Applications are now open for the Impact AI Fellowship 2027 at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG) in Berlin, offering a fixed €5,000 stipend for a ten-week programme focused on assessing the real-world societal and environmental impacts of “AI for good” applications.
This fellowship forms part of HIIG’s transdisciplinary Impact AI research project, developed in partnership with Greenpeace Germany and the Economy for the Common Good (ECOnGOOD). The project created the Impact AI Method a holistic, structured framework for evaluating AI systems already in operation. It examines contributions to sustainability and the public interest across multiple dimensions, including environmental effects, social outcomes, ethical considerations, transparency, and potential unintended consequences. The full method is openly available, and the fellowship trains participants to apply it rigorously to concrete cases.
Programme Overview and Structure
The fellowship runs from 16 August to 22 October 2027. Fellows evaluate one specific AI use case promoted as serving society or sustainability. Activities combine intensive training, independent research, peer exchange, and supervised reporting.
Key milestones include:
· Mandatory online preparatory session: 11 May 2027 (interview preparation begins early because of lead-time needs).
· Week 1 (16–20 August): Full-time in-person workshops in Berlin covering the Impact AI Method and interview preparation.
· Weeks 2–6 (23 August–1 October): Independent research phase with weekly online check-ins and workshops; remote work is possible.
· Week 7 (4–8 October): Full-time in-person workshops in Berlin for presenting and discussing assessment results.
· Weeks 8–10 (11–22 October): Finalising the assessment and writing the impact report.
Participation in all in-person sessions and regular online check-ins is mandatory. The two Berlin weeks require a full-time commitment; other periods allow negotiated part-time or remote arrangements provided they remain realistic for the programme goals. Fellows sign a contract committing to the activities and outputs.
What Fellows Receive
· Comprehensive training in the Impact AI Method.
· Workshops led by researchers and practitioners.
· Individual supervision by the Impact AI research team.
· An interdisciplinary peer-learning environment.
· Lead authorship of a case report supporting the research team.
· Opportunities for future collaboration and publication based on the case-study data.
· A fixed stipend of €5,000 for the ten-week period (this amount includes any applicable tax or social security costs in the fellow’s country of origin).
· Financial support for travel and accommodation for the in-person Berlin weeks, provided on an individual basis and subject to available capacity. Fellows cover other expenses such as health insurance, visas, and meals; exceptional additional support may be considered in special cases.
Who Should Apply
HIIG seeks applicants from academia, journalism, civil society organisations, public institutions, and private companies working with AI, sustainability, or the public interest. A master’s degree is required; relevant experience is beneficial but an extensive academic publication record is not mandatory. Successful candidates demonstrate a strong interest in research, openness to learning and rigorously applying a complex interdisciplinary method, the ability to work independently, and a high degree of commitment and reliability. Diverse academic, professional, and personal backgrounds are explicitly welcomed.
Fellows may propose a specific AI project they would like to assess (optional). HIIG also runs a parallel call for “AI for good” projects and can help match fellows with suitable cases that are already operational and intended to serve societal or sustainability goals.
How to Apply
Submit applications via the online form on the official HIIG page using the Link provided 👉 Here
Combine the following into a single file:
· CV (maximum 4 pages).
· Letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages) covering AI expertise, organisational background, and any organisational motivation.
· Description of a proposed AI project (maximum 2 pages), if applicable.
Application deadline
15 January 2027. Information sessions have been noted around early-to-mid November 2026 in secondary sources; check the official call for exact details and joining links.
Why This Fellowship Matters
As AI systems proliferate under banners of social good monitoring biodiversity, tracking emissions, combating disinformation, or supporting democratic processes—questions about their actual net impact remain under-examined.
Energy and resource consumption, labour conditions in data supply chains, transparency gaps, and unintended side effects can undermine claimed benefits.
The Impact AI Method and this fellowship generate independent, evidence-based insights that can inform better design, deployment, policy, and public debate. Fellows gain practical skills in rigorous impact assessment while contributing directly to an open research effort aimed at more sustainable and publicly beneficial AI.
This opportunity is particularly relevant for mid-career professionals and researchers seeking hands-on experience at the intersection of AI ethics, sustainability, and public-interest technology in a collaborative European research environment. Early preparation of the motivation letter and CV, along with calendar blocking for the mandatory dates, is advisable given the competitive and structured nature of the programme.
