The IPAI Foundation Science Residency AI Fellowship for 2026 is one of the most competitive programs in Europe. It is in Heilbronn Germany and available for researchers who are ready to turn advanced AI ideas into real world results. This is a one year full time residency. Fellows have the freedom to choose their own research topic. They get high level funding and modern research tools. They also get direct connections to leaders in industry and government. The program focuses strongly on teamwork and societal impact. It is made for scientists who want to move AI forward. The goal is to take AI out of theory and put it into practice.
IPAI Foundation AI Fellowship Summary
| Country | Germany |
| Place | Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), Heilbronn |
| Level | One-year full-time research residency |
| Salary | €88,200 per year |
| Research Budget | Up to €200,000 |
| Deadline | 4 January 2026 |
About the IPAI Foundation AI Fellowship
IPAI is one of Europe’s biggest AI centres. It has more than 60 companies universities and government groups working together. You get huge computers, special AI labs and people who know business and law. The fellowship started to bring the best brains to make AI that is safe useful and fair. Past fellows worked on health robots better language models, AI for climate and many other things. You choose your own project and they give you everything you need.
Also Check: Oxford Visiting Fellowship in AI Ethics 2026
Fellowship Benefits
You get paid like a real job plus extra money.
- Full salary €88,200 every year (paid monthly).
- Free help to move to Germany (visa flights finding house).
- Up to €200,000 just for your research (GPUs travel conferences building prototypes).
- Office desk and co-working space in modern building.
- Family support if you bring husband wife or kids.
- Personal mentor from science and from business.
- Unlimited use of super computers and AI labs.
- Meet founders investors and government people.
- Join weekly groups on LLMs agents MLOps and data.
- After one year you stay in the alumni club for future jobs and projects. Many fellows start companies or get professor jobs after this.
Eligibility Criteria
You must have:
- A finished PhD OR at least three years of real AI research work.
- Background in computer science engineering medicine psychology law or any field with AI.
- Strong papers projects or code that people know.
- Ready to live and work full time in Heilbronn for one year.
- A project idea that can change the world (health climate fairness safety anything).
- Want to share your final paper with everyone (not secret). Open to every country and every age.
Also See: Knight Science Journalism Fellowship 2026 in USA
Required Documents
You send everything online.
- Your CV with all papers awards and projects.
- Project proposal (explain what you will do why it matters how much money you need and what tools).
- Copies of your degree or work proof.
- Two reference letters (people who know your research).
- Short video or motivation letter (optional but helps). All files in PDF and clear English or German.
Deadline
- Applications open: 3 November 2025
- Last date: 4 January 2026 (midnight German time)
- Pitch days: February–March 2026
- Final results: April 2026
- Fellowship starts: October 2026 (or a bit later if you need visa time)
How to Apply For IPAI Foundation AI Fellowship
They have three easy steps.
- From 3 November 2025 go to the IPAI portal and make account.
- Upload all documents before 4 January 2026.
- If they like your idea you get invited to a pitch day (online or in person).
- You talk 15 minutes about your project and answer questions.
- Best ones get the fellowship and start planning the move. They pick around 15–20 fellows every year.