Finances

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, funded from the general TUM budget. In addition, the TUM-IAS continually seeks to secure funding from other sources. In 2025, 52% of the overall Fellowships expenditure was financed from other sources than the TUM budget.

Excellence Strategy and Clusters of Excellence

The TUM-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 collaborated with the Cluster of Excellence e-conversion, which financed a total of three TUM-IAS@e-conversion Hans Fischer Senior Fellowships during its funding period (2019–2025).

TÜV SÜD Foundation

In 2025, a fourth Philosopher in Residence was appointed—the TÜV SÜD Foundation and the Excellence Strategy fund this one-year Fellowship. In 2025, the TÜV SÜD Foundation also committed to financing a new initiative: a Hans Fischer Fellowship focusing on the research field “Digitalization in Engineering”, open exclusively to early-career female researchers.

Siemens AG

Since 2018, Siemens AG has provided TUM-IAS with a total of EUR 4.97 million over two funding periods, enabling the appointment of two additional Hans Fischer (Senior) Fellows annually. The Fellowships are thematically focused on Simulation and Digital Twins, the Future of Autonomous Systems and Robotics, and the Industrial Metaverse. So far, 12 Fellowships funded by Siemens AG have been appointed at TUM-IAS.

TUM 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, which focuses on Artificial Intelligence for the Built World. A fourth Fellowship was awarded in 2025 (see Welcoming Our New Fellows).

Dieter Schwarz Foundation

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 “Digitalization and Sustainability”. In 2025, as a special exception, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation agreed to fund not one but two Dieter Schwarz Courageous Research Grants, awarded to scientists from Australia and the US. In addition, since 2024, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation has funded one Dieter Schwarz Fellowship at TUM-IAS each year. This new 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.