Currently 4 active research and journalism grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in the EU. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Every entry is funded, no exposure-only calls. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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Six-month residential fellowship for outstanding young thinkers (under 35) who, in addition to producing strong work in their primary field, want to pursue a project in a different discipline, following Einstein's own cross-disciplinary example. Eligibility: candidates must be under 35 and hold a university degree in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences. Whether the applicant holds, or is working toward, a PhD is not relevant. Crucially, the proposed project must be significantly different in content (and preferably in field and form) from the applicant's previous work; this is NOT a dissertation-research grant and is NOT for completing an academic study already underway. The project need not be finished during the fellowship, but can be the start of a longer one. Selection criteria: quality, originality, and feasibility of the proposed project, plus the superior intellectual development of the applicant. Application materials: CV, a 2-page project proposal, and two letters of recommendation, all submitted via the online form. All documents must be received by 15 May 2026. Funded by the Wittenstein Foundation (previously funded by the ZEIT Foundation Ebelin and Gerd Bucerius 2007 to 2009, then the Daimler and Benz Foundation 2010 to 2022).
Supports independent investigative journalism across Europe, well-suited to surveillance, AI, platform governance and data-driven investigations. Cross-border team requirement: at least two professional journalists (freelance or staff) from at least two different countries. Next round after this one expected 2026-06-26.
Residential research sabbaticals at CAIS, explicitly open to excellent scholars AND practitioners across all career stages and disciplines (not academia-only). Funds individual projects on the societal impact of digital transformation, including pure research and applied projects that develop new theories, methods or perspectives for practice. Project must be self-contained with specific milestones and produce an independent output suitable for short-timeframe publication: peer-reviewed paper or conference contribution, book chapter, policy paper, or prototype. Fellows join a vibrant interdisciplinary research community with regular joint activities (breakfast Tuesdays, colloquium and dinner Wednesdays, occasional workshops Thursdays) and an international network of alumni, working groups and affiliates. In Germany, full and compensatory grants are not subject to social security contributions and are usually tax-exempt; fellows resident abroad should verify their own tax position. Note: CAIS is currently reviewing the application format and selection process for the next call, so details may change. Next call publishes at the beginning of June 2026; deadline 23 July 2026 for fellowships in the period October 2027 to March 2028. Contact: Dr. Esther Laufer, esther.laufer@cais-research.de.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships support researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out research abroad, acquire new skills, develop their careers and have international mobility. Open to excellent researchers of any nationality. The 2026 call opened 9 April 2026 and closes 9 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST; notification of call results expected February 2027; grant agreement signature April 2027. Two strands: European Postdoctoral Fellowships (12 to 24 months in Europe) and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships (12 to 24 months outside Europe + 12-month return phase in Europe). The project must take place in a country different from where the researcher has worked or studied. Approximately 1,600 projects funded. Apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal; submission is by the fellow plus host institution. Eligibility: researcher must have a PhD at the call deadline (or have submitted thesis with all requirements met), maximum 8 years full-time-equivalent research experience post-PhD, must comply with the mobility rule (no more than 12 months in the host country in the 36 months before the deadline).