Funding opportunity for bi- to trilateral research projects within the Weave Lead Agency Initiative 

The Weave Lead Agency Procedure (Weave) developed by European funding organisations to support excellent collaborative research across borders was launched in December 2020. By means of a single review process, the initiative aims to simplify the submission and selection procedures for closely integrated collaborative research proposals involving researchers from up to three European countries or regions. 

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) already applies Weave together with FWF (Austria), FNR (Luxembourg), F.R.S.-FNRS and FWO (Belgium), NCN (Poland), GACR (Czech Republic) and SNSF (Switzerland), and ARIS (Slovenia).

We are happy to now announce our new collaboration between the DFG and the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ). 

The Weave Lead Agency Procedure in a nutshell 

• Within Weave, researchers from two up to three European countries or regions are able to submit a collaborative research proposal to any of the participating funders.
• To submit a proposal, all applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of their respective Weave signatory organisation.
• Weave is based on the Lead Agency Procedure principle. The team of applicants selects a coordinating applicant, who submits the joint proposal to the respective Weave funding organisation in their country. This organisation acts as the Lead Agency for the proposal and conducts the review process. Following the assessment, it communicates its funding recommendation to the other funding organisations involved (the Partner Agencies) for approval and budgetary purposes.
• Please note that there are no separate funds available for this joint initiative. These opportunities follow the general funding lines and budgets of the funding organisations. Proposals must succeed on the strengths of their intellectual merit and teams in competition with other proposals. The funding organisations aim to support the proposals among the top 20 percent in the respective evaluation.
• For further information on the Weave Lead Agency Procedure, please refer to the information on Weave on the DFG webpage on Weave(interner Link). 

Implementation of the Weave Lead Agency Procedure

The DFG funding instrument open to Weave is the Research Grants Programme(interner Link) (“Sachbeihilfe”). 

In addition to the research organisations listed above, the DFG will apply the Weave Lead Agency Procedure from now on also together with the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ).

DFG as the Lead Agency

For details on the DFG’s application process, please refer to:

• the DFG website on the Weave Lead Agency Procedure(interner Link)
• the supplementary instructions for proposals within the Weave Lead Agency Procedure (DFG form 54.019(interner Link))

Proposals with the DFG as the Lead Agency can be submitted any time. Please make sure to also consult HRZZ’s website (view links under further information below) as there may be important information to consider prior to submitting a proposal, e.g. eligibility requirements, deadlines, submission of additional documents, etc.

DFG as the Partner Agency

To submit a Weave Lead Agency Proposal with HRZZ as the Lead Agency, please consult their website for important information on further eligibility requirements, call deadlines etc. 

In 2026, information on proposals with HRZZ as Lead Agency will be published on their website in late March with a submission deadline in late April – for exact dates, please view the HRZZ’s website (view links under further information below). 

A copy of the proposal as well as all other required documents have to be submitted by the applicant from Germany to the DFG within 7 days upon submission to the Lead Agency. For further details, please refer to the DFG website on the Weave Lead Agency Procedure(interner Link) and the Weave forms and guidelines page(interner Link). 

If this is the first time you are submitting a proposal to the DFG, please note that you must register in the elan portal(externer Link) before you can submit your proposal. Please allow at least three working days for this registration. 

Decision-Making Processes

Funding recommendations by the Lead Agency will be subject to approval by the decision-making bodies of the involved funding organisations (for the DFG: involvement of the responsible DFG review board and Joint Committee), taking into account the availability of funds. 

Funding of the joint research projects is contingent upon positive assessment and decision by both funding organisations. If granted, each organisation supports the researchers for whom it is responsible. Unilateral funding of only one part of the project is not possible.

Notification of Results

Applicants will be informed in writing of the decision and, where applicable, of the subsequent administrative steps according to the regulations of the respective funding organisation. 

Funding will be provided according to the funding rules (incl. reporting) of the respective funding organisation, adhering to their general financial regulations.

Grant holders are requested, where possible, to synchronise their project components and initiate their grants in a timely manner.

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. 

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 

Further information on the Weave Lead Agency procedure in German(interner Link) and English(interner Link)

When submitting proposals, please use the elan portal(externer Link) and refer to the DFG forms and guidelines(interner Link) page for Weave including:

• Supplementary instructions for proposals within the Weave Lead Agency Procedure (DFG form 54.019(interner Link))
• Project Data Form(Download) (compulsory to submit together with the proposal)

The FAQ(interner Link) on proposal submission within the Weave Lead Agency Procedure may also be helpful.

Contact at the DFG

E-Mail: weave@dfg.de(externer Link)

Further information provided by the Croation Science Foundation (HRZZ) can be found here(externer Link).

HRZZ Weave information(externer Link)

HRZZ Call page(externer Link)

Contact at HRZZ

E-Mail: international@hrzz.hr(externer Link)