In the European Union (EU), research policy and research funding are shaped at both national and EU level. EU institutions, EU Member States and other associated countries work together, with the involvement of the research community, towards the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA). To this end, through the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation,(externer Link) they develop an additional supranational funding instrument and establish EU-wide framework conditions and standards for research.

Tasks and objectives of the DFG

As the largest research funding organisation and central self-governing organisation for research in Germany, the DFG is also engaged at European level on behalf of the needs of the German research community. The DFG’s Strategy for Europe(Download) (March 2024) describes the guiding principles and objectives of its European activities. From the DFG’s perspective, the European Research Area is particularly strong when, alongside the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation, there are efficient and autonomous national research and funding systems with their own respective priorities, funding approaches and cooperation schemes. The DFG

• promotes bilateral and multilateral cooperation in curiosity-driven research between researchers in Germany and partners in other European countries(interner Link),
• contributes to an attractive design of the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation for the research community and participates in strategic funding initiatives within the programme (Biodiversa+(externer Link), EP BrainHealth(externer Link), ERDERA(externer Link)),
• adopts positions on new initiatives in European research policy as well as on regulatory and legislative measures at EU level with implications for research, and
• participates in thematic initiatives for the further development of the European Research Area, for example within the framework of the ERA Policy Agenda(externer Link), the “Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment”(externer Link) (CoARA), the European Open Science Cloud (via the EOSC Association(externer Link)) and Open Research Europe(externer Link).

For this purpose, the DFG is represented in Brussels and works closely with other national and European research organisations – for example, with partners in the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany, and as a member of Science Europe, the association of 40 European research performing and funding organisations from 30 countries, based in Brussels.

Advice on EU Research Funding

The DFG funds the “European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations”(externer Link) (KoWi), with offices in Bonn and Brussels. 

KoWi advises researchers from Germany on applying for research projects within the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation. Together with the EU Office of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space(externer Link) (BMFTR), KoWi also supports the National Contact Point ERC(externer Link). 

Additional National Contact Points of the EU Office provide information on further research and funding opportunities within the EU Framework Programmes.