Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups (Track A) / Helmholtz Innovation Exploration Groups (Pilot-Track B)

Postdocs, Experienced Scientists |Setting up a Young Investigator Group| Incoming | Next Call expected December 2026| Live Calendar Upcoming Calls/Current Calls Young Investigator Groups: https://go.fzj.de/funding-calendar-yig | FZJ Contact: Tiemo Pokraka, email: t.pokraka@fz-juelich.de

Career status

Postdocs, Experienced Scientists

Mobility

Incoming

Upcoming Call/Deadline

Next Call expected December 2026

A key objective of the Helmholtz Association’s mission is the individual promotion of talented early-stage researchers. Through its Helmholtz Investigator Groups program, the Association enables the best international and German early-stage scientists to set up and lead their own research group for 5 years. Investigator Group leaders are given scientific independence and have attractive career prospects.

This year, the scope of the call was extended to a new pilot-track.

Helmholtz Investigator Groups - Track A (as before): The aim is to give excellent postdoctoral researchers from Germany and abroad the opportunity to establish themselves permanently in science and to qualify them for a university career or a leading position in science.

This track includes a tenure option, support, and flexibility during the family phase, and further qualifications at the Helmholtz Leadership Academy. Investigator Group leaders are expected to collaborate closely with a university partner, gathering teaching and Ph.D. supervision experience.

Target group:

• Excellent postdocs from Germany and abroad (2 - 6 years after the doctorate, with parental/industry periods considered).
• External applicants (unless employed at centre for less than one year by the time of application).
• International research experience required.

Helmholtz Innovation Exploration Groups (New Pilot-Track B):The aim is to support outstanding postdoctoral researchers who seek to develop the earliest scientific foundations required for future application, industry cooperation or spin-off creation. Emphasize lies on the (pre-)validation phase in which first scientific results, technical hypotheses and prototypes are built to a level that enables credible pitching to venture capital or industrial partners (no aim to prepare a business plan). This track does not include a tenure option and no mandatory collaborate with a university partner. It includes support, and flexibility during the family phase, and further qualifications at the Helmholtz Leadership Academy.

Target group:

• Excellent postdocs from Germany and abroad (0 - 6 years after the doctorate, with parental/industry periods considered).
• External and internal candidates.

Interested candidates must get in touch with and be supported by one of the institute directors prior to application to Forschungszentrum Jülich. Following an internal selection procedure, up to four candidates are nominated by Forschungszentrum Jülich.

Timetable for the 2026 call:

16 February 2026: internal deadline for short proposals:

For Track A -Helmholtz Investigator Groups:

• Letter of intent: Brief outline of the planned work programme (max. 2 pages, no template)
• CV (template by W)
• Confirmation and supporting letter of the head of the institute division at FZJ (template by W)
• Short summary of max. 1.500 characters (template by HGF)

For Track B -Innovation Exploration Groups:

• Motivation letter (template by W)
• CV (template by W)
• Confirmation and supporting letter of the head of the institute division at FZJ (template by W)
• Short summary of max. 1.500 characters (template by HGF)

The candidates are obligatorily invited to present themselves and their project in the online pre-selection meeting (date to be announced).

27 April 2026: Submission of full proposals to W

June/July 2026: Personal presentation by candidates to one of several interdisciplinary HGF panels of international experts

When considering an application, please contact Mr. Pokraka (department W) to discuss the application.

_{Please note: The dates of calls might change throughout the year. When you save them to your calendar, your calendar will not show the changed dates. Please visit the funding calendar regularly or use our Live Funding Calendar to check for any changes. You can also find the link to our Live Calendar in the summary of the downloaded call.}