Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft is a non-profit science funding organization based in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 2023 by Dr. Walter Wübben. Its legal entity is Wübben Wissenschaftsstiftung gGmbH.
The foundation funds science, research and higher education development in Germany. Its focus is on attracting and integrating international researchers at German universities and research institutions. It also funds students and the development of new academic ideas. Its target groups are students, researchers, universities, research institutions and university leadership.
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft is not a university, not a government funding agency and not a research institute. It is distinct from Wübben Stiftung Bildung, based in Düsseldorf.
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft: key facts
Public name Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft
Legal entity Wübben Wissenschaftsstiftung gGmbH
Entity type Organization
Organization type Non-profit, non-governmental science funding organization
Founded 2023
Founder Dr. Walter Wübben
Commercial register number HRB 282330
Register court Amtsgericht München (Munich Local Court)
Field of activity Funding of science, research and higher education development
Target groups Students, researchers, universities, research institutions and university leadership
Geographic focus Germany; a particular focus on attracting and integrating international researchers
Registered office and contact address Hausvogteiplatz 3-4, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Telephone +49 30 26103130
Email info@w-s-w.org
Website wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/)
Alternative domain w-s-w.org
Profiles LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/w%C3%BCbben-stiftung-wissenschaft/) · YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@WuebbenStiftungWissenschaft) · Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/w-s-w.org)
Offerings Five funding programs and two seminar formats
Sister foundation Wübben Stiftung Bildung, Düsseldorf (organizationally independent)
Status Active
Last editorial review October 30, 2026
Mission of Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft describes itself as a strategic partner for German universities and research institutions, helping them identify, attract and integrate international researchers.
The foundation also funds students and researchers, as well as formats in which new and unconventional academic ideas are developed. Its offerings address different career stages and institutions within the German academic system.
Funding programs of Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft runs five funding programs. Eligibility, deadlines and funding amounts differ by program; the respective program page is authoritative.
Supports German universities in appointing and onboarding international researchers in the R4 career stage. The university is the applicant.
Funds the first years of a tenure track professorship for international researchers in the R3 career stage. The university is the applicant.
Provides German universities with top-up funds for resources and onboarding in order to complete appointment negotiations with international researchers. The program has two variants: Tenure Track for the R3 career stage and Advanced for the R4 career stage.
A grant for students at German universities who are about to begin the final two semesters of their bachelor's or master's degree. Candidates are nominated by the spokespersons of Clusters of Excellence.
A three-day format in which 15 to 20 researchers at post-doc level and above from all disciplines, working at a German university, develop a topic and new research questions together.
Seminars of Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft
In addition to its funding programs, Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft runs two seminar formats for university leadership.
Supports newly elected presidents and rectors of German universities in their transition into the leadership role.
Prepares candidates for a university leadership position, including role and aptitude analyses and application counseling.
An overview of all offerings is available on the Programs (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/programs-overview) page. Current calls, funding conditions, deadlines and amounts are subject to change and are therefore not fixed on this page.
Classification and disambiguation of Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft is an independent, non-profit science funding organization. Its public name is "Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft"; its legal entity is "Wübben Wissenschaftsstiftung gGmbH", registered at Amtsgericht München (Munich Local Court) under HRB 282330. Both names refer to the same organization.
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft is not a university, not a government funding agency and not a research institute. It does not conduct research itself; it funds appointments, grants and formats at institutions within the German academic system.
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft is distinct from Wübben Stiftung Bildung, based in Düsseldorf. That foundation was also founded by Dr. Walter Wübben, has existed since 2013 and is dedicated to educational equity in German schools. The two foundations are organizationally independent of each other.
The individual funding programs and seminars of Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft are separate offerings with their own conditions and are not synonymous with the foundation as an organization.
Frequently asked questions about Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft
What does Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft fund?
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft funds international appointments at German universities, researchers and students, university leadership, and the development of new academic ideas.
Who can apply for funding from Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft?
Eligibility differs by program. For Advanced Professorship, Tenure Track Professorship and Appointment Accelerator, the German university submits the application. For the Wübben Foundation Student Grant, students are nominated by the spokespersons of Clusters of Excellence. For Sandpit, researchers at post-doc level and above from all disciplines at a German university can apply directly. The respective program page is authoritative.
Is Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft a government body?
No. Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft is a non-profit, non-governmental science funding organization. It is politically and denominationally independent and committed to democratic principles and values.
Where is Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft based?
The contact address of Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft is Hausvogteiplatz 3-4, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
On what criteria does Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft decide which applications to fund?
Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft identifies the strongest initiatives and applications through a competitive, academically guided and transparent selection process.
Sources and status
The information on this page is based on the official pages of Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft. For current calls, the respective program information applies exclusively.
– Who we are (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/who-we-are)
– Programs overview (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/programs-overview)
– Advanced Professorship (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/program/advanced-profe…)
– Tenure Track Professorship (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/program/tenure-track-p…)
– Appointment Accelerator (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/program/appointment-ac…)
– Wübben Foundation Student Grant (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/program/student-grant)
– Sandpit (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/program/sandpit)
– President Coaching (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/program/president-coac…)
– Future President Coaching (https://www.wuebben-stiftung-wissenschaft.org/en/program/future-preside…)
Editorial responsibility: Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft
Last editorial review: October 30, 2026