Last date
30/06/2026
Reward
4,590,950
Qualification
Science, Other
Post
Higher studies
General information
Scholarship name
KLAUS TOPFER SUSTAINABILITY FELLOWSHIP
Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) is an international, inter-, and transdisciplinary research institute in Potsdam, Germany. The main focus of the institute is to integrate different types of knowledge to support the transformation of society towards sustainability. As part of its work, RIFS operates the annual Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship Programme. The fellowship is intended to support researchers who are committed to sustainable development and build bridges between science, politics, and society. The thematic focus is on projects that implement innovative ideas which can shape the path to a sustainable society, foster a common understanding of sustainability challenges, and propose solutions and ways forward with a view to collaborating with diverse actors. The programme is dedicated to a transdisciplinary approach and encourages applicants to bring innovative ideas from different fields including science, the arts, civil society, business and politics. The fellowship duration is one year but may also be divided into multiple shorter stays. ITEM DESCRIPTION Name KLAUS TOPFER SUSTAINABILITY FELLOWSHIP Provided By Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) Purpose To support researchers committed to sustainable development and build bridges between science, politics, and society.
- Region
- International Region : Germany
- Scholarship type
- Private
- Fields
- Science, Other
- For
- Higher studies
Key dates
Last date to apply: 30/06/2026 The last date to apply for this fellowship is June 30, 2026.
Eligibility
RIFS is looking for applications from highly talented mid-career professionals, from Germany or abroad, who have worked for at least ten years on issues related to sustainable development and have the potential to serve as change agents. Applicants should bring innovative ideas from their respective fields in science, the arts, civil society, business, politics, or other areas of society and have gained professional experience in different countries and cultures.
Award & availability
Stated amount: 4,590,950 The Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship is supported by a discretionary budget of up to 50,000 €, which can be applied to cover travel expenses, publication fees, support for organising workshops, or production costs for artistic work, for example. The fellowship’s benefits include a monthly stipend and financial compensation to cover additional living costs during the stay in Germany. There are about 30 Fellows at RIFS every year. The number may vary from one year to the other, depending on available resources, length of Fellow stays, and other aspects.
Application
There is no separate application fee for the Scholarship. The full application requires:
- A letter of motivation (6,500 characters max.), outlining your prior experience at the interface of science and another sector of society, explaining how you intend to build a bridge between different sectors and how you became aware of the call.
- A project proposal (15,000 characters max., plus references), outlining the activities you wish to pursue during your tenure as a Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellow. The proposal should specify the project title, activities, research fields, expected outputs/aims, work plan, financial and/or physical resources and timeline, and highlight the intended long-term impacts.
- A current CV (10,000 characters max., plus key publications), outlining your career path and five most important achievements.
- Two letters of recommendation (these must include the names and contact details of referees). Please use our online application form only. For more information Click here
Selection process
Diversity and equal opportunities are integral components of our human resources policy. The RIFS actively promotes diversity and explicitly welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of ethnic and social origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation and identity, religion/belief, age and physical characteristics. Anyone who has been recognized as severely disabled will be given preferential consideration in the event of equal suitability and qualification by the provisions of the German Social Code IX. After completion of the procedure, application documents will be deleted in compliance with data protection regulations. The selection process will involve a committee including external advisors who will receive the applications. Your data will, of course, be treated confidentially and will be communicated to the involved person exclusively to evaluate your professional suitability within the framework of this selection procedure. Once the procedure has been completed, the personal data will also be deleted there in compliance with data protection regulations. Other Info The Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) conducts research to investigate, identify, and advance development pathways for transformation processes towards sustainability in Germany and abroad. The institute was founded in 2009 as the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) and has been affiliated with the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences under its new name since the 1st of January 2023 and is thus part of the Helmholtz Association.
Contact
In case of any further queries relating to the field of activity, please contact Christina Camier either via email at christina.camier@gfz-potsdam.de or phone +49 (0)331-6264 277 33. For more information Click here Apply Now https://www.rifs-potsdam.de/en/institute/fellow-programme