Einstein Strategic Professorships are awarded to internationally renowned scientists. The programme allows the Berlin universities and Charité – Universitätsmedizin to attract outstanding researchers by funding the professor’s salary and additional staff, directly incurred costs, and investments for five years. After the end of the initial five-year funding period, the State of Berlin provides additional resources which can be accessed to create permanent positions for Strategic Professorships and boost the respective institution’s structural funding. The programme is supported through funds provided by the Damp Foundation.
Detailed Programme Description
I. OBJECTIVE
Einstein Strategic Professorships are targeted recruitments of leading researchers (as a rule) from abroad who are of outstanding importance to developing both the applying university’s profile and Berlin’s research environment. The programme’s aim is to support the Berlin universities – in collaboration with local, publicly funded non-university research institutes, where suitable – to implement research strategies, build their research profiles, explore and advance new research areas, as well as nurture their strengths and appeal to outstanding talents. Einstein Strategic Professorships are a decisive contribution to sustainably enhancing Berlin’s international competitiveness.[1]
II. ELIGIBILITY
Candidates should be researchers who are internationally recognized as pioneering scholars in their respective fields or are close to a establishing their reputation internationally, who possess extraordinary expertise which is not covered by tenured professorships in Berlin, and who are justifiably motivated to move swiftly to Berlin. Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Universität der Künste Berlin, as well as Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin are eligible to apply.[2] Applications may also be submitted jointly with publicly funded Berlin-based non-university research institutions (e.g. institutes of the Max Planck Society, the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz Association, and the Fraunhofer Society); such joint applications must prove already existing prior agreement about the terms and conditions of the joint professorship and provide information on the candidate’s planned activities at each of the respective institutions.
III. FUNDING
The Einstein Foundation provides funding for the professor’s position as well as for additional directly and indirectly incurred expenses (staff, equipment, research-related consumables). Once funding has been approved, the applying institution is responsible for appointing (e.g. by issuing a search waiver and directly appointing him/her) or employing the candidate, initiates appointment negotiations and creates the prerequisites for the appointment or employment of the approved candidate. As a rule, the negotiations should be finalized, and a contract signed no later than twelve months after submission of the Foundation’s letter of approval. Any extension of this deadline must be requested and approved by the Foundation.[3] As long as legally possible in Berlin, it is also possible to apply for term-limited research professorships.
IV. FUNDING PERIOD
In general, Einstein Strategic Professorships are funded for five years via private and/or public funds. Cost-neutral extensions of the funding period are possible. To permanently retain at least some or many of the appointed candidates in Berlin beyond the initial funding phase, the Einstein Foundation receives additional funding from the State of Berlin (see Section VII). Candidates will hold the title of “Einstein Professor” for the entire duration of their work in Berlin (including their appointments following the initial funding phase).
V. APPLICATION PROCESS
Application deadlines can be found on the Foundation’s website. Besides detailing the reasons for suggesting the proposed candidate, applications must specify how the candidate will nurture the research or artistic profile of the applying institution and Berlin’s appeal as a science and research hub. Furthermore, they must outline how the Einstein Strategic Professorship would contribute to the institution’s medium-term strategic development, including (other) future appointments and research foci. Applications must further list the incentives the respective institution intends to offer the candidate – in addition to a lifetime position and the funding provided by the Einstein Foundation – in order to retain them in Berlin.
Please note that applications must be submitted in English.
VI. USE OF FUNDS
Grants can only be disbursed as third-party funding through the host university or Charité – Universitätsmedizin.
VII. FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT
To help the respective institution cover its expenses following the initial funding period, the State of Berlin provides follow-up funding of up to €200k per year per professorship via the Einstein Foundation for at least a limited number of cases[4]. On request, the Einstein Foundation may provide additional resources in exceptional cases (e.g. in case of chronic illness), provided funding is available. If supported professors retire or leave Berlin, new cases can benefit from this follow-up support.
