The Joint Committee is the central decision-making body of the DFG. It is responsible for the funding of research by the DFG. It also decides on the budget and deliberates and decides on the development of DFG funding policies, funding activities and programme planning on the basis of resolutions by the Senate. The Joint Committee adopts rules of procedure. Its members may attend the meetings of the General Assembly with an advisory vote.

The Joint Committee consists of the 39 members of the Senate, representatives of the federal government, with a total of 16 votes, 16 representatives of the state governments with one vote each, and the representative of the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, with a total of two votes. Two representatives of the member institutions to be appointed by the General Assembly are permanent guests of the Joint Committee. The Joint Committee may also invite guests to its meetings on a permanent or occasional basis.

To the members of the Joint Committee(interner Link)

Subcommittees of the Joint Committee

Grants Committees on Collaborative Research Centres and on Research Training Groups

The Grants Committees on Collaborative Research Centres and on Research Training Groups are responsible for funding decisions in the two programmes.

• Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres(interner Link)
• Grants Committee on Research Training Groups(interner Link)

Committee for Executive Board Affairs

The Committee for Executive Board Affairs(interner Link) handles employer functions with respect to the members of the DFG's Executive Board. These include the conclusion of employment contracts, matters relating to ancillary activities and the determination of rights and obligations under the terms of their employment.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee(interner Link) is responsible for auditing the legality and regularity of the DFG’s implementation of the budget and accounting.

Selection Committee for the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Programme

The decision on the prizewinners is made by the Joint Committee on the basis of a recommendation submitted by the Selection Committee for the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Programme(interner Link).

Selection committee for the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize

The decision on the prizewinners is made by the Joint Committee on the basis of a recommendation submitted by the Selection Committee for the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize(interner Link).

Committee for the German-Israeli Project Cooperation Programme

From the proposals submitted annually by the eligible institutions in Israel, the Committee for the German-Israeli Project Cooperation Programme(interner Link) chooses up to three projects for funding. These are then finally decided on at the December meeting of the Joint Committee.

Committee on Scientific Instrumentation and Information Technology

The Committee on Scientific Instrumentation and Information Technology(interner Link) provides advice to the DFG’s bodies with respect to the statutory tasks, including all projects and measures dealing with development and funding of scientific instrumentation and information technology. It is responsible for the evaluation of all proposals on project funding in the area of scientific instrumentation and information technology.

Committee on Scientific Library Services and Information Systems

The Committee on Scientific Library Services and Information Systems (AWBI)(interner Link) is responsible for advising the DFG on all projects and activities relating to the development and support of scientific library services and information systems in Germany.

Committee of Inquiry on Allegations of Scientific Misconduct

In accordance with the DFG Rules of Procedure for Dealing with Scientific Misconduct (VerfOwF), the Committee of Inquiry on Allegations of Scientific Misconduct(interner Link) conducts inquiries into allegations of scientific misconduct on the part of applicants, funding recipients, individuals with a high level of scientific/academic responsibility in connection with funding proposals submitted by higher education institutions or non-university research institutions, as well as reviewers and members of DFG committees participating in review and decision-making processes.

Expired Committees and Commissions

• Committee on Scientific Instrumentation(externer Link)
• Commission on IT Infrastructure(externer Link)

Contact persons for the individual committees and commissions of the Joint Committee can be found on the website of the respective statutory body.