One of the strengths of the universities of applied sciences (UAS) is application-oriented research. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research funds R & D projects at universities of applied sciences to strengthen research and improve the research framework conditions for scientists. Not least in order to contribute to transferability and cooperation within the higher-education system, specially qualified young scientists at UAS are given the opportunity to conduct research and earn a doctorate within the framework of a cooperative doctoral programme with a university.

Due to the time required to complete cooperative doctorates in the engineering sciences, the maximum funding period is four years.

With the call of 30 November 2015, IngenieurNachwuchs also offers, for the first time, the opportunity to optimise the frame conditions for research at UAS and within the R & D projects.

Since the IngenieurNachwuchs funding was introduced in 2006 as part of the Research at Universities of Applied Sciences programme, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has approved funding of around 121 million euros for 356 projects (as of 22 November 2017).