In March 2025, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) established the Priority Programme “Holistic Design of Molecular Communication Systems (HoD-MoCS)” (SPP 2526). The programme is designed to run for six years. The present call invites proposals for the first three-year funding period.

Vision and Goals of HoD-MoCS

Practically all existing technical communication systems employ electromagnetic (EM) waves for information transmission. However, as successful as this technology has been, it may not be suitable for applications that require nano- or micro-scale transceivers, communication in liquid media and interfacing with biological systems. On the other hand, natural communication processes (e.g. intra-cellular communication, cell-to-cell communication, insect communication), which are often based on the exchange of molecules, successfully operate over different spatial scales, in both gaseous and liquid media, and can connect different biological entities. This has motivated communications engineers to explore the possibility of exploiting molecular communication (MC) for technical purposes and has led to the emergence of a new field of research – synthetic MC. The vision of disruptive, non-conventional and diverse applications, including the Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT), targeted drug delivery, pest control and immersive reality, has led to a steady increase in research activity on synthetic MC in Germany and internationally over the past few years. 

However, despite the huge promise that synthetic MC holds, progress towards these applications has been comparatively slow. The main reason for this is that while communications engineers are well versed in developing theoretical concepts for synthetic MC systems, they generally do not possess the skills and equipment required for the design of synthetic MC hardware (e.g. artificial cells, nanodevices) and conducting experiments in relevant environments (e.g. vascular systems, plants, bioreactors, animal models), nor do they have the needed application domain knowledge (e.g. agriculture, bio-chemical engineering, biology, medicine). 

HoD-MoCS aims to overcome this impediment by establishing an interdisciplinary national network of excellence on synthetic MC, comprising tandem teams consisting of communications engineers, who will contribute the required expertise in communication, networking, signal processing and information theory, and researchers from complementary disciplines (e.g. agriculture, bio-chemical engineering, biology, chemistry, medicine, pharmacy), who will contribute the expertise required for MC hardware and experiment design as well as application relevance. The collective interdisciplinary expertise of the participants will allow HoD-MoCS to tackle the numerous fundamental theoretical, experimental and application-related challenges arising in synthetic MC design in a holistic manner. The goal of HoD-MoCS is to significantly advance the field and move synthetic MC closer to practical applications within the six-year funding period.

Scope of HoD-MoCS

Each HoD-MoCS tandem project is expected to address fundamental theoretical and experimental research questions and target at least one specific application. The following aspects (and similar ones) may be addressed in HoD-MoCS projects:

a) Theoretical Research Concepts

• Novel design concepts for synthetic MC systems, including modulation, synchronisation and detection schemes
• Performance metrics for synthetic MC, including post-Shannon concepts such as goal- and task-oriented metrics
• Signal processing techniques for synthetic MC systems, including concepts based on gene regulatory networks and chemical reaction networks
• Molecular concepts for information storage specifically tailored to synthetic MC

b) Experimental Research Capabilities

• Hardware design for MC systems, including functionalised/loaded polymersomes, liposomes and nanoparticles; smart micro-implants; engineered bacteria and cells
• New experimental platforms and physical channels for synthetic MC, including both artificial structures emulating the channels encountered in real-world MC applications (e.g. cardiovascular system) and in vivo systems (e.g. animal models)
• Novel frameworks for simulation of complex MC systems, including phenomena such as diffusion, different forms of flow, absorption, adsorption, chemical reactions, accumulation and agglomeration

c) Applications

• Medical applications, including targeted drug delivery, health monitoring, theranostics for neurological disorders and infectious diseases, Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT)
• Applications in agriculture, including pest control and plant-health monitoring
• Lab-on-a-chip and organ-on-a-chip systems
• Other applications, including bio-process control and design, olfactory systems and immersive reality

The main objective of the first funding period is the establishment of the fundamental theoretical concepts and experimental capabilities needed to tackle synthetic MC problems in a holistic manner, where the research in each tandem project is expected to contribute to at least one field of application of synthetic MC. Building on the fundamental results, proof-of-concept experimental systems and established interdisciplinary collaborations achieved in the first funding period, the second funding period will focus on the respective target applications of the projects and the associated constraints and challenges.

HoD-MoCS will implement a comprehensive qualification and training programme, including a virtual lecture programme, lab exchanges and annual summer schools to promote early career researchers, and measures to ensure the coherence of the overall research programme, including annual workshops, a virtual seminar programme and cross-project research data sharing.

Requirements for Project Proposals and Delineation

All projects have to meet the following requirements:

• Only tandem proposals are accepted. One of the project partners must have the expertise in communication engineering, communication networks and/or information theory needed to address theoretical synthetic MC research questions. The other project partner must have the expertise in a complementary field (e.g. agriculture, bio-chemical engineering, biology, chemistry, medicine, pharmacy) needed to address experimental synthetic MC research questions. Proposals with more than two applicants are possible.
• Each project has to address both theoretical and experimental research questions and target at least one specific application of synthetic MC.
• Each project has to target a problem specific to synthetic MC. Projects studying only natural MC processes in biological systems are excluded.
• Projects targeting information storage and/or signal processing must be focused on information storage and/or signal processing in synthetic MC systems. Molecule-based information storage and/or signal processing concepts intended to replace conventional macroscopic storage and/or signal processing systems are excluded.
• Each applicant has to be willing to actively participate in the qualification and training programme as well as in the regular meetings and research data sharing of HoD-MoCS. Possible contributions to the programme (e.g. tutorial presentations in virtual lecture series and summer schools, lab exchange offers, research data sharing) are to be specified in the proposal. 

Interested researchers are invited to participate in a preparatory meeting to enhance the coherence of the Priority Programme. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss potential collaborations between tandem projects and to find potential tandem partners. The one-day meeting will take place on 14 July 2025 at Fraport Conference Center (FRACC), Frankfurt. The venue has been chosen so that overnight stays should only be necessary in exceptional cases. 

To participate, please register by 19 June 2025 with the administrative contact of the Priority Programme (Lukas Brand, lukas.brand@fau.de(externer Link)). Registration requires submission of a one-page project summary including the names of the potential applicant(s), the expertise they have to offer in light of the objectives of HoD-MoCS, and the preliminary project idea. The presentation of the respective project ideas during the meeting is mandatory. Participation in the preparatory meeting is not a prerequisite for receiving funding under this Priority Programme.

With the submission of a proposal within this Priority Programme, the applicants agree that the DFG shares all necessary information with the coordinator of the Priority Programme after the call deadline.

Proposals must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 16 January 2026. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan portal(externer Link), the DFG’s electronic proposal processing system, in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted. To enter a new project within the existing Priority Programme, go to Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Priority Programmes and select “SPP 2526” from the current list of calls. 

When preparing your proposal, please note the Guidelines Priority Programme (DFG form 50.05(interner Link), section B “Individual Projects within Existing Priority Programmes”) and the Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals (DFG form 54.01(interner Link)). These forms are available on the DFG website and through the elan portal.

If this is the first time you are submitting a proposal to the DFG, please note that you must register in the elan portal before you can submit your proposal. You must do so by 2 January 2026. During the registration process, select “SPP 2528” from the list of calls. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.

Equity and Diversity

The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.

Good Research Practice

According to a resolution of the DFG General Assembly, DFG funding may only be awarded to research institutions that have implemented the guidelines laid down in the Code of Conduct for Safeguarding Good Research Practice(externer Link) in their own regulations. The management of your institution is responsible for implementing the guidelines in a legally binding manner. In order to avoid delays in the disbursement of funding, please verify implementation within your institution in good time. For information regarding the implementation, please refer to the Research Integrity Portal(externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the Research Integrity team(externer Link) at the DFG Head Office. 

Further Information

Please find detailed information on the Priority Programme here(externer Link).

When submitting a proposal, please use the elan portal(externer Link) and refer to the Guidelines Priority Programme (DFG form 50.05(interner Link), section B “Individual Projects within Existing Priority Programmes”) and the Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals (DFG form 54.01(externer Link)). The FAQ about preparing a proposal(interner Link) may also be helpful.

For enquiries about the scientific aims of the Priority Programme, please contact the Priority Programme coordinator:

Professor Dr.-Ing. Robert Schober, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department Elektrotechnik-Elektronik-Informationstechnik, Lehrstuhl für Digitale Übertragung, phone +49 9131 8527162, robert.schober@fau.de(externer Link)

For administrative enquiries please contact:

Lukas Brand, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute for Digital Communications, phone +49 9131 8525017, lukas.brand@fau.de(externer Link)

Fraport Conference Center (FRACC)
www.fraport-conference-center.de/en(externer Link)

Contact Persons at the DFG Head Office

Programme contact: 

Dr.-Ing. Bastian Mohr, Mathematics and Engineering Sciences 2, phone +49 228 885-3140, bastian.mohr@dfg.de(externer Link)

Administrative contact:

Malwina Momot, Mathematics and Engineering Sciences 2, phone +49 228 885-2296, malwina.momot@dfg.de(externer Link)

Privacy Policy

We, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), take the protection of your personal data and its confidential treatment extremely seriously. Therefore, please refer to the DFG’s Privacy Policy(interner Link). If you intend to transmit personal data of third parties, please make sure to do so only if the necessary legitimation under data protection law exist. Before transmitting data of third parties to the DFG, please forward the DFG’s Data Protection Notice to the individuals affected (data subjects). If there is a legitimate interest not to inform individuals beforehand (e.g. for reasons of secrecy or in case of a nomination or candidate proposal), these individuals should be informed no later than at the time of publication.