DFG to fund the establishment and expansion of data cooperation between industry and academia with the aim of boosting basic research in the fields of health and mobility

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is launching a new initiative to support research data cooperation in response to the research community’s need to intensify practical data sharing between academia and the private sector and establish suitable framework conditions for this kind of cooperation.

This call for proposals aims to support time-limited, topic-specific research projects that address questions in the fields of health or mobility, drawing on data provided by application partners in the private sector. This will enable researchers to gain access to industry data so that they can address fundamental research questions in an evidence-based and practice-oriented manner. At the same time, such collaborative projects support innovation and the development of new products in direct exchange with the research sector, benefiting both the companies themselves and their public image.

Ultimately, the intention is to initiate and expand cooperation between research and industry with a view to data sharing, while also exploring the potential for transferring the findings into economically useful applications. The DFG also aims to raise the visibility of research data cooperation as part of its funding activities, though these have always been possible under the Research Grants Programme.

Proposal Submission

Proposal submission and funding will proceed in two phases: a one-year “Explore” phase and a two-year “Exploit” phase. 

Projects must be submitted by a consortium consisting of:

• one researcher eligible to apply for DFG funding, and
• one application partner from the private sector (optional in the Explore phase).

Funds may be requested and awarded only for the project partner based at the higher education institution. It is not possible to request funding for investments.

All projects must demonstrate a high level of academic quality and originality in the fields of health or mobility. Applicants must also outline the academic and application-oriented objectives of the data cooperation and describe the added value for both cooperation partners.

The partners’ rights and obligations must be set out in a cooperation agreement in accordance with competition law, along with details of how the results will be utilised. A data governance framework must be provided in which applicants explain the policies, processes, roles and responsibilities through which the shared data will be managed, processed and protected.

Planned results must be confined to the pre-competitive area. Proposals are not eligible for funding if the applicant holds a dual role as both researcher and company executive.

Phase 1: Explore

Proposals are initially invited for a twelve-month Explore phase. This phase focuses on initiating cooperation, jointly defining research and exploitation interests, developing the proposal concept, preparing a data governance framework, drafting a cooperation agreement, establishing appropriate measures to ensure the required data quality and, where relevant, drawing up co-development measures. Both individual proposals submitted by researchers and joint proposals submitted by researchers together with application partners are eligible for funding in the Explore phase. If it is not yet possible to specify a concrete cooperation, applicants must set out well-developed plans for initiating cooperation within the twelve-month funding period. A proposal may only be submitted for the Exploit phase if funding has already been obtained in the Explore phase.

Documents required when submitting a proposal for the Explore phase: 

• A project description of no more than six pages, following the template(interner Link)
• Academic CVs of all applicants in accordance with DFG form 53.200(interner Link)
• One of the following three documents:
  • letter of cooperation from one or more application partners indicating how the planned research data cooperation will be supported by the application partner and confirming the intention to conclude a cooperation agreement;
  • cooperation agreement according to DFG form 41.026(interner Link);
  • well-developed plans on initiating cooperation (in the case of an individual proposal submitted by a single researcher).

After six months, projects funded in the Explore phase will be asked to submit a letter of intent regarding a proposal for the Exploit phase.

Phase 2: Exploit 

The two-year Exploit phase is dedicated to knowledge-driven research based on the data made available. All projects funded in the Explore phase that have submitted a letter of intent to submit a proposal for the Exploit phase will be invited to do so by the DFG Head Office. These proposals are to be submitted as renewal proposals under the Research Grants Programme no later than nine months after approval of the Explore phase.

For the Exploit phase, it is generally expected that proposals will be submitted jointly by researchers and application partners. A jointly developed and jointly endorsed data governance framework must also be in place.

Proposal Submission – Phase 1: Explore

Your proposal for the Explore phase must be submitted to the DFG using the template(interner Link) by 11 March 2026. Eligibility follows the rules of the Research Grants Programme: researchers at German research institutions who have completed their academic training (generally a doctorate) are eligible to apply. Researchers at for-profit research institutions are not eligible.

Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan portal(externer Link) in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted. When entering your proposal in the system, please select “Proposal for a Research Grant” and then select the call “DFG Research Data Cooperation”.

If this is the first application to the DFG, please note that you must register in the elan portal before you can submit your application. Registration must be completed by 4 March 2026 to be able to submit your proposal under this call. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.

Proposal Submission – Phase 2: Exploit

Proposals for the Exploit phase must be submitted as renewal proposals within nine months of approval of the Explore phase. The DFG Head Office will inform funded projects of the exact submission date. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan portal(externer Link) in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted.

When structuring your proposal, please use the proposal preparation instructions (DFG form 54.01(interner Link)), the guidelines for the Research Grants Programme (DFG form 50.01(interner Link)) and the project description template (DFG form 53.01(interner Link)). The cooperation agreement is to be prepared using DFG form 41.026(interner Link).

Requested Funds

Funding in the Explore phase includes staff and direct project costs and may additionally include the modules Temporary Substitutes for Clinicians and Project-Specific Workshops.

Funding in the Exploit phase includes the standard modules under the Research Grants Programme in accordance with the proposal preparation instructions (DFG form 54.01(interner Link)).

Funding for capital investment is not available in either phase.

Information Event

A digital information event on the call will take place on 14 January 2026. Please register by 5 January 2026 by e-mailing forschungsdatenkooperationen@dfg.de(externer Link), stating your project idea and cooperation partner where applicable.

Equity and Diversity

The DFG explicitly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological and social backgrounds, and at different career stages, types of higher education institution and research institution, as well as from researchers with disabilities or chronic illnesses. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.

Good Research Practice

Following a resolution passed by the DFG General Assembly, DFG funding may only be awarded to institutions that have implemented the Code of Conduct – Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice(externer Link) as part of their internal regulations. The legally binding implementation of this requirement is the responsibility of your institution’s leadership. In order to prevent delays in funding disbursement, applicants should check internally at an early stage whether this requirement has been met. For information on implementing the Code of Conduct, see the Research Integrity portal(externer Link). The DFG‘s Research Integrity team(externer Link) is available at the DFG Head Office to answer any further questions or provide explanations.

Further Information

Please find further information on the call for proposals here(interner Link).

Please use the elan portal(externer Link) to submit your proposal.

Proposals submitted for the Explore phase should be based on the template provided, the DFG template(interner Link) for academic CVs (DFG form 53.200(interner Link)) and where applicable the DFG template for cooperation agreements (DFG form 41.026(interner Link)).

When submitting proposals for the Exploit phase, funding recipients from the Explore phase are asked to use the project description template (DFG form 53.01(externer Link)), the DFG template for academic CVs (DFG form 53.200(interner Link)) and the DFG template for cooperation agreements (DFG form 41.026(interner Link)). Please also consult the proposal preparation instructions (DFG form 54.01(interner Link)) and the guidelines for the Research Grants Programme (DFG form 50.01(interner Link)). The FAQ on Proposal Submission(interner Link) and the information on other funding options in the area of knowledge transfer(interner Link) may also be helpful.

See here(interner Link) for other relevant guidelines: 

• Guidelines on the Participation of Commercial Enterprises in Research Projects (DFG form 4.02)

• Information on Work Results and Usage Rights in the Event of an Association with a Company (DFG form 4.03)

• Model of a Cooperation Agreement between Academic Research Institutions and Commercial Enterprise (DFG form 41.026)

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.