointed teaching substitutes are available in time to begin teaching in the summer semester 2026 or winter semester 2026/27.

Programme network: The “Open Humboldt Freiräume” funding programme offers opportunities for networking with other grantees and projects, competency workshops, and occasional program meetings. Funded applicants are warmly invited to participate and are encouraged, where possible, to make themselves available for occasional networking events or representational purposes related to the program.
For selected grantees and projects, the office “Knowledge Exchange with Society” at the ZI Centre for Cultural Techniques (ZfK) is available for consultations and occasional support. For example, grantees may organize a public (digital) event in collaboration with the ZI Centre for Cultural Techniques during the funding period to showcase their project in one of the spaces of ZfK.

Project completion: At the end of the funding period, grantees must submit a project report (2 pages). The report should document the extent to which the project goals stated in the application have been achieved, and whether additional intersections between the project and the grantee’s research and teaching have emerged.

Application

Application Deadline: Oktober 17th, 2025, 11pm (digital form + signed PDF)

Application Process: Applications are directed to the Office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society at the ZI Centre for Cultural Techniques:

1. Application: Fill out this online application form: Application Open Humboldt Freiräume. Have your CV ready for the digital upload. Professor applicants must also have the CV of the planned guest professorship or guest lectureship available in PDF or DOC format.
2. Print/download: Please download or print the completed application at the end of this online form in order to sign it digitally or by hand.
3. Signatures: Please sign the application digitally or by hand and have it signed by the responsible dean's office.
4. Please send the signed PDF of your application via e-mail to wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de by October 17, 2025.

Application: Application Form Open Humboldt Freiräume

Available consultation: The office for Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange with Society at the ZI Centre for Cultural Techniques offers advice and support for prospective applicants. Please contact us via email (wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de) or join one of the Zoom consultation hours:

• Tuesday, September 16, 12:00 PM — Register here (HU email address required)
• Tuesday, October 7, 9:00 AM — Register here (HU email address required)

Funding and Selection Criteria
The selection for funding under the “Open Humboldt Freiräume” program is based on the assessment of the project’s quality by a selection committee and the project’s alignment with the funding criteria. Neither the scope of the teaching buyout / teaching load to be replaced nor the individual profile of student assistants is taken into account in the evaluation. Learn more about the funding and selection criteria here.

The funding criteria are:

1. Multidirectional exchange between science and society
2. Concept for networking, cooperation with societal actors, and inclusion of relevant target groups
3. Innovative character of the project
4. Compatibility between the project idea, the planned formats for implementation, and the goal of the “Open Humboldt Freiräume” funding programme
5. Presentation of measures for evaluation and sustainability of the project
6. Sustainable integration into research and teaching
7. Plausibility of the project’s work and timeline plan / plausibility of the work and timeline plan for a possible one-year subproject with the involvement of student research assistants and their planned contribution to the overall project