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Research Funding

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Research Funding

From Idea to Knowledge

How do research projects form from ideas, and how does knowledge arise from research projects? With the wandering exhibition "From Idea to Knowledge", the DFG presents ten research projects that are supported as part of the Individual Grants Programme.

Web page for the exhibition

Sub-sections

Funding Programmes

  • close Individual Grants Programme

    Researchers who have completed their academic training (as a rule, those who hold a doctorate) are eligible to submit project proposals with a defined thematic focus and project duration.

  • close Coordinated Programmes

    Coordinated programmes promote cooperation and structural innovation by encouraging national and international collaboration in areas of current relevance and by concentrating scientific potential at a university.

  • close Excellence Initiative

    The Excellence Initiative aims to promote top-level research and to improve the quality of German universities and research institutions in general, thus making Germany a more attractive research location, making it more internationally competitive and focussing attention on the outstanding achievements of Germany universities and the German scientific community.

  • close Research Infrastructure

    The DFG offers centrally-coordinated funding to build and improve scientific infrastructure: Scientific Library Services and Information Systems, Scientific Instrumentation and Information Technology, Central Research Facilities.

  • close Scientific Prizes

    The DFG awards prizes to scientists and academics in recognition of their outstanding research achievements.

  • close International Cooperation

    In order to establish and foster scientific contacts, the DFG provides funding for scientific events, conferences, lecture and information trips and within the Mercator Programme.


Forms and Guidelines


Announcements and Proposals


Principles of DFG Funding

  • close Research Careers

    The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) has identified the education and advancement of young scientists and academics as one of its priority tasks.

  • close Equal Opportunities

    The DFG "promotes equality between men and women in the scientific and academic communities". (DFG Statutes § 1)

  • close Diversity in Science and Academia

    The DFG promotes excellence in science and academia and, through its funding programmes, actively encourages diversity and equal opportunities in German research.

  • close Information for Researchers

    This page offers information concerning the scientific disciplines (available only in German).

  • close Reviewers – An Integral Part of the Funding Process

    The scientific review of proposals is an integral part of the DFG's funding process. The reviewers, who are selected by the Head Office on the basis of their technical expertise, evaluate the proposals according to scientific excellence, relevance and originality.


International Cooperation

  • close International Cooperation

    International research collaborations may be funded either as part of individual projects or in the context of coordinated programmes (Collaborative Research Centres, Research Training Groups, Research Units, Priority Programmes, etc.).

  • close Research Funding in the European Context

    The DFG funds research at the European level on the basis of scientific competition. To this end, and to promote cross-border scientific cooperation, the DFG has established numerous bilateral and European programmes.

  • close International Promotion of Early Career Reseachers

    Researchers who are integrated in the German research system may use a fellowship for a longer research stay abroad.

  • close International Partners and Agreements

    In order to carry out its activities in the interest of research, the DFG maintains partnerships and relations with a large number of partner organisations on all continents. In many countries around the globe, formal agreements continue to be the necessary prerequisite for scientific collaboration.

  • close Scientific Contacts

    The DFG provides funding for international scientific events in Germany, for bilateral events held in Germany or abroad, for conference and lecture trips abroad, and for young German researchers who are employed abroad to participate in scientific events in Germany.

  • linkKlappliste_rubrik Research Collaboration
  • close Cooperation with Africa

    This page provides an overview of the opportunities available for cooperating with African researchers and institutions.

  • close Open Research Area (ORA) for the Social Sciences

    After a successful first call in 2010, ANR, DFG, ESRC and NWO will relaunch a common call for proposals in 2011. The Open Research Area (ORA) scheme will provide for the funding of integrated projects in the social sciences by researchers coming from more than one of the four participating countries – in any combination of two or more countries.


DFG Proposal Process

  • close Programmes and Modules

    Beginning in mid-October 2011 the DFG will be offering a number of its programmes in a modular structure. This “modularisation”, which includes a revised guideline portfolio for the programmes affected, enables applicants to select the combination of funding modules they need to complete their research.

  • close Quo vadis, proposal?

    From submission to decision.

  • close Before Submitting a Proposal – Guidelines for the Planning Phase

    There are several things that applicants must consider before submitting a proposal.

  • close DFG Liaison Officers

    Each institution of higher education that is a member of the DFG may appoint a professor to act as a DFG liaison officer. The liaison officer serves as an on-site point of contact for researchers who are considering applying to the DFG for funding.

  • close Overhead Funding

    Funding for research overhead, amounting to €703.5 million between 2007 and 2010, will be provided by the German federal government as a special payment to the DFG. The continuation of this funding beyond 2010 has been provisionally agreed to by the federal and state governments, pending submission of a report on the first funding period by 31 October 2009.

  • close elan

    elan is the DFG’s new electronic proposal processing system. This internet portal currently provides DFG reviewers and committee members protected access to proposals submitted to the DFG for the purpose of review.


Legal Framework Conditions for Research

  • close Rules of Good Scientific Practice

    A resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 June 1998 specifies that recipients of DFG funds must observe set guidelines on safeguarding good scientific practice. Universities and other research institutes wishing to apply for DFG funding must establish rules to safeguard good scientific practice at their institutions in accordance with recommendations 1 to 8 of the guidelines.

  • close The Impact of the Federalism Reform on Science and Research

    On 1 September 2006, two laws regarding the federalism reform took effect. The following information outlines the impact of the amendments on the legal framework conditions for science and research in Germany.

  • close Fixed-Term & Temporary Contracts in Research

    The WissZeitVG has created a legally secure basis for awarding fixed-term contracts to employees receiving third-party funding after the expiration of the applicable maximum fixed-term contract period. This enables outstanding scientists and academics who have come to the end of their maximum fixed-term contract period and are waiting to be appointed to a professorship to be retained within the German scientific system.

  • close Careers in Science and Academia – Collective Bargaining Legislation in Research

    This section contains information on the Public Sector Collective Agreement on Länder and on the particular situation of collective bargaining legislation in medicine. It also provides information on the pay scale for professors (W salary scale).


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