Tandem Industry Academia (TIA) Fellow 2026
Information Session: 1 September 2026 at 9:30 AM (register here)
Call Opens: 1 September 2026
Application Deadline: 9 October 2026 at 4:00 PM (EEST)
Interview Round: Wednesday, 11 November 2026
Funding Decisions: By December 2026 at the latest
Funding Period: A 12-month working period to be completed between 1 January 2027 and 31 December 2029
TIA Fellow Funding
The Tandem Industry Academia (TIA) Fellow funding programme is intended for experienced researchers working at universities and research institutes to carry out a joint research project in collaboration with a company.
The objective of the funding is twofold: to provide the academic partner with first-hand insight into research questions that are relevant to industry and to give the company partner unique access to top-level research expertise in the selected field.
The project may consist of joint pre-competitive research and other activities supporting such research. The funding covers the salary costs of a senior researcher for a total of 12 months, which may be distributed over a period of up to three years. During the funding period, the TIA Fellow spends a period equivalent to one year at the company partner’s premises.
The funding is intended for professors (full professors and associate professors) employed in permanent positions at universities, as well as research professors and leading researchers employed by research institutes.
Application and Selection Process
- Application: Applications are submitted by the applicant (the Fellow researcher) together with the company partner and the research organisation. The funding is awarded to the research organisation, and the applicant’s employment relationship with that organisation must remain in force throughout the project.
- Evaluation: Applications are evaluated by an external expert panel that places particular emphasis on the scientific quality of the research and the practical impact of the project.
- Interviews: Based on the panel’s recommendation, the Foundation’s Board of Directors invites the highest-ranked applicants to an interview and makes the final funding decisions.
Please read the detailed application guidelines before submitting your application.

