Einstein Foundation Berlin
The Einstein Foundation Berlin is a non-profit research funding foundation established in 2009 by the State of Berlin, administering ten competitive grant programs and eight thematic Einstein Centers that have supported over 250 researchers across Berlin's universities and research institutes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Einstein Foundation Berlin does
Einstein Foundation Berlin is a non-profit research funding foundation (rechtsfähige Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) established in 2009 by the State of Berlin with an initial 5 million EUR endowment. Its core function is to finance scientific excellence in Berlin through ten competitive grant instruments spanning the full academic career ladder — from Einstein Postdoctoral Grant and Einstein Guest Researcher (Academic Freedom) to Einstein-Professur, Einstein Visiting Fellow, Einstein Research Unit (BUA), Einstein Center, Einstein-Zirkel, and the Einstein Berlin/HUJI Forschungsvorhaben. As of 2024, the foundation had funded over 250 researchers and operated 8 thematic Einstein Centers covering 3R, Chronoi, Digital Future, Early Disease Interception, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Population Diversity, and Youth Mental Health. Applications are evaluated by an independent Scientific Commission.
The foundation's revenue model is a hybrid of public appropriations and philanthropic capital. The Land Berlin provides annual state funding for operations and a matching-funds mechanism (50 cents per privately raised euro), which produces a 1.5x multiplier on private donations. The Damp Stiftung / Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft serves as the anchor private donor at up to 3 million EUR annually since 2014 and underwrites the 500,000 EUR Einstein Foundation Award prize money since 2021. In 2024, total funding received was approximately 26.3 million EUR and statutory expenditures 29.1 million EUR, with an administrative cost ratio of just 3.5%. The foundation operates with a small head office (8-10 FTE plus 2 student assistants and ~37 governance volunteers) under Managing Director Dr. Thorsten Wilhelmy, and supplements its funding mission with the annual ALBERT science journal and the #AskDifferent podcast.
The foundation's customer base is concentrated exclusively in the Berlin research ecosystem — Charité, FU Berlin, HU Berlin, TU Berlin, UdK Berlin, and the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften — with international extensions via the Berlin University Alliance, Oxford, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It also runs the annual Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research (Individual, Early Career, and Team categories). It has no subsidiaries, no equity fundraising, no commercial product, and no disclosed AI/technology capability, functioning purely as a public-purpose grant-making and recognition body.
Einstein Foundation Berlin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Einstein Foundation Berlin
- Legal name
- Einstein Stiftung Berlin
- Website
- https://einsteinfoundation.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Einstein Foundation Berlin is a non-profit research funding foundation established in 2009 by the State of Berlin, administering ten competitive grant programs and eight thematic Einstein Centers that have supported over 250 researchers across Berlin's universities and research institutes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Einstein Foundation Berlin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Research Funding
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)
Keywords
Where Einstein Foundation Berlin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Einstein Foundation Berlin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Others, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- State Funding from Land Berlin: Annual state funding provided by the State of Berlin for operations and promotional activities, in addition to the initial 5 million euro endowment provided in 2009.
- Matching Funds: For every euro raised privately, the foundation receives 50 cents from the State of Berlin as matching funds.
- Private Donations and Endowments: Private donations from individuals and organizations such as the Damp Stiftung/Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft, which provides up to 3 million euros annually. Private funds come without deduction of administration costs and are used 100% for funding purposes.
- Private Engagement (Sponsorship): Dr. Walter Wübben established the Damp Stiftung and since 2014 has been funding the Einstein Foundation with private funds of up to 3 million euros annually, focusing on Einstein Visiting Fellow Program, Einstein-Profil-Professuren and the Einstein Foundation Award (500,000 euros per year since 2021).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Einstein Foundation Berlin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Einstein Foundation Berlin is a nonprofit foundation under German civil law that promotes science and research in and for Berlin at an international top level. It provides competitive research funding through ten grant programs covering professorships, visiting fellowships, postdoctoral grants, guest researchers, research units, and thematic Einstein Centers. It also operates an annual science journal (ALBERT), a podcast (#AskDifferent), and the Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research.
Product overview
The Einstein Foundation Berlin operates as a nonprofit science funding organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of ten grant programs supporting researchers across all career stages (from postdoctoral to professorship), eight thematic Einstein Centers, an annual science journal (ALBERT), a monthly podcast (#AskDifferent), and the Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research. The primary digital touchpoints are the institutional website at www.einsteinfoundation.de and the award submission portal at award.einsteinfoundation.de. No commercial software product, API, or AI-powered product offering exists.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ALBERT: Annual science journal published by the Einstein Foundation covering research topics in Berlin's labs, institutes, Einstein Centers, and Excellence Clusters. Published annually with each edition focusing on a specific research field.
- #AskDifferent
- Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research
Products and services
- Einstein Funding Programs Ten distinct competitive grant instruments covering the full spectrum of academic career stages, from postdoctoral researchers to full professors, plus international visiting fellowships and thematic centers. Applications are reviewed by an independent Scientific Commission. Targeted at Berlin-based researchers and academic institutions.
- Einstein Centers Eight thematic research clusters funded by the Einstein Foundation, each addressing a defined research field through multi-institutional collaboration among Berlin's universities and research partners.
- Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research An annual prize awarded to individuals or teams for outstanding contributions to research quality, reproducibility, and integrity. The Individual Award carries 500,000 EUR in prize money; the Early Career Award is co-granted with the Berlin Institute of Health.
- ALBERT Science Journal An annual print and digital science journal produced by the Einstein Foundation. Each edition focuses on a specific research field and takes readers on a tour through Berlin's labs, institutes, Einstein Centers, and Excellence Clusters.
