Impact AI Fellowship 2027 in Berlin, Germany (€5,000 Stipend)

Overview

Impact AI Fellowship 2027 in Berlin, Germany (€5,000 Stipend)

AI is showing up in more and more parts of daily life, but we rarely stop to ask what it does to people and to the planet. The Impact AI Fellowship 2027 is built around that question. It's run by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) in Berlin, together with Greenpeace Germany and Economy for the Common Good (ECOnGOOD). Over ten weeks, fellows learn a structured way to assess AI projects and then use it on a real case.

If you work where technology, sustainability and the public interest overlap, whether as a researcher, journalist, NGO professional, public servant or someone in industry, this is a good chance to build a practical skill and get published as a lead author.

About the Fellowship

Fellows learn the Impact AI Method, a research-based framework for evaluating the societal and environmental impact of AI systems. Each fellow then carries out a full impact assessment of one AI use case: interviews, data analysis, and a final assessment report.

The programme mixes workshops, expert sessions, peer exchange and independent work, and HIIG's Impact AI research team supports fellows throughout. You can bring your own AI project if you have one, but you don't have to. HIIG runs a separate call for cases to help match fellows with suitable projects.

Programme Timeline

• Mandatory online preparatory session: 11 May 2027
• Week 1 (16–20 August 2027): In-person workshops in Berlin on the method and interview preparation
• Weeks 2–6 (23 August – 1 October 2027): Independent research with weekly check-ins, remote work possible
• Week 7 (4–8 October 2027): In-person workshops in Berlin to present and discuss results
• Weeks 8–10 (11–22 October 2027): Finalising the assessment and writing the report

Weeks 1 and 7 are full-time and in person in Berlin. The other weeks can be part-time and remote, and the exact arrangement is agreed with each fellow.

Why This Fellowship Stands Out

Most AI programmes focus on building the technology. This one looks at its consequences. You come away with a method you can keep using in your own work, a published report with your name on it as lead author, and connections with people across research, activism and policy. For anyone in the Global South working on responsible tech, climate or digital rights, it's a solid way into Berlin's internet and society research community.

Eligibility

• Applicants should work in academia, journalism, civil society, public institutions or companies working on AI, sustainability or the public interest
• A master's degree is generally expected, but applicants without one can still apply if their experience is equivalent
• Research experience or professional expertise in AI, sustainability or the public interest, or a position in an organisation where you can keep using the method afterwards
• A real interest in research and the ability to learn and apply a detailed method carefully
• Openness to interdisciplinary work and the ability to work independently and reliably
• You don't need an academic publication record
• Fellows must attend all in-person sessions and regular online check-ins, and will sign a fellowship contract

Benefits / Funding

• A €5,000 stipend for the ten-week period (this covers any taxes or social security costs in your home country)
• Support with travel and accommodation for the Berlin sessions, decided individually and depending on capacity
• Full training in the Impact AI Method
• Workshops led by researchers and practitioners
• One-on-one supervision from the Impact AI research team
• An interdisciplinary peer-learning group
• Lead authorship of a published case report
• Chances for further collaboration and publication based on your case study

Note that health insurance, visa fees and meals are not covered, although HIIG may consider other necessary costs in exceptional cases.

Required Documents

Combine everything into a single file:

1. CV (maximum 4 pages)
2. Motivation letter (maximum 2 pages), covering your level of AI expertise, your organisational background, and your organisation's possible motivation for taking part
3. Description of your proposed AI project (maximum 2 pages, only if you have one)

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the online form on the official HIIG page. Before you apply, it's worth joining one of the optional online information sessions. You don't need to register, and the Zoom link is on the official page:

• 10 November 2026, 10:00 am CET
• 17 November 2026, 3:00 pm CET

Important Dates

Deadline: 15 January 2027.