The Ladenburg Research Networks (Ladenburger Kolleg) support interdisciplinary research projects carried out by several working groups at a number of different research organisations in Germany and abroad. The programme offers members of the research network the freedom to autonomously determine their own research programmes. Members of the cluster regularly meet at the foundation.

As part of the programme, Daimler und Benz Stiftung issues regular calls with different thematic focus areas.

The topic of the new call is ‘The Role and Significance of Experiential Knowledge in the Age of Artificial Intelligence‘.

Funding is provided for interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary and, where appropriate, cross-border research consortia that systematically investigate and document the potential of experiential knowledge in an increasingly digitized, data-driven, and automated world.

Project ideas can come from various fields of application in which implicit knowledge plays a key role, such as industrial production, nursing, agriculture, skilled trades or disaster control. Of particular interest is how experiential knowledge works in critical decision-making situations, which formats and methods of transfer have proven successful (eg learning partnerships, simulations, case studies) and how it can be secured, communicated and meaningfully supplemented in combination with digital technologies (especially AI).

Consortia should consist of several research groups at different scientific institutions in Germany and abroad. Projects should bring together perspectives from various disciplines. This includes practically oriented cooperation with external partners such as companies, vocational training institutes, or public institutes in order to ensure the relevance, transferability, and sustainability of the research results.

Proposals may be submitted by independent research group leaders, professors and junior professors at universities and non-profit, non-educational research institutions in Germany.

A grant of up to €1.5 million is provided for a period of three years.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 31 October 2025.