Deadline: Unspecified
Applications are open for the Heilbronn AI Fellowship 2027. 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 Bildungs campus 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.
Benefits
The fellowship includes the following financial 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.
Eligibility
- Open to 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.
Selection Criteria
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)
Application
- 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.
For more information, visit Heilbronn AI Fellowship.