- #AskDifferent Podcast A monthly podcast series in which Einstein Foundation-funded researchers and affiliated scientists share their career stories, research insights, and perspectives on scientific inquiry. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 250 researchers funded to date
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Einstein Foundation Berlin
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Einstein Foundation Berlin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Einstein Foundation Berlin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Land Berlin (Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege)coreThe foundation was established in 2009 by the State of Berlin. The state provides annual funding for operations and promotional activities, plus matching funds (50 cents per privately raised euro). This is the founding partner and primary public funder.
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlincoreMajor university medical institution in Berlin eligible for funding. Hosts Einstein Visiting Fellows and is a key research partner.
- Freie Universität BerlincoreMajor Berlin university eligible for funding. Hosts Einstein Professors and Visiting Fellows.
- Humboldt-Universität zu BerlincoreMajor Berlin university eligible for funding. Hosts multiple Einstein Fellows including Einstein Professors.
- Technische Universität BerlincoreMajor Berlin university eligible for funding. Cooperates on events such as ECDF lecture series.
- Universität der Künste BerlincoreBerlin arts university eligible for funding programs.
- Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der WissenschaftencoreHosts the foundation's postal address and is a key non-university research partner.
- The Hebrew University of JerusalemcoreInternational partner for Einstein Berlin/HUJI Forschungsvorhaben, supporting joint research projects.
- Berlin Institute of Health at CharitécoreCo-grants the Einstein Foundation Early Career Award with the foundation.
- Max-Planck-GesellschaftminorNon-university research institution in Berlin network, eligible for funding.
- Fraunhofer-GesellschaftminorNon-university research institution in Berlin network, eligible for funding.
- Helmholtz-GemeinschaftminorNon-university research association in Berlin network, eligible for funding.
- Leibniz-GemeinschaftminorNon-university research association in Berlin network, eligible for funding.
- StifterverbandminorMembership organization for science funding and education.
- Bundesverband Deutscher StiftungenminorIndustry association membership for German foundations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Einstein Foundation Berlin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- VolkswagenStiftung: Germany's largest science foundation (endowment ~€5B), funding research across all disciplines with international reach. Direct functional peer to Einstein Foundation in mission (independent science funding), but operates at substantially larger scale and national scope rather than Berlin-focused.
- Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest charitable foundations (endowment ~£30B) funding science and health research globally, with major prize programs. Comparable as an independent science funder with rigorous peer review, but operates at vastly greater scale and broader geographic scope.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Large US biomedical research organization funding investigator awards and research infrastructure, with a focus on enabling top-tier individual scientists. Comparable as an independent science funder with strong brand and rigorous review, but specialized in biomedical research and US-based.
- Simons Foundation: US private foundation funding mathematics, physical sciences, and life sciences research. Comparable as a large independent science funder with thematic research programs; substantially larger endowment and broader scope than Einstein Foundation.
Direct peers
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation: German federal foundation funding international research collaboration and hosting international researchers in Germany via fellowship programs (Humboldt Research Fellowship, etc.). Closest direct peer to Einstein Foundation in combining German government backing, international fellowship programs, and science brand.
- Stifterverband: Membership organization of German foundations and companies supporting science, education, and innovation. Peer in German science philanthropy infrastructure; Einstein Foundation is itself a member. Comparable in focus on coordinating and advocating for science funding in Germany.
- Stiftung Charité: Private Berlin-based foundation funding life sciences and biomedical innovation, with a focus on academic medicine. Direct peer given shared Berlin geography, life-sciences overlap (Charité university hospital, Einstein Center 3R, Youth Mental Health), and similar private-foundation structure.
Regional players
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité: Berlin-based translational research institute jointly funded by federal and state governments. Regional peer in Berlin's health-research ecosystem; Einstein Foundation co-grants its Early Career Award with BIH, evidencing direct partnership and overlapping mission in health research funding.
- Berlin University Alliance: Strategic alliance of FU Berlin, HU Berlin, TU Berlin, and Charité — host institutions for many Einstein programs. Direct regional partner: Einstein Foundation funds the Einstein Research Unit (BUA) and operates within the same Berlin research ecosystem.
Emerging players
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative: US philanthropic vehicle funding biomedical research and science education with a strong technology-enabled approach. Comparable as a modern, branded, large-scale science funder, though with a different geographic and strategic focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Einstein Foundation Berlin social profiles
Digital presenceEinstein Foundation Berlin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Einstein Foundation Berlin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Einstein Foundation Berlin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Einstein Foundation Berlin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Einstein Foundation Berlin
What does Einstein Foundation Berlin do?
The Einstein Foundation Berlin is a nonprofit foundation under German civil law that promotes science and research in and for Berlin at an international top level. It provides competitive research funding through ten grant programs covering professorships, visiting fellowships, postdoctoral grants, guest researchers, research units, and thematic Einstein Centers. It also operates an annual science journal (ALBERT), a podcast (#AskDifferent), and the Einstein Foundation Award for Promoting Quality in Research.
Is Einstein Foundation Berlin a public or private company?
Einstein Foundation Berlin is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Einstein Foundation Berlin founded?
Einstein Foundation Berlin was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Einstein Foundation Berlin based?
Einstein Foundation Berlin is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Einstein Foundation Berlin make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. State Funding from Land Berlin is the primary driver. The others are matching Funds, private Donations and Endowments and private Engagement (Sponsorship).
Who are Einstein Foundation Berlin's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are VolkswagenStiftung, Wellcome Trust, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Simons Foundation. Direct peers are Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Stifterverband and Stiftung Charité. Regional players are Berlin Institute of Health at Charité and Berlin University Alliance. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is listed as an emerging player.
Does Einstein Foundation Berlin have an API?
No public API is recorded for Einstein Foundation Berlin.
What industry is Einstein Foundation Berlin in?
Einstein Foundation Berlin's product category is Research Funding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAI, Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.