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.
Under this programme of excellence, launched by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) in 1997, the six leading universities in Israel and the Weizmann Institute of Science are each eligible to submit two project proposals each year. German researchers and scientists are not eligible to submit proposals themselves, but are included as project partners in the Israeli project proposal.
Applicants interested in establishing collaborative scientific relationships with partners abroad may apply for funding for trips and research stays abroad or for bilateral workshops.
The DFG provides funding for the organisation of scientific events in Germany and, under certain circumstances, in other European countries.
At the beginning of 2008 the DFG introduced changes to the funding of projects involving cooperation with developing countries. The former DFG/BMZ research cooperation programme ended on 31 December 2007 and has since continued in a modified form as a DFG programme.
The Max Kade Foundation Fellowship Programme enables applicants from the fields of natural sciences and medicine to apply for a one-year research stay in the USA.
The Mercator Fellows enable German universities to invite highly qualified visiting professors from abroad for a DFG-funded stay.
The DFG has been supporting cooperation with Israel and neighbouring countries on a trilateral basis since 1995. The programme enables the coordinating scientist in Germany to apply for funding on behalf of the project partners. Trilateral projects can receive funding for up to 5 years. Initial proposals cover a period of two years.
Within the scope of D-A-CH collaboration, an agreement has been signed between the DFG and its partner organisations, the FWF and the SNSF, regarding the mutual opening of the respective funding programmes ("Lead Agency" process) and cross-border funding ("Money Follows Cooperation Line") to simplify the mobility of researchers and the execution of cross-border research projects.
