German higher education institutions that are not members of the DFG may designate one of their permanently employed professors as the institution’s DFG liaison for dealings with the DFG Head Office. The following provisions have applied to DFG liaisons since 16 September 2025.

Eligible institutions include universities of applied sciences (Hochschulen für Angewandte Wissenschaften (HAW) and Fachhochschulen (FH)) that are themselves eligible to submit proposals to the DFG, i.e. institutions organised under public law or financed from public funds, and also private HAW/FH that are recognised as non-profit institutions for tax purposes. In addition, the institution should offer state-recognised degree programmes. 

DFG liaisons serve as the point of contact for DFG applicants from all disciplines and across all campuses of their institution.  

• They provide information on DFG funding opportunities, offer guidance on preparing proposals and advise on institution-specific procedures. Where necessary, they also act as intermediaries between the institution and the DFG Head Office (in cases of uncertainty arising during proposal preparation, the review process or project implementation).
• DFG liaisons are not responsible for matters relating to good research practice, the investigation of suspected scientific misconduct or dispute resolution in cases of misconduct (Ombud system(interner Link)). For questions relating to the financial administration of grants, funding recipients should contact the DFG Head Office directly if possible. 

Institutions are free to appoint a DFG liaison using whatever procedure they consider appropriate. When appointing a new liaison or notifying a change, institutions are asked to inform the DFG Head Office at the address given below by simple notification, copying the institution’s senior management (e.g. the Vice-President for Research).  

The list of DFG liaisons at non-member higher education institutions(interner Link) includes all designated DFG liaisons. In addition, liaisons are named in award letters issued to the institution’s funding recipients. DFG liaisons must be registered in the electronic elan portal(externer Link) for this purpose.

Further Information

• Funding opportunities for HAW and FH(interner Link)
• Information events(interner Link)

For advice on preparing proposals please contact the relevant programme contacts at the DFG Head Office(interner Link).