Objective
Research Fellowships for International Postdoctoral Researchers in Artificial Intelligence. The Heilbronn AI Fellowship attracts outstanding international postdoctoral researchers to Heilbronn's rapidly growing AI ecosystem. The programme supports cutting-edge AI research at institutions on the Bildungscampus Heilbronn and across the broader innovation network.
Fellows benefit from a unique environment that combines academic excellence, industry collaboration, advanced digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Beyond research, the programme encourages technology transfer, real-world applications, and engagement with innovation and startup ecosystems.
By connecting global talent with leading research, industry, and innovation partners, the fellowship strengthens Heilbronn's position as a leading European hub for AI research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Fellows benefit from a unique environment that combines academic excellence, industry collaboration, advanced digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Beyond research, the programme encourages technology transfer, real-world applications, and engagement with innovation and startup ecosystems.
By connecting global talent with leading research, industry, and innovation partners, the fellowship strengthens Heilbronn's position as a leading European hub for AI research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Who can apply?
International PhD candidates or postdoctoral researchers who obtained a PhD/doctorate no more than five years ago. PhD candidates should be in the final year before their dissertation defense. Applicants should have a strong academic background in Artificial Intelligence or a related field, be affiliated with a university or non-university research institution, and plan to undertake a research project at an eligible host institution in Bildungscampus Heilbronn.
What can be funded?
The programme provides funding for a research stay in Artificial Intelligence or related fields at eligible host institutions in Heilbronn. Fellows become part of a dynamic AI ecosystem that combines world-class research, industry collabora-tion, advanced digital infrastructure, and opportunities for innovation, technol-ogy transfer, and entrepreneurship. The programme enables researchers to advance scientific knowledge while contributing to the development of AI-driven solutions with real-world impact.
The research stay can be carried out at any of the following universities or re-search institutions located on the Bildungscampus Heilbronn:
The research stay can be carried out at any of the following universities or re-search institutions located on the Bildungscampus Heilbronn:
Duration of the funding
Funding is provided for research stays from 1 to 12 months.
Funding for the fellowship programme is available until the end of the pro-gramme's funding period.
The Fellowship cannot be extended. Special circumstances may be considered on an individual basis.
Funding for the fellowship programme is available until the end of the pro-gramme's funding period.
The Fellowship cannot be extended. Special circumstances may be considered on an individual basis.
Value
The fellowship includes the following financial benefits:
Under certain circumstances, fellowship holders may receive the following additional benefits:
- a monthly fellowship instalment of 2,800 Euros
- payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover
- a lump sum towards international travel costs
Under certain circumstances, fellowship holders may receive the following additional benefits:
- Additional costs arising from a disability or chronic illness may be eligible for support. Requests for such support will be assessed individually, further information.
- For fellows applying to a funding period exceeding six months, family benefits may be granted subject to eligibility. Eligibility and the level of support will be determined on an individual basis in accordance with the applicable fellowship conditions.
- All requests relating to special circumstances will be assessed individually on a case-by-case basis.
Selection
Selection is conducted through a single-stage evaluation based on the submitted application documents.
Applications are jointly prepared by the applicant and the host institution and are evaluated by independent experts in the relevant research fields. The experts are appointed by DAAD, while partner institutions may propose candidates. To ensure fairness and impartiality, experts with a conflict of interest or a supervisory relationship with an applicant are excluded from the evaluation process.
Applications are assessed on the basis of academic excellence, the quality of the proposed research project, and the applicant’s suitability for the programme and its objectives. Funding is awarded only following a positive evaluation by the appointed experts.
The selection criteria are:
Academic qualification
Quality of the research project
Applications are jointly prepared by the applicant and the host institution and are evaluated by independent experts in the relevant research fields. The experts are appointed by DAAD, while partner institutions may propose candidates. To ensure fairness and impartiality, experts with a conflict of interest or a supervisory relationship with an applicant are excluded from the evaluation process.
