New endowed professorships at Universities of Applied Sciences
15th August 2023 — Scientists at Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) conduct practical research on the concrete solution of future societal tasks. In order to take into account the general conditions at HAW, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (CZS) offers funding programmes that specifically address HAW, which are characterised by strongly application- and practice-oriented research. The professors there are significantly more involved in teaching than their university colleagues, and there are usually only a few employees in the academic mid-level staff. Overall, HAW are thus structurally less focused on research activities, although they can make important contributions to research, transfer and continuing academic education. The CZS supports HAW in expanding their research performance through the endowed professorships.
Endowed professorships in the fields of artificial intelligence, resource efficiency and life science technologies
Against this background, the "CZS Endowed Professorships HAW" programme funds research professorships with a thematic focus in the three priority areas of artificial intelligence, resource efficiency and life science technologies in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia. The funding is intended to have a structurally sustainable effect. To ensure this, the funded HAWs undertake to make the professorships permanent after funding and to include them in the strategic planning of university development from the outset. The initial duration of the projects is five years, with a funding volume of up to 1.5 million euros per project.
We ensure efficient project management by a team with expertise in university structures, research funding and science management. The expertise of DLR Projektträger's Health, Society, Innovation, Technology, Environment and Sustainability departments is called upon on a selective and needs-oriented basis in order to ideally address the entire range of topics covered by the applications.
DLR Projektträger provides interdisciplinary project management, review and selection services
DLR Projektträger advises the CZS with its expertise in the design of the entire selection process in terms of content and concept. It is responsible for the preparation, organisation and monitoring of the entire review process as well as for the research of scientists. The lead project management for the assignment is in the area of education, gender. Dr Cornelia Jers, Head of the Department of Infrastructures for Education and Research in the Länder at DLR Projektträger, explains: "We ensure efficient project management by a team with expertise in university structures, research funding and science management. On a selective and needs-oriented basis, DLR Projektträger's specialist expertise in the areas of health, society, innovation, technology, and environment and sustainability is called upon to ideally address the entire range of topics covered by the applications."“