The new funding initiative ‘Universities as Innovation Laboratories for Sustainable Cities and Regions’ (Hochschulen als Innovationslabore für nachhaltige Städte und Regionen) of the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR – Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space) aims to generate concrete innovations, findings and options for action that will enable universities and local authorities to prioritise their future sustainability investments and measures in Germany.

Funding is provided for regional consortia of companies, universities and research institutions to research, develop and test analytical approaches and concrete, broadly applicable measures, methods and tools which support sustainability at institutions of higher education in Germany. The higher education institution must be responsible for coordination. At least two other participants from the same city or region must be part of the consortium. Projects are expected to explore, develop and test new approaches in the exemplary thematic fields of land and building use, affordable housing, mobility, socially sustainable innovations and blue-green infrastructure.

In addition to the research project, the call funds a parallel accompanying network project.

Applications can be submitted by higher education institutions, non-educational research institutions, commercial enterprises, non-profit organisations, student services, local authorities, municipal institutions, civil society organisations and associations in Germany.

The funding period is three to four years. Institutions of higher education and non-commercial research institutes can expect to receive full funding of project-related costs.

Outline proposals must be submitted by the deadline of 17 November 2025.