Applications for follow-up funding must provide a multi-year budget plan detailing the institution’s total amount of resources allocated to the professorship and the funding requested from the Einstein Foundation. In addition, a support letter from the head of the applying institution must illustrate the progress and success achieved in the initial funding period, the professorship’s relevance to the institution, and the institution’s commitment to providing a substantial portion of the professorship’s funding in the future.
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[1] Since the programme’s inception in 2018, the Einstein Foundation has been generously supported with more than €20 million in funding, in particular through donations from the Damp Stiftung and, since 2024, the Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft. In order to attract further funding from private sources, the State of Berlin provides matching funds that are directed towards the programme proper, as well as additional financial support to ensure recruited talents can be retained beyond the initial five-year funding period (see Section VII).
[2] The Einstein BUA Strategic Professorship programme, which was phased out in May 2024, limits eligibility to the four BUA partners and allows applications for candidates based in Germany. The funding period is three years, with no follow-up funding provided by the Einstein Foundation.
[3] This may include, if necessary, a temporary leave of absence during the transition phase.
[4] At the moment, the respective pool covers ten professorships and is not bound to specific people.
Information & Forms
Eligibility
Berlin universities and the Charité, where applicable in cooperation with non-university institutions
Funding period
Five years; the funding period can be extended without an increase in funding
Funding scope
The amount of funding released depends on the rationale outlined in the submission
Forms for Download
Application form (Word)
Budget plan (Excel)
Budget plan attachment (PDF)
Progress report form (Word)
Reporting form (Word)
Code for funding recipients (PDF)
Guidelines on Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Career Support (PDF)
FAQs about the "Einstein Strategic Professorship"
The Einstein Strategic Professorship programme uses outstanding professorships as a strategic tool to attract world-class researchers from other countries to Berlin for long-term posts in top roles. The program helps Berlin’s universities, Charité – Universitätsmedizin, and the publicly funded Berlin-based research institutions, in particular the Max Planck Society, the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz Association, and the Fraunhofer Society, to implement pioneering research strategies, build their research profiles, explore and advance innovative research fields, and strengthen existing competencies so they can attract more top talent. Einstein Strategic Professorships play a key role in positioning Berlin as a world-leading research location in the long term.
Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Universität der Künste Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin are eligible to apply. Applications may also be submitted jointly with the publicly funded Berlin-based non-university research institutions, such as the Max Planck Society, the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz Association, and the Fraunhofer Society. In exceptional cases, the Berlin-based institutions of the Max Planck Society, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association, and Fraunhofer Society may also submit applications independently.
Institutions submit applications nominating a candidate. Researchers may not apply on their own behalf. Suitable candidates can be identified in a number of different ways, e.g. through appointment or head-hunting processes conducted by the institutions submitting the application; special search processes such as the one used by the Max Planck Society are also possible.
The candidate must hold a post abroad. Where special justification is provided, exceptional researchers based in Germany can also be nominated to keep them from leaving the country, for instance if the candidate has access to international third-party funding (e.g. from the ERC or NIH).
Einstein Strategic Professorships are open to researchers of all nationalities and can be awarded in all disciplines. The requirement is that the candidates must play a leading role on the world stage in their particular fields. Evidence can include internationally recognized prizes and awards, and at least five groundbreaking publications and acclaim for their research in the past five years. In their application, the eligible institutions present the outstanding, strategic importance of the individual for their own institution and for Berlin’s research landscape. The Einstein Foundation is particularly keen to see equality measures implemented by the institutions submitting applications. As a rule, Einstein Strategic Professorships should be new posts.
The number of funded professorships is based on the total funding volume applied for. If an individual turns down a professorship offer or leaves during the initial funding phase, the Einstein Foundation will conduct a new selection process. Even if the Einstein Strategic Professor leaves the host institution during the consolidation phase, the funds for the position are returned to the Einstein Foundation. Upon application, they can be used for the continued support of ERC grant holders.
Eligible institutions can submit an application to establish an Einstein Strategic Professorship for a named outstanding researcher in a strategically important field. The application should be submitted to the Einstein Foundation by the deadlines set out on the Einstein Foundation website. An application form with further explanations and information about the documents to be submitted can also be found on the website, along with a template for the budget plan. The application must be submitted in English.
The institution should ensure by means of exploratory talks and preliminary discussions that it will be possible to fill the professorship nine months (as a rule) – and no later than twelve months – after funding has been approved (i.e. after an authorization letter is issued).
No. The internal processes employed by the universities and the Max Planck, Helmholtz, Leibniz, and Fraunhofer institutions to identify candidates are not relevant to the Einstein Foundation. Candidates can also be identified through appointment or head-hunting processes that follow the rules and criteria of the host institutions (e.g. the special search process used by the Max Planck Society). We recommend obtaining sufficient agreement within the relevant bodies concerning a potential appointment so that if funding is approved, the appointment can go ahead without the need for further internal consultation.
The eligible institutions must provide evidence showing how the candidate will enhance the innovative scientific or artistic profile of the university and of Berlin as a research location, and show what role the Einstein Strategic Professorship will play in the institution’s medium-term strategic development, including with regard to other appointments and future focus areas. The application should detail the candidate’s research output and explain how they will fit into the Berlin research landscape, as well as the planned division of labour in the case of a joint application. The application must demonstrate how – besides the permanent position funded by the State of Berlin through the Einstein Foundation – the institution intends to retain the candidate in the long term after the initial funding has expired.
For the duration of their work in Berlin, the successful candidate will hold the title of Einstein Professor. Acceptance of the funding is linked to obligations (see below).
The eligible institutions must provide evidence showing how the candidate will enhance the innovative scientific or artistic profile of the university and of Berlin as a research location, and show what role the Einstein Strategic Professorship will play in the institution’s medium-term strategic development, including with regard to other appointments and future focus areas. The application should detail the candidate’s research output and explain how they will fit into the Berlin research landscape, as well as the planned division of labour in the case of a joint application. The application must demonstrate how – besides the permanent position funded by the State of Berlin through the Einstein Foundation – the institution intends to retain the candidate in the long term after the initial funding has expired.
For the duration of their work in Berlin, the successful candidate will hold the title of Einstein Professor. Acceptance of the funding is linked to obligations (see below).
The eligible institutions must provide evidence showing how the candidate will enhance the innovative scientific or artistic profile of the university and of Berlin as a research location, and show what role the Einstein Strategic Professorship will play in the institution’s medium-term strategic development, including with regard to other appointments and future focus areas. The application should detail the candidate’s research output and explain how they will fit into the Berlin research landscape, as well as the planned division of labour in the case of a joint application. The application must demonstrate how – besides the permanent position funded by the State of Berlin through the Einstein Foundation – the institution intends to retain the candidate in the long term after the initial funding has expired.
For the duration of their work in Berlin, the successful candidate will hold the title of Einstein Professor. Acceptance of the funding is linked to obligations (see below).
Once funding has been approved, the host institution(s) is/are responsible for carrying out the appointment procedure through to making an offer (e.g. by means of a direct appointment, without advertising the post) or the recruitment procedure. They put in place the necessary measures to make the provisional offer and carry out the appointment negotiations and/or sign the contract in the case of a non-university institution. As a rule, the professorship or executive position should be filled nine months – and no later than twelve months – after funding has been approved (i.e. after an authorization letter is issued).
Acceptance of funding entails a commitment to comply with the rules of good scientific practice.
Where funding is approved, the Einstein Foundation is entitled to publish a press release and information about the candidate. After the first funding instalment has been received, an interim report must be submitted, providing information about the institution and the work of the professorship and how the funds are spent. The annual interim report always covers the past budget/calendar year (the exact dates can be found in the cooperation agreement [Weiterleitungsvertrag]). A final report must be submitted no later than six months after the end of the funding period. The Einstein Foundation allows private donors to inspect the files.