Prospect Utopia
The Gerda Henkel Foundation's 'Prospect Utopia' grant funds postdocs exploring how scholarship shapes visions of the future and utopia through interdisciplinary, innovative research.
Funder: Gerda Henkel Foundation
Due Dates: April 15, 2026 (Initial project outline submission deadline; expired)
Funding Amounts: Up to €50,000 per project; 50 projects funded; flexible use of funds; no set project duration.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral researchers investigating the role of scholarship in shaping visions of the future, utopia, and societal coexistence.
Key Information: Open to all nationalities and institutions; postdoctoral status required; interdisciplinary and experimental formats encouraged.
Description
To mark its 50th anniversary in 2026, the Gerda Henkel Foundation launched the "Prospect Utopia" funding programme. This initiative invites postdoctoral researchers from all disciplines supported by the Foundation to explore how their fields contribute to understanding, imagining, and shaping the future. Projects are encouraged to reflect on historical and contemporary visions of utopia, the communicative and consensus-building role of scholarship, and innovative approaches to future societal practice. The programme is designed to support experimental, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research formats, with an emphasis on making research outcomes accessible to audiences beyond academia and fostering new ways of thinking about the future.
