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What is the Open Humboldt Freiräume funding programme?

The Open Humboldt Freiräume Program supports researchers and teachers at HU Berlin in conducting participatory research projects and involving society partners in their research. The program provides personnel resources and creates time for this time-consuming work by:

1. financing a teaching buyout as well as a substitute teacher and thus exempting the researcher from their teaching load for one semester
2. financing a position for student research assistants and thus providing personnel support for the project for up to 12 months.

Does the funding programme also provide other project funding?

Unfortunately not. The available funds are limited to personnel resources for teaching substitutes or student research assistants and cannot be used for other purposes. Additional project funding from other sources or institutions is welcome. If you have any further questions, please contact the Office for Knowledge Exchange with Society at ZfK (wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de).

Who can apply for the program?

Professors, postdoctoral researchers (including those with habilitation) and doctoral candidates at HU Berlin from all disciplines. To apply for funding for a teaching buyout, applicants must have a teaching load and be fully funded by HU’s own budgetary resources (Haushaltsmittel).

How many projects are funded?

The number varies from year to year, but on average, the following support can be provided with the available funding:

• funding for a teaching buyout / teaching substitute for one semester: for approx. 3 projects
• funding for a student research assistant position for up to 12 months for approx. 4 projects

Who decides about funding awards?

The Open Humboldt Advisory Board of HU Berlin assesses project applications based on funding criteria and makes funding recommendations. Based on this recommendation and within the available funding, the HU Executive Board then makes the final decisions.

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Is my project suitable the funding programme?

A project is suitable if it initiates or develops research processes in collaboration with societal stakeholders. A positive assessment requires the project to go beyond the standard scope of the discipline’s regular activities. This is particularly relevant for academic disciplines that already work with external stakeholders as part of their normal operations. The aim of the funding programme is to promote multidirectional exchange between science and society. Multidirectional means that university knowledge can be made available to address societal questions or current challenges, while non-university perspectives and impulses are also integrated into academic research.

What is not funded by Open Humboldt Freiräume?

Projects that merely collect data for one’s own research or projects that are focused on publishing or communicating one’s own research are not eligible for funding.

Do I need prior experience in working with societal partners??

No. If you have a first idea and took some initial steps towards organizing a partnership (for example, you know what target group or specific partners you would like to collaborate with and may already have made contact), the Office for Knowledge Exchange with Society (wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de) will be happy to advise on further planning. Please note that if your project is in its early stages, your funding application should set out a realistic plan for the available timeframe of one semester.

When is a project considered innovative and participatory?

A project is considered innovative if it tries out a new approach, attempts new formats or addresses target groups that have not previously been engaged. A project is considered particularly participatory if non-academic stakeholders are involved in an equal reciprocal partnership, with a voice in the organization, objectives, and outcomes of the project.

What scope should the project have?

The funding period for the Freiräume teaching buyout is one semester. The funding period for a position of a student research assistant is a maximum of 12 months in 2026. However, the projects itself can vary in duration: they can be short, time-limited projects lasting one semester or they can be sub-projects of larger initiatives. You should realistically assess and plan the work load to ensure that the project goals are achievable or that longer-term, sustainable processes are initiated during the funding period.

Can I get support with project planning and implementation?

For advice on project planning, please contact the Office for Knowledge Exchange with Society at the ZfK (wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de). We are also happy to recommend workshops or provide information about events on topics of knowledge exchange with society, participation or transdisciplinary research. If you are interested in collaboration with the HU Berlin spaces for knowledge exchange (Tieranatomisches Theater, Humboldt Labor, Kleine Humboldt Galerie), you are also welcome to get in touch with us.

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How can I best prepare my application?

Application questions: To think through your project proposal in advance, you can review all the questions from the application form beforehand. By using the “Question Index” function in the top right corner of the online application form, you can see all pages and questions at a glance.

Funding criteria: The evaluation of applications is based on the compliance of the project proposal with these defined eligibility criteria. Review your project proposal against these criteria and describe how your planned project meets them.

Consultation sessions: We are offering online consultation sessions on the funding program and application process on, you are invited to join one of the online sessions if you have any questions: on Tuesday, September 16, 12:00 pm Register here or Tuesday, October 7, 9:00 am Register here

Contact: For further questions, please contact the Office for Knowledge Exchange with Society at the ZfK at wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de.

What do I need to submit an application?

1. Project proposal: To efficiently prepare your project proposal, you can review all the questions in the application form in advance. By using the “Question Index” function in the top right corner of the online application form, you can view all pages and questions.
2. Application form: please complete this online application form to submit your application: https://umfrage.hu-berlin.de/OHfreiraum
3. Signed application: At the end of the online form, download or print your completed application form in order to sign it digitally or by hand. The PDF signed by you and by the responsible Dean’s Office must be submitted by October 17, 2025 via email (subject line: “Open Humboldt Freiräume”) to wissensaustausch.zfk@hu-berlin.de
4. Signature of the responsible dean's office: Your department or institute must support your application and sign it; please make sure to obtain the signature before the application deadline.
5. CV of the applicant: 2–4 pages; if applicable, with a list of selected memberships, research collaborations, peer-review activities, awards, third-party funding, and publications relevant to the project; preferably uploaded as a PDF.
6. For applications from professors: Short CV of the proposed visiting professor/lecturer, maximum 2 pages; preferably uploaded as a PDF.

Who needs to approve my application?

The organization of the teaching buyout/teaching substitute and of the student research assistant positions are managed by the grant recipients in cooperation with their institutes. To submit an application, you will need the signature of the responsible Dean’s Office of your department or institute. Please inform your Dean’s Office about your plans as early as possible to ensure that the teaching replacements are available in time for the start of the semester.

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What is expected of me if I receive Open Humboldt Freiräume funding?

Funding recipients are warmly invited to take part in skills-development workshops and to network with other recipients and alumni. Occasionally, recipients should plan to be available for networking or representative programme event.
At the end of the funding period, a project report (2 pages) must be submitted. This report should document the achieved project objectives and comment on (new) links between the project, research and teaching. Please make sure to plan out an evaluation for your project from the start.

How is the teaching replacement organized?

The costs for a teaching buyout and a substitute for one semester are covered by Humboldt University of Berlin from funds provided by the Berlin University Alliance (personnel costs, HU’s own budgetary funds). The funds are managed in the Division for Strategy Development (PB3). Together with their institutes, the funding recipients are responsible for organizing replacement instructors/lecturers: the funding recipients along with administrative head of their department need to submit all hiring documents to the Office for Strategy Development for approval of funds; then the department administration forwards documentation to Human Resources. Please make sure to work with your department administration to prepare the job advertisements and hiring documents on time and note the processing times of Human Resources. Please note that vacant positions for research assistants (TV-L 13) must be advertised in accordance with the “Dienstvereinbarung”.

How is the student research assistant position organized

The costs for the student research assistant position are covered by Humboldt University of Berlin from funds provided by the Berlin University Alliance (personnel costs, HU’s own budgetary funds). The funds are managed in the Division for Strategy Development (PB3). Together with their institutes, the funding recipients are responsible for organizing replacement instructors/lecturers: the funding recipients along with administrative head of their department need to submit all hiring documents to the Office for Strategy Development for approval of funds; then the department administration forwards documentation to Human Resources. Please make sure to work with your department administration to prepare the job advertisements and hiring documents on time and note the processing times of Human Resources. Please note that vacant positions for student research assistants must be advertised in accordance with the “Dienstvereinbarung”.