Call for Applications: Open Science Grants 2026
The University of Mannheim emphasises transparent and reproducible research and supports these goals through the Open Science Grants to incentivise engagement with Open Science practices (such as, but not limited to, pre-registration, open data, open materials and open source).
The Open Science Office invites applications for Open Science Grants for research projects, infrastructure projects and events related to Open Science. The Open Science aspects can be realised in the thematic orientation of the project, the methods used, or the objective.
The Open Science Grants are aimed at researchers from all faculties, departments and scientific institutions at the University of Mannheim. The following are eligible to apply: officially accepted doctoral candidates, postdocs and (junior) professors who are predominantly employed at the University of Mannheim. Applications can be submitted for up to 6,500 euros for a project duration of up to one year.
Applicants who are new to Open Science are also strongly encouraged to apply. The Open Science Office provides information and regular support in the implementation of Open Science practices and will meet with applicants during the project.
An optional information event for prospective applications for the Open Science Grants will take place on July 9th 2026 between 14:00 – 15:00. You will learn more about the call, get tips for research funding proposal writing and ask further questions (register here).
Evaluation Criteria for Open Science Grants
Applications are evaluated on the following criteria:
- Research Quality (40%)
- Content Quality (background, motivation, etc.)
- Implications for theory, practice and society
- Quality of writing and presentation
- Open Science Implementation (40%)
- Open Science Methods/
Reflection on the use of Open Science in your project - Contribution to the University of Mannheim as an Open Science stakeholder (where relevant)
- Open Science Methods/
- Use of funds (20%)
Application Requirements
To apply, please submit the following documents for the internal university selection process:
- completed application form (PDF, 175 kB)
- short project description (1–2 pages)
- For research projects include e.g., background, hypotheses, research design, references.
- For research projects a Data Management Plan must be submitted on MADataPlan and attached with the other documents (see guidance here (PDF, 1 MB))
- For infrastructure projects include e.g., background, motivation, infrastructure architecture, references
- For events include e.g., motivation, plan of the event, potential speakers/
participants, references.
- For research projects include e.g., background, hypotheses, research design, references.
The application deadline is 12th August 2026, 23:59 (CEST).
Please submit your application by e-mail to david.morganuni-mannheim.de with the subject ‘Open Science Grant Application 2026.
Previous Open Science Grant Application Rounds
A total of 66 applications were submitted for the calls for proposals for the previous Open Science Grants. Of these, 21 projects were funded with an Open Science Grant and funds totalling 97.619 EURs were approved.
| Application Round | Number of Applications | Number of Awarded Applicants | Overall Funding |
| 2021 | 20 | 8 | 28.737 € |
| 2022 | 16 | 4 | 18.440 € |
| 2024 | 15 | 5 | 25.871 € |
| 2025 | 15 | 4 | 24,571 € |