To mark its 75th anniversary, the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (FCI – Fund of the Chemical Industry) has launched a new funding initiative to enhance higher education in chemistry and related disciplines in Germany. The special funding programme, worth €2 million in total, aims to support the integration of data science into chemistry and chemical engineering curricula at universities and universities of applied sciences.

Grants of up to €100,000 per institution are available for projects over a three-year period. Funded activities may include the development of lectures, internships, training courses, talk series, digital teaching materials, and summer or winter schools. Both in-person and digital formats are eligible. Projects should be exemplary in nature and aligned with industry requirements, focusing on topics such as chemical databases, big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, research data management, and programming fundamentals for chemists.

Applications may be submitted by university teachers at universities and universities of applied sciences in Germany who are working in relevant fields. This includes W2, W3, junior professors or junior research group leaders. Institutions must contribute 20% co-funding. Only one application per university is permitted.

The application deadline is 15 October 2025.