The IDEAS funding line supports unconventional, early-stage research ideas with high innovation potential. The programme enables exploratory research that challenges established theories, advances fields through unconventional hypotheses, methods or technological innovation, and explores entirely new areas of inquiry. It thereby facilitates research beyond established funding frameworks.
Researchers at the University of Münster from postdoctoral level onwards are eligible to apply. The funding line is aimed at individual researchers or small teams pursuing creative, innovative and potentially high-risk research ideas. Eligibility requires that the proposed project is not (yet) suitable for other internal or external funding programmes and can therefore only be realised through IDEAS.
Funding is provided for exploratory research activities, including:
Funded projects are expected to explore new research directions and generate insights that may form the basis for future research proposals.
Applications must be submitted using the provided template and include the following information: project title, details of the applicants, CV, project description including expected outcomes, justification of funding eligibility under the IDEAS funding line, a statement on the project’s level of risk and innovation, as well as budget and time plan.
Please submit your application by email to Dr Agnes Laba, Zukunftslabor ( zukunftslabor@uni-muenster.de, phone: +49 251 83 22352).
Submitted applications are reviewed by the Rectorate Research Council (Forschungsbeirat) against the objectives of the funding line. Projects meeting the selection criteria are entered into a lottery process. Funding decisions are made by public draw until the available budget is exhausted. The funding decisions will be announced during this draw in winter 2026.
If you have any questions concerning your application, please contact the Future Lab: