International Cooperation
The DFG supports cooperation with international partners in all of its funding programmes and with a multitude of instruments. In general, it is possible to apply for the funds needed for cooperation, in addition to the project funding itself, regardless of the specific type of project funding involved. Cooperative projects with foreign partners are generally supported on the principle of reciprocal responsibility: those researchers working in Germany interact with the DFG, while their cooperative partners working abroad liaise with the funding bodies in their own country. This applies, in particular, to institutions with which the DFG has signed a joint funding agreement for research 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.).
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.
Researchers who are integrated in the German research system may use a fellowship for a longer research stay abroad.
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.
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.