Applications are assessed on the basis of academic excellence, the quality of the proposed research project, and the applicant’s suitability for the programme and its objectives. Funding is awarded only following a positive evaluation by the appointed experts.
The selection criteria are:
Academic qualification
- Academic performance (general grade point average, grade development, dissertation grade)
- Course of studies and doctorate
- Academic achievements after graduation, (e.g. publications, lectures, conference papers)
Quality of the research project
- Quality of research proposal and preparation (originality, topicality and relevance of the project, choice of host institution and first contacts, relevance for application and transfer.)
- Feasibility and consistency of research plan and schedule
- Suitability of the applicant’s profile and the research project to the objectives of the program (potential for personal and professional development, integration of the project into longer-term cooperation plans, regarding longer-term research stays of the applicant in Germany)
Further information
- The application procedure occurs online through the DAAD portal.
- An application is only valid if all required documents have been submit-ted via the DAAD portal by the application time. If any required docu-ments are not available at the time of submission, applicants must clearly explain the reasons for their absence and indicate when the documents will be provided.
- Only one application per applicant can be considered at any given time. Simultaneous applications cannot be processed.
Data protection: The application documents remain with the DAAD. Your personal data is saved by the DAAD in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act and with the EU Data Protection Regulation insofar as this data is needed to process the application.
What requirements must be met?
Please check if the following criteria are fulfilled:
- Applicants should generally have obtained their PhD/doctorate no more than five years before the application deadline. PhD candidates must be in the final year before their dissertation defense at the time of application.
- Applicants must have been residing outside Germany throughout the 15 months prior to submitting their application.
Language skills
Very good English language skills are essential, but no official language certifi-cate is required. However, applicants must possess sufficient English or, where applicable, German language skills to successfully carry out the proposed re-search project in Germany. The letter of invitation from the host institution in Germany must also address the language requirements for the realization of the planned project and confirm that the applicant's language skills meet these requirements.
Application deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and may be submitted at any time.
To allow sufficient time for the review and selection process, applications should generally be submitted at least four months before the intended start of the fellowship.
To allow sufficient time for the review and selection process, applications should generally be submitted at least four months before the intended start of the fellowship.
Application documents
Certificates, proof of credits, certifications and translations may be scanned in non-certified form and uploaded to the DAAD portal. The DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies of the documents.
Certificates, proof of credits, certifications and translations may be scanned in non-certified form and uploaded to the DAAD portal. The DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies of the documents.
Documents to be uploaded to the DAAD portal:
Important: Please, read and download the following forms that must be submitted online via the application portal:
All application documents must be submitted in English. Please also read our Important Scholarship Information before submitting the application.
Anyone wishing to get in touch with a host at one of the institutions participating in the programme should send an email with their enquiry to Heilbronn-AI@daad.de, and the DAAD will facilitate the contact. To ensure the correct contact person is identified, please state briefly and specifically in your email your interest, your qualifications and what you hope to achieve by making contact.
Documents that are not yet available by the application deadline (e.g. the letter of admission) can be submitted later. Please upload a free-form statement to the application in which it is explained why the documents are not at hand yet and when they will be available.
Certificates, proof of credits, certifications and translations may be scanned in non-certified form and uploaded to the DAAD portal. The DAAD reserves the right to request certified copies of the documents.
Documents to be uploaded to the DAAD portal:
- 1. Online application form
- 2. Full curriculum vitae in tabular form (max. 3 pages)
- 3. List of publications (max. 10 pages), if applicable
- 4. Letter of motivation (1-2 pages) considering the following question: What applicant hope to gain from the project in Germany (personally, professionally, for career development)?
