DAAD Future Network Weimar Triangle Scholarship 2026 for Doctoral Candidates in Germany

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has announced the 2026 call for applications for the Future Network Weimar Triangle: Science for Europe scholarship programme. This prestigious initiative supports doctoral candidates conducting research in Germany while strengthening trilateral scientific cooperation between Germany, France, and Poland.

The programme expands the historic Weimar Triangle political partnership, established in 1991 by the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Poland, into a long-term scientific collaboration platform focused on addressing major European and global challenges through research, innovation, and interdisciplinary cooperation.

About the Future Network Weimar Triangle Programme

The Future Network Weimar Triangle programme was established to:

• Promote sustainable scientific collaboration between Germany, France, and Poland
• Strengthen the European Research Area
• Encourage interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research partnerships
• Develop innovative solutions to global and European challenges
• Foster networking among emerging researchers and institutions

The programme combines mobility funding with active participation in collaborative working groups, creating long-term professional and academic networks across Europe.

Who Can Apply?

The scholarship is open to doctoral candidates from all academic disciplines who are:

• Enrolled in a PhD programme or pursuing an individual doctorate in France or Poland
• Interested in conducting research stays in Germany for up to 12 months
• Willing to actively participate in the Weimar Triangle research network and thematic working groups

Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong academic performance, research potential, and commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

Priority Research Areas

The programme supports future-oriented research addressing major societal, technological, and environmental issues. Eligible research topics include:

Climate-Neutral Energy and Mobility

Research may focus on:

• Renewable energy systems
• Fusion technologies
• Decarbonization strategies
• Energy storage innovations
• Cross-border infrastructure
• Climate protection technologies

Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization

Research themes include:

• AI applications
• Digital sovereignty
• Ethical standards in AI
• Cybersecurity
• Microelectronics
• AI-enabled chip technologies

Security and Scientific Resilience

Priority topics include:

• Knowledge and research data security
• Hybrid threat prevention
• Risk management systems
• Strategic technologies
• Critical raw materials
• Science communication

Biotechnology and Future Medicine

Supported areas include:

• Sustainable health systems
• Medical technology
• Bioeconomy
• Innovative diagnostics and therapies
• Agricultural resilience
• Food system sustainability

Social Sciences and Humanities

Research may examine:

• Human-machine interaction
• Social impact of emerging technologies
• Governance and technology
• European societal transformation
• State and institutional adaptation to innovation

Funding Structure and Research Mobility

The scholarship funds research stays in Germany conducted at:

• German universities
• Non-university research institutions

The programme supports both individual and collaborative research projects. Applicants may also apply jointly as a research tandem if conducting a shared research initiative with another applicant.

Duration of Funding

Key funding details include:

• Duration: 3 to 12 months
• Earliest start date: October 2026
• Flexible mobility format allowed within a 12-month period
• Funding may be divided into multiple shorter research stays if necessary

Applicants planning multiple stays must provide:

• A detailed timetable
• Confirmation of supervision for the initial research period

The scholarship is non-renewable.

Financial Benefits

Selected fellows receive a comprehensive funding package designed to support research, mobility, and academic networking.

Core Scholarship Benefits

Recipients receive:

• Monthly stipend of €1,400
• International travel allowance
• Health, accident, and personal liability insurance
• Monthly research allowance of €102

Additional Funding Opportunities

Under certain conditions, fellows may also access:

• Conference attendance grants within Weimar Triangle countries
• Family allowances for funding periods longer than six months
• Monthly rent subsidies for extended stays
• Language course support
• Disability and chronic illness support funding
• Funding for annual networking meetings

International Networking and Collaboration

A major feature of the programme is the creation of interdisciplinary working groups that connect:

• Doctoral candidates
• Postdoctoral researchers
• DAAD alumni
• Academic institutions
• Research partners
• University faculty

Participants are encouraged to remain active within these networks even after their funding period ends.

Major Networking Forums

The programme includes three large international networking forums:

• Warsaw – 2027
• Paris – 2028
• Germany – 2029

These events will provide opportunities to:

• Present research findings
• Build collaborations
• Engage with policymakers and researchers
• Strengthen trilateral scientific cooperation

Outstanding trilateral research projects will also receive recognition during the final forum in Germany.

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated by independent academic selection committees composed primarily of professors and researchers from German institutions.

Selection is based on several factors, including:

Academic Excellence

Assessment includes:

• Academic records
• Research achievements
• Publications and conference participation
• Language proficiency

Quality of Research Proposal

Committees assess:

• Originality and relevance
• Feasibility of the research plan
• Choice of host institution
• Integration into the applicant’s doctoral programme

Applicant Potential

Reviewers also consider:

• Motivation for research in Germany
• Commitment to international collaboration
• Contribution to working groups
• Long-term career development potential
• Extracurricular engagement and leadership

Special life circumstances may also be considered to support equal opportunity and inclusion.

Strengthening European Research and Innovation

The Future Network Weimar Triangle scholarship programme represents a strategic investment in Europe’s next generation of researchers and innovators. By combining research mobility, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international networking, the programme strengthens scientific partnerships between Germany, France, and Poland while supporting solutions to major global challenges.

Doctoral candidates with strong research ambitions and an interest in international collaboration are encouraged to explore this opportunity through the DAAD Official Website.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.