Promoting science, research and public health care in Sleep Medicine
SLEEP
EUROPE
FOUNDATION
The Sleep Europe Foundation (SEF) is a legal, non-profit foundation under German civil law based in Regensburg, Germany.
The purposes of the foundation are the promotion of science and research, as well as the advancement of public health in the field of sleep medicine. The foundation’s purpose is realized, in particular, through the awarding of research prizes and the organization and/or support of events and courses dedicated to education and further training in the field of sleep medicine.
THE Sleep Europe Foundation
Show commitment by promoting sleep science, research and health care.
Who we are
The foundation pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes. The foundation works selflessly; it does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes.
At their general assembly in September 2022 in Athens, Greece, the members of the European Sleep Research Society decided to found the Sleep Europe Foundation and to provide it with a foundation capital of a total of EUR 370,000, of which EUR 250,000 were donated as basic assets and EUR 120,000 as so-called consumption assets.
A clear majority of 83.33% of voting members supported the establishment of the Sleep Europe Foundation.
The legal establishment took place through recognition by the responsible foundation authority in October 2023.
What we stand for
The purpose of the foundation is to promote science and research as well as public health care in the field of sleep medicine. The foundation’s purpose is achieved in particular by awarding research prizes and organizing and/or promoting events and courses that serve to provide training and further education in the field of sleep medicine.
Every donation helps
To be able to fulfill our purposes, we rely on your donations and support. Please support the Sleep Europe Foundation with your donation or sponsorship and become part of our activities and projects. Above all, you will help to ensure that healthy sleep becomes a familiar topic in public health education for all generations.
SEF Applications
Our funding program
Supporting public health, innovative sleep research and advancing sleep medicine through funding, awards, and educational opportunities across Europe.
Career Development Award
Honoring of the awardees at the opening ceremony of Sleep Europe 2026!
The Sleep Europe Foundation (SEF) aims to foster networking among European laboratories and support the careers of early-stage applicants in sleep research and sleep medicine.
To serve these goals, the SEF launched the SEF Career Development Award that will be awarded to post-graduate and post-doctoral scientists aiming to conduct a collaborative project including partners from at least two countries.
The project call refers to new or ongoing projects, covering basic, translational, or clinical aspects of sleep research and sleep medicine.
We received a number of very interesting applications this year. The SEF board therefore decided that two prizes, each worth 20,000 EUR, would be awarded.
The SEF Career Development Award is sponsored by the Sleep Europe Foundation and awarded in cooperation with the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS).
Supporting public health
Healthy sleep is essential for physical and mental health, and social wellbeing.
In Europe, there is a large discrepancy between well-developed and less-developed countries considering sleep health in public health agendas. National Mental health plans including sleep
SEF will prioritize public health by supporting projects and training that promote healthy sleep and highlight sleep as a pillar of health.
SEF aims to act as a link between organizers and possible sponsors.
You are invited to submit proposals by mailing to the contact below.
Education and training
For this year, we have offered 20 travel grants for Sleep Europe 2026 (the 28th Congress of the ESRS) in Maastricht.
Priority was given to applications from early-career congress participants who are presenting their own work (via a poster or an oral presentation).
Each grant is worth 500 EUR.
In this way, we contribute to the diversity of scientific input from across European countries.
The importance of Sleep
Sleep: friend or foe
Friend or foe, sleep accompanies us all along our life from birth to death. Sleep fulfills essential functions to keep brain and body able to answer the challenges of our life.
Good sleep is important for enabling mental and physical recovery. Good sleep promotes health, quality of life and performance.
Lack of sleep and sleep disruptions lead rapidly to harmful changes in physical and psychological well-being.
Sleep is one of the most sensitive markers of health problems. Indeed, most sleep diseases can have a negative impact on mood, cognition and, in the long term, many bodily functions and life expectancy. These disorders also contribute to cardiovascular disease, strokes, diabetes and depression.
Call for finance
Financing our funding program
Discover how corporate sponsorships and donations from individuals and organisations help advance sleep research, support scientific excellence, and improve sleep health across Europe.
Corporate Sponsoring
As a corporate partner you are vital in helping us to share and promote our foundation purposes in the field of sleep medicine.
Private Donations
On the occasion of a personal event, more and more people want to ask their guests for donations for our meaningful and worthy purpose – science, research and public health in the field of good sleep and sleep disorders instead of gifts.
Corporate Donations
The main motive for becoming a donor at SEF should be your desire to support SEF in its grant and education program.
