30,000 € Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship 2026: Fully Funded

Applications for the Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship 2026 are now available. The Research Institute for Sustainability at GFZ which is called RIFS is located in Potsdam Germany. It focuses on sustainability and changing society for a better future. The institute does this by combining different kinds of knowledge through research that involves many fields and works with people outside academia. The Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship helps people who care deeply about sustainable development. It aims to connect science politics and society more closely. This fellowship is named after Prof Dr Klaus Töpfer. He was the first director of the IASS which later became RIFS. His work inspired the focus on bridging gaps between research and real-world action.

Key points:

• The institute is in Potsdam Germany.
• It studies sustainability and how society can transform.
• Uses teamwork across disciplines and with communities.
• The fellowship supports individuals working on sustainability.
• Honors Prof Dr Klaus Töpfer who founded the original institute.

Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship Summary

Also See: Switzerland ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025/26

Fellowship Benefits

• Monthly Stipend: Regular financial support during the fellowship period.
• Additional Living Expense Compensation: For extra costs incurred while residing in Germany.
• Flexible Funding: Up to 30,000 € for:
  • Travel expenses
  • Publication fees
  • Workshop organization
  • Artistic production costs

Purpose and Goals

The Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship helps mid-career professionals grow by doing the following:

• Being Change Makers: They use their over ten years of work in sustainable development to run projects that create a strong effect.
• Bringing New Ideas: They add creative solutions from areas like science, arts, civil society, business, and politics.
• Working Across Cultures: They make projects stronger by using skills learned in different countries and cultures.

Fellowship Details

• Duration: It lasts one year starting early in 2026.
• Flexible Schedule: The program can adjust to the person’s needs. It can be split into parts if required.

Also Check: Youth Biosecurity Fellowship 2025 by United Nations

Eligibility Criteria

• People from any country can apply.
• Everyone is welcome no matter their ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, age, disability or other background.
• You must be a mid-career professional with at least ten years of work related to sustainable development.
• You must show you can act as a change agent who connects science policy and society.
• You need work experience in different countries and cultures.
• Open to people from science, arts, civil, society, business, politics or other areas of society.
• You should bring new ideas from your area of work.
• Your project must tackle a major sustainability challenge like new methods or issues people ignore.
• It must have a long-term effect even after the fellowship ends.
• You must stay in Potsdam Germany for the fellowship.
• You can split your time into parts if needed.
• Those with severe disabilities get priority if they meet the requirements.

Required Documents

• Motivation Letter: 6,500 characters max.
• Project Proposal: 15,000 characters + references
• CV: 10,000 characters + key publications
• Two Recommendation Letters

Application Process for the Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship

Interested applicants can apply online by submitting application for the Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship. Fill the application form with the needed documents and apply now.

Apply Now For The Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship 2025