Infrastructure Priority Programme “Research Vessels” (SPP 2520)
In September 2024, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) decided to establish the Infrastructure Priority Programme “Research Vessels” (SPP 2520) for a first funding period of six years running from 2026 to 2031. In this second call, proposals can be submitted for an individual funding period of up to three years starting in January 2027 or later.
Germany has established a world-leading fleet of research vessels that operates in all parts of the ocean and can host a large range of scientific equipment to tackle most challenges that are faced in ocean sciences. The research vessels serve as platforms supporting highly specialised missions and increasingly interdisciplinary research teams. They also play an important role in training and education of researchers in early career phases and students. The Infrastructure Priority Programme “Research Vessels” (SPP 2520) offers funding to address emerging questions and future challenges related to vessel-based research. Major aims are to support marine research including a strong participation of university groups. The programme provides a funding scheme for participation in vessel expeditions and initial analysis of samples and data.
In the current programme phase (2026–2031), research is centred around five overarching themes:
- the oceans in a changing climate
- ocean interfaces and biogeochemical cycles
- ocean-lithosphere dynamics
- ocean-biosphere interactions
- ocean-based new technologies and innovation.
Starting with this second call, applicants can submit proposals for cruises with all German research vessels that are part of the joint GPF process (RV MARIA S. MERIAN, RV METEOR (IV), RV SONNE, RV POLARSTERN, RV ALKOR, RV HEINCKE, and RV ELISABETH MANN BORGESE). Please note that grants starting in January can usually support only cruises that begin in May of the same year or later, due to the necessary lead time for commissioning container transports and making travel arrangements.
Ship users who already have a positively reviewed cruise proposal with requested funding in accordance with the former cruise funding scheme of BMFTR (RV SONNE) and DFG (RVs METEOR (III) / MARIA S. MERIAN) need to submit a new SPP 2520 funding proposal in case the cruise is not scheduled before May 2026. The designated chief scientists have been personally informed about the necessary measures by the DFG, the Projektträger Jülich (Project Management Jülich, PtJ) and the SPP coordinator. Please consult also the information on funding categories in the section “Explanatory notes on SPP 2520 Grant Proposals” in the most recent version of the Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions (see link below).
Formal Requirements and Proposal Submission
Proposals must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 5 December 2025. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan porta(externer Link) in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted. To enter a new proposal, go to Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Priority Programmes and select “SPP 2520/2 Infrastructure area – Research Vessels” from the current list of calls.
After you submitted your SPP 2520 Grant Proposal, do not forget to submit the SPP 2520 Corresponding Core Cruise Proposal under Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Cruise Proposals for Research Vessels (GPF Procedure). For more information, please refer to the Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions following the links below.
When preparing your proposal, please review the programme guidelines (DFG form 50.0(interner Link), section B) and follow the proposal preparation instructions (DFG form 54.0(interner Link)) when filling in the relevant template (DFG form 53.0(interner Link)). Please note that the forms were recently updated and only proposals based on the current template (English version) can be accepted.
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 3 December 2025 to submit a proposal under this call; registration requests received after this date cannot be considered. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day. Note that you will be asked to select the appropriate Priority Programme call during both the registration and the proposal process.
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.
Coordination Workshop for the Call SPP 2520/3
The annual coordination workshop for this Priority Programme is aimed at researchers from German universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions. It takes place on 11 and 12 May 2026 at the University of Hamburg. Further information will be provided on the SPP 2520 website as soon as the site has been established. Participating in the coordination workshop is strongly encouraged for applicants who wish to apply for a new project under the Priority Programme in the coming call for proposals published in July 2026. An oral 5-minute presentation is expected.
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 Practic(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 Porta(externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the Research Integrity tea(externer Link) at the DFG Head Office.
Further Information
When submitting proposals, please use the elan porta(externer Link) and refer to the respective DFG forms 50.0(interner Link), 53.0(interner Link) and 54.0(interner Link).
The FAQ on Proposal Submissio(interner Link) may also be helpful. For the Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions see also www.portal-forschungsschiffe.d(externer Link).
Content issues related to the Priority Programme can be addressed to its coordinator:
Professor Dr. Oliver Friedrich, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Institut für Geowissenschaften, Tel. +49 6221 54-8277, oliver.friedrich@geow.uni-heidelberg.d(externer Link)
Questions on the DFG proposal process can be directed to:
- Programme contact: Dr. Kristian Sudmann, Tel. +49 228 885-2012, kristian.sudmann@dfg.d(externer Link)
- Administrative contact: Inga Rechenberg, Tel. +49 228 885-2711, inga.rechenberg@dfg.d(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 Polic(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.