In December 2023, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) decided to extend the Infrastructure Priority Programme “Antarctic Research with Comparative Investigations in Arctic Ice Areas” (SPP 1158) for a further six years from 2025 to 2030. From autumn 2024 onwards, proposals can be submitted annually as before for a funding period of up to three years.

The polar regions play a key role in the global climate, and interdisciplinary approaches such as those in this Priority Programme make a particular contribution to understanding them. The Priority Programme ensures that German researchers in the natural sciences can participate in international polar research, especially in the early stages of their careers. Above all, however, it gives researchers at German universities access to Antarctica and enables them to use the necessary infrastructure provided by the partner institutions.

During the current program phase (2025–2030), proposed research projects should align with one or more of the following overarching topics:

• Dynamics of Climate System Components
• Response to Environmental Change
• Connectivity and Exchange in Polar Systems
• Improved Understanding of Polar Processes and Mechanisms

These topics are supported by over 60 specific research questions and aim to clarify Antarctica’s role within the Earth system. Proposals in the field of geology should concentrate on Antarctica’s more recent history (no older than approximately 34 million years).

Coordination Workshop

The annual coordination workshop of this Priority Programme is aimed at researchers from German universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions and will take place from 28 September to 30 September 2025 in Bremerhaven, Germany. The coordination workshop is mandatory for applicants who wish to apply for a new project under the Priority Programme in November 2025 or submit a renewal proposal (oral 5-minute presentation), as well as for those currently funded under the Priority Programme (poster presentation).

The Coordination Office has sent out by e-mail the SPP newsletter with the most important information on the upcoming coordination workshop in Bremerhaven, for which you can still register. All information on registration for the coordination workshop can also be found on the SPP website(externer Link). The deadline for registration for the workshop is 10 August 2025.

Formal Requirements and Proposal Submission

Proposals must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 10 November 2025. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan portal 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 1158/24 Infrastructure area – Antarctic Research with comparative investigations in Arctic ice areas” from the current list of calls.

When preparing your proposal, please refer to the programme guidelines (DFG form 50.05(interner Link), section B) and follow the proposal preparation instructions (DFG form 54.01(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 before you can submit your proposal. You must do so by 31 October 2025. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.

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 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 

Website for information about the SPP Antarctic Research: www.spp-antarktisforschung.uni-rostock.de/en(externer Link)

When submitting proposals, please use the elan portal and refer to the respective guidelines DFG form 50.05(interner Link) and DFG form 54.01(interner Link). The FAQ on Proposal Submission(interner Link) may also be helpful.

Content issues related to the Priority Programme can be addressed to its coordinator:

Professor Dr. Ulf Karsten, Universität Rostock, Institut für Biowissenschaften, Lehrstuhl Angewandte Ökologie und Phykologie, Tel. +49 381 498-6090, ulf.karsten@uni-rostock.de(externer Link)

Contact Persons at the DFG Head Office

Programme contact: Dr. Ismene Seeberg-Elverfeldt, phone +49 228 885-2825, ismene.seeberg-elverfeldt@dfg.de(externer Link)

Administrative contact: Ute Bennerscheid, phone +49 228 885-2455, ute.bennerscheid@dfg.de(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 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.