Applicants must meet the following mandatory requirements:

• Enrolment in a Master's or PhD program or degree (Master's/PhD) completed no more than three years prior to the end of the application process
• A strong focus on digitalization and an interdisciplinary approach in any field of sustainability research
• No more than three years of professional experience (this excludes professional experience gained in the context of an academic degree)
• Excellent English language skills
• Significantly above average grades

No exceptions to these requirements will be accepted. Ineligible applications will be automatically disqualified.

The Digital GreenTalents competition is aimed at outstanding young scientists who are active in the field of digitalization and sustainable development and who are willing to contribute to sustainability research in Germany. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) encourages interdisciplinary approaches. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide the framework for the competition and applicants must indicate which SDGs their research is contributing to.

The competition is looking for excellent individuals with high aspirations for the future, thus it is not possible to apply as a team.

Applications can only be submitted via our online tool. Documents sent to us by email will not be accepted. Application documents should be uploaded as a single file (PDF format) and follow the guidelines provided at digitalgreentalents.de/apply. Please note that applications cannot be changed once they have been submitted, nor can missing documents be submitted after the application deadline. However, if you would like to make an important change or addition, you should submit a new application and let us know in the note field at the end of the application form that this is the current application and that the first application is invalid. 

When the application is sent, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your email address. This is very important, because without a confirmed email address the application is unfortunately invalid. Please also check your spam folder. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact us at: digitalgreentalents@ptka.kit.edu

The prestigious Digital GreenTalents program offers you the unique opportunity to become part of an exceptional global network of outstanding young minds and leading German institutions.

The 2024 Digital GreenTalents Award includes:

• A formal virtual award ceremony with your fellow GreenTalents and special guests
• A fully funded on-site research stay of up to three months at an institution or company of your choice in Germany in 2025. The research stay will be fully sponsord by the BMBF.
• Webinars with German research institutions and companies to support the organization of the research stay
• Invitation to a one-week SpringSchool during your research stay in 2025 where you will gain valuable knowledge and be part of the Digital GreenTalent community
• Exclusive access to the prestigious GreenTalents alumni network

In addition to international travel to and from the research stay, travel to and from the SpringSchool within Germany will also be funded by the BMBF.

To enter the Digital GreenTalents competition, please make sure you meet the eligibility requirements. Applications can only be submitted via our online tool, which will guide you through the application process. Please note that the application process will take some time.

The selection will be based on the applicants' achievements in the field of digitalization and sustainable development and their specific interest in working with German partners.

Normally, the quality of applicants should be clearly evident from the documentation provided. However, if there are questions about certain aspects of an applicant's education, or if several applicants have similar qualifications, we may contact the referees. They will then be asked to assist us in assessing the qualities, characteristics and skills of the person and their suitability for the Digital GreenTalents program.

You will be asked to inform your referees about the disclosure of their personal data and the possibility of being contacted by the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA).

Sometimes, you have personal qualifications, skills or experiences that you feel are important to your application and that do not fit into the other qualification sections of the application form. Examples include achievements in sports or music, community involvement or other forms of volunteer work. 

Our high-level jury of national experts in sustainability and ICT will select the 20 Digital GreenTalents from the high number of applications we expect. The main evaluation criteria are scientific and/or professional excellence, appropriate research interests and personal motivation as expressed in the application form. In addition, the jury will consider any outstanding features of the application.  

Preference will be given to applicants from countries of origin with an awareness of ethical issues in the use of AI. This includes for example nationals from member countries of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), an international initiative that aims to promote the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence in accordance with human rights, fundamental freedoms and common democratic values as expressed in the OECD Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence.

We want to ensure a fair selection and make a well-considered decision, so please understand that the selection process may take some time. The jury will meet in early September. All applicants will be notified of the results in due course. Please understand that we will not be able to give you any information about the selection until the jury has made its final decision.

It is unfortunately not possible to change a submitted application. However, if you would like to make an important change or addition, you should submit a new application and let us know in the note field at the end of the application form that this is the current application and that the first application is invalid. 

The research visit in the year following the award ceremony should last between a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 3 months. (In consultation with the research institution or the company, the research stay may be extended for up to 6 months, but the monthly stipend is limited to 3 months.)

The stay in Germany must be planned in such a way that participation in the one-week SpringSchool in April or May 2025 (tba) is possible. It is not possible to carry out the research stay at two different organizations/institutions/companies or to split the duration of the stay. In principle, research stays at all research institutions or companies in Germany that are related to digitalization and sustainability research can be funded. The awardees choose the host themselves and must obtain an official confirmation of support from the host institution.

If you are selected as a Digital GreenTalent, you will be invited to webinars with German research institutions and companies to assist you in organizing your research stay.  Possible host institutions and companies can be found in the long list of partners of the Digital GreenTech funding program (www.digitalgreentech.de). You can also take inspiration from previous competitions (www.greentalents.de).

In principle, research stays are arranged individually between the awardees and their host institutions. Please note that the minimum funding period is 2 months and the maximum 3 months. It is possible to extend the period, but no additional funding is available through the Digital GreenTalents Program.

Research stays must be completed by 2025, i.e. the stay must end no later than 31 December. It is recommended to plan the research stay so that it includes or is close to the date of the SpringSchool, as the travel costs to Germany are only covered once per talent and only the domestic travel costs in Germany are covered for the trip to the SpringSchool.

Yes, the Digital GreenTalents Award 2024 is open for German citizens or residents, in contrast to the previous Green Talents Award. However, your motivation to participitate in the programm might differ from the motivation of applicants that are interested in getting to know Germany for the first time. Therefore, there is a special section in the Application Form for applicants who are living in Germany at the time of their application.

There they can explain what motivates them to change them to take part in the program, to participate in the program, e.g. whether they already have plans where they want to spend the research stay and how these plans relate to their actual activities in Germany. 

Please note that funding for the research stay is only possible at an institution / company where you have not worked in the last 12 months.

We do not specify which level of an English test such as IELTS must be achieved. Please send us an appropriate document that proves your language skills in English. This can also be a document from your university stating that the language of instruction is English. 
In the following cases, we do not require a separate document confirming your English language skills:
- You are a native English speaker.
- You have studied for at least six months at a university in a country whose national language is English.

When the application is sent, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your email address. This is very important, because without a confirmed email address the application is unfortunately invalid. Please also check your spam folder and if there is a typo in your email address. 

If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact us at: digitalgreentalents@ptka.kit.edu

Please feel free to include maternity leave or periods of exclusive child education in your application, as this information helps us to get a complete picture of your background.

In particular, if these extend the three-year period after your last degree, please give us a note in the comments field at the end of the application form so that we can include these periods in the evaluation.