Information for Researchers, No. 62 | July 12, 2021

DFG and NSERC Celebrate 10th CREATE-IRTG Anniversary

Third Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Third Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is pleased to announce the renewal of its international research training partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Since 2011, DFG and NSERC have provided ongoing support for a bilateral training programme and exchange of PhD students between Germany and Canada.

DFG’s International Research Training Groups (IRTG) and NSERC’s Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) have been aligned to provide an enriched training and mentoring experience for PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. The IRTG-CREATE partnership facilitates international mobility for early career researchers and fosters the development of important professional capacities. It has resulted in the establishment of eight German-Canadian joint initiatives, supporting over 250 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with collaborations between ten Canadian and ten German universities and producing over 450 publications.

In renewing their partnership, NSERC and DFG have agreed to expand the scope of their collaboration to fund joint research projects, underpinned by a streamlined application and review process. Further details will be provided in the months ahead.

This renewed DFG-NSERC partnership is one of many science and technology initiatives being celebrated as part of the campaign that marks the 50th Anniversary of the signature of the agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

“The CREATE-IRTG partnership is a great example of the close ties between Canadian and German researchers in the natural sciences and engineering. NSERC is committed to facilitating world-class training for students and postdoctoral fellows, and looks forward to providing continued support for Canada-Germany research collaborations with DFG,” said Dr. Alejandro Adem, President of NSERC.

“Looking back over the past ten years, the CREATE-IRTG partnership has proven to be highly reliable and successful. It has not only fostered productive German-Canadian research and training collaborations, but also led to lasting transatlantic friendships. The DFG is committed to funding excellent research and is dedicated to supporting early career researchers on their path to early scientific independence. We very much look forward to a continuous and thriving partnership with NSERC,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Katja Becker, President of the DFG.

Further Information

For further information about DFG‘s IRTG programme:

For further information about NSERC’s CREATE programme:

For further information at the DFG, please contact: