Facts and Figures

Excellence Strategy, Clusters of Excellence, and TUM Budget

After having played a central part in the first two rounds of the Excellence Initiative (2006–2012 and 2012–2019), the TUM-IAS became a permanent institution of TUM, financed out of the general TUM budget.

In addition, the IAS receives funding from the current Excellence Strategy, thanks to its Anna Boyksen and Albrecht Struppler Clinician Scientist Fellowships and Philosopher in Residence program. In addition, the TUM-IAS is collaboratingwith the Cluster of Excellence e-conversion, which finances several TUM-IAS@e conversion Hans Fischer Senior Fellowships. This program currently funds a total of three fellowships.

Third-party funding

TÜV Süd Foundation

In 2023 and 2024, three Philosophers in Residence were appointed – the TÜV SÜD Foundation and the Excellence Strategy fund this new one-year Fellowship. One more Philosopher in Residence can be appointed in 2025.

The TUM-IAS has a long collaboration history with the TÜV SÜD Foundation. After funding short-term Visiting Professorships for several years, the foundation funded two Hans Fischer (Senior) Fellows in 2016 and 2019 respectively. With its support for these Fellowships, the foundation aimed to promote energy
efficiency and climate protection research, test procedures, product and plant safety, and compliance management.

Siemens AG

Since 2018, Siemens AG has provided TUM-IAS with a total of EUR 4.6 million over two funding periods, enabling the appointment of two additional Hans Fischer (Senior) Fellowships annually. After the first six Siemens-funded fellowships concentrated on Simulation and Digital Twin and Future of Autonomous Systems/Robotics, the focus is now on the Industrial Metaverse. So far, 10 Fellowships funded by Siemens AG have been appointed at TUM-IAS.

Georg Nemetschek Institute Artificial Intelligence for the Built World

Since 2022, the TUM Georg Nemetschek Institute has funded one Hans Fischer (Senior) Fellowship per year, focusing on Artificial Intelligence for the Built World. A third Fellowship was awarded in 2024 (see Welcoming Our New Fellows).

Dieter Schwarz Foundation

Since 2024, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation has funded two new Fellowships at TUM-IAS each year. The Dieter Schwarz Fellowship aligns with the existing Hans Fischer (Senior) Fellowships, attracting renowned international scientists from outside TUM who intend to explore innovative, high-risk topics in the key areas researched at the TUM Campus Heilbronn. Additionally, the Dieter Schwarz Courageous Research Grant, endowed with one million euros, has been awarded annually since 2024. It supports outstanding international scientists from outside TUM who intend to use groundbreaking technology to propose a radical solution to a major challenge in the area of “Digitization and Sustainability.”