Ernst-Abbe-Stiftung is a regional German foundation rooted in Jena that supports science, research, innovation, education, and social purposes for people in Jena and across Thuringia. Its giving is especially tied to higher education and talent development—through scholarships, doctoral support, and university-linked projects—while also backing innovation awards and science infrastructure. It stands out for its strong local/regional orientation and its close connection to Jena’s scientific ecosystem, especially optics, engineering, and collaborative research.
Primarily invite-only or institution-nominated support, with scholarships routed through universities and project funding requiring advance submission. Grants tend to be targeted and program-specific rather than open-ended, ranging from small scholarship awards to larger project support and a €100,000 annual innovation prize pool. Deadlines are set by universities for scholarships, while project proposals should be submitted well ahead of project start dates.
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Check whether the opportunity is institution-nominated: the Deutschlandstipendium and doctoral scholarships must be submitted by universities, not individual applicants. For project funding, submit proposals at least 6 months before the planned start and emphasize interdisciplinarity, university partnerships, and industry collaboration; for the Innovationspreis Thüringen, watch the posted annual deadline and category rules on the foundation website.
Current and upcoming funding from Ernst-Abbe-Stiftung that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Ausschreibung richtet sich an Innovationen und die dahinterstehenden Akteure aus Thüringen. Es gibt Kategorien und einen Personenpreis für Verdienste um den Wissenschafts- und Technologiestandort Thüringen.
Deadline: Aktuelle Frist / Bewerbungsfrist (als aufgeführt auf der Seite): 26.06.2026
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.