- 5. A research proposal, jointly developed by the applicant and the host in Germany (2-3 pages). The proposal should describe the research project
- 6. Schedule of planned research work
- 7. One recent reference which provides information about applicant´s qualifications. Please regard the instructions given on the tab “Submitting an application” in the DAAD scholarship database
- 8. If applicable, other documents
Important: Please, read and download the following forms that must be submitted online via the application portal:
- 9. Invitation letter and confirmation from the academic host in Germany. The invitation letter must refer to the research project, language skills of the applicant to conduct research, and guarantee that the host institute in Germany will provide a workplace
- 10. Declaration from the scientific supervisor in Germany on safety-relevant and ethical aspects of the research project. Please upload the document in addition to the confirmation from the academic host in the portal under ‘acceptance of host institution
All application documents must be submitted in English. Please also read our Important Scholarship Information before submitting the application.
Anyone wishing to get in touch with a host at one of the institutions participating in the programme should send an email with their enquiry to Heilbronn-AI@daad.de, and the DAAD will facilitate the contact. To ensure the correct contact person is identified, please state briefly and specifically in your email your interest, your qualifications and what you hope to achieve by making contact.
Documents that are not yet available by the application deadline (e.g. the letter of admission) can be submitted later. Please upload a free-form statement to the application in which it is explained why the documents are not at hand yet and when they will be available.
The application procedure occurs online through the DAAD portal.
Information and advisory centres
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
German Academic Exchange Service
Referat S15 – Research and Studies
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Laura Mendez Prencke
E-Mail: Heilbronn-AI@daad.de
Phone: +49-228 882 5248
German Academic Exchange Service
Referat S15 – Research and Studies
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Laura Mendez Prencke
E-Mail: Heilbronn-AI@daad.de
Phone: +49-228 882 5248
More detailed information
The programme offers fellowships for cutting-edge AI research at institutions on the Bildungscampus Heilbronn. More detailed information can be found on the website of the Bildungscampus Heilbronn and the participating institutions mentioned in point 3, “What can be funded?”.
General information on the application via DAAD portal
Applications for this scholarship programme are possible between 1 June and the stated application deadline.
Click on ‘Application portal’ at the bottom of the page to go to the DAAD portal. There you will be provided with an online application form to enter your application data.
This is what you have to do:
1. Register in the DAAD portal (Read notes about registering in the portal >>)
2. Request recommendation form
You can generate the recommendation form in the DAAD Portal as a writable PDF under 'Request recommendation form'. It can only be generated during the application period. Please send it to your university teacher and ask him or her to complete the form in full. When you have received it back, upload it in the portal under 'Letter of Recommendation'.
3. Applying online in the DAAD portal (Read notes on applying in the portal >>)
Please note:
If you have any technical questions or problems your local information and advice centres could not help you with, please do not hesitate to contact portal@daad.de via e-mail.
You can also call the technical portal hotline on weekdays from 9-12 and 14-16 (CET/CEST) on +49 (0) 228 882-8888.
Please consider possible processing times of your request when you are planning your application.
Click on ‘Application portal’ at the bottom of the page to go to the DAAD portal. There you will be provided with an online application form to enter your application data.
This is what you have to do:
1. Register in the DAAD portal (Read notes about registering in the portal >>)
2. Request recommendation form
You can generate the recommendation form in the DAAD Portal as a writable PDF under 'Request recommendation form'. It can only be generated during the application period. Please send it to your university teacher and ask him or her to complete the form in full. When you have received it back, upload it in the portal under 'Letter of Recommendation'.
3. Applying online in the DAAD portal (Read notes on applying in the portal >>)
- Prepare application documents
- If necessary, translate documents (unless they are already in German or English).
- Scan paper documents and save in PDF format. You can only upload PDF files to the portal.
- Fill out the application form and upload the application documents to the portal in PDF format. Translations, if applicable, should be uploaded together with the document issued in the original language.
- Submit the application online.
Please note:
If you have any technical questions or problems your local information and advice centres could not help you with, please do not hesitate to contact portal@daad.de via e-mail.
You can also call the technical portal hotline on weekdays from 9-12 and 14-16 (CET/CEST) on +49 (0) 228 882-8888.
Please consider possible processing times of your request when you are planning your application.
