The majority of financial resources go into project support, followed by scientific events.

“History, language and culture” is the biggest area of support for the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. Usually more than half of total financial resources apportioned flow into this area. The areas of “State, economy and society” and “Medicine and natural sciences” account for approximately 40 percent of the total financial resources apportioned each year. The special programs are the smallest part of support for the Fritz Thyssen Foundation.

Funds granted in 2025

According to areas of support

• History, language and culture: € 7.0 m
• State, economy and society: € 4.1 m
• Medicine and natural sciences: € 2.1 m
• Other: € 0.1 m

According to types of support

• Projects: € 11.2 m
• Stipends and travel subsidies: € 0.2 m
• Conferences: €  1.5 m
• Other: € 0.4 m

The foundation is grateful for suggestions and applications, but also encourages initiatives, specifies special focal areas in its fields of support and encourages researchers interested in particular topics with established credentials to perform research.  By the same token it welcomes the inclusion of foreign researchers’ work and ideas in its support-related activities. The Foundation conducts scientific symposiums and lecture series and has planned and organised a host of model programmes for the support of especially gifted and qualified junior researchers.

The foundation does not have any research institutes or teaching facilities of its own. Nor does it generally support projects in fields from which it generates its earnings.