Infrastructure Priority Programme “New Data Spaces for the Social Sciences” (SPP 2431)
In December 2022, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) established the Infrastructure Priority Programme (InfPP) “New Data Spaces for the Social Sciences” (SPP 2431) as a long-term funding scheme comprising two three-year project funding periods. The first project funding period began in 2024. The present call invites researchers to submit proposals for the second project funding period (2027–2030). The Infrastructure Priority Programme funding line allows for an extension of the programme for a second six-year funding phase for which the programme committee will apply.
Challenge
Panel surveys in the social sciences are facing a number of challenges, including declining response rates, increasing social heterogeneity and individualisation, and increasing data collection costs. In order to equip existing survey infrastructures and panel studies to meet these challenges, they need to be further developed and expanded by opening up new data spaces, including the adoption of new forms of multi-modal data acquisition and data integration, and the use of AI. To expand and enrich our understanding of these opportunities and feasibilities, the SPP 2431 goes beyond the current data sources and methods, and unlocks emerging opportunities in new data spaces.
Objectives and Scope of the Programme
The SPP 2431 aims to facilitate research that exploits the potential of new forms of data and data generation, and that drives a surge in methodological innovations to improve data quality. It will integrate and consolidate skills, knowledge and expertise from different fields of empirical social research and computer science, and provide the means to test new methods and procedures of data generation and data analytics. Its objective is to develop high-quality best-practice examples of methods for generating, collecting and integrating data, with the aim of enhancing data quality. These methods have the potential to be implemented in existing panel studies, new data collection programmes and data analytic approaches.
To achieve these objectives, the SPP 2431 again invites project proposals in four main interrelated research areas for this second funding phase: (1) Exploration and Integration of Different Data Types, (2) Respondent-Driven Designs, (3) Instrument Validity and (4) Multimodal Data Acquisition. Research Area 1 focuses on enhancing survey data through data linkage. It brings together projects that address both the technical and methodological challenges of how to explore, curate, prepare and integrate different types of data and the ethical and legal considerations surrounding new forms of data integration, with particular emphasis on approaches to machine learning and AI. Research Area 2 focuses on methodological innovations to increase response rates and decrease the bias of survey samples in a context of growing unwillingness to participate in scientific surveys and significant obstacles to recruiting marginalised and hard-to-reach populations. Projects in this area explore adaptive recruitment strategies, specialised sampling techniques, responsive or personalised survey designs, and questions of how to overcome a negative survey climate. Research Area 3 is targeted at projects addressing instrument validity, particularly with regard to AI-based methods and method-inherent biases, as well as questions related to data quality, generalisability and the measurement of new constructs. Research Area 4 focuses on new methods of acquiring and generating data that use technological innovations in surveying, ecological momentary assessment and AI-based data collection tools. This includes multimodal interfaces for virtual and augmented reality, as well as automated interview systems such as those using avatars. Methods that bridge modalities by leveraging measurable data from one modality (e.g. gaze or body movements) to access another, more difficult-to-reach modality (e.g. attitude or stance) are of particular interest.
Subject to further funding, the projects of the SPP are supported and accompanied by a set of three unique research infrastructure services and measures developed and provided by the SPP’s Research Infrastructure and Innovation Lab (ENTAILab). ENTAILab measures offer outstanding opportunities for research on data collection, data processing and data analytics, while disseminating SPP project results to existing panel studies and other research and data provision programmes. As such, ENTAILab also provides the framework to enable the reuse, interoperability and secure deployment of methods within and across SPP projects. Proposed projects may build on existing panel studies and ENTAILab provides support for this integration process. Further information about the panel studies and procedures is available on the programme website for applicants.
Preparatory Workshop
Researchers who are interested in submitting a project proposal are invited to a preparatory workshop hosted by the programme committee on 8 May 2026, 11 am–5 pm. The workshop will take place at the DFG Head Office in Bonn.
In this workshop, we will provide further information on the goals, backgrounds and organisational structure of the InfPP. Presentations of project ideas will be an important element of this workshop. Additionally, bilateral in-depth talks will facilitate networking among potential applicants. Participation in this workshop is not a prerequisite but is highly recommended for the submission of project proposals.
Interested researchers are requested to submit a short outline of their project idea (one page maximum) by 10 April 2026 via e-mail to the managing director (anika.schenck-fontaine@lifbi.d(externer Link)). It should encompass a first sketch of the project idea and an assignment to one or more of the four main research areas. These outlines will be made available to the members of the programme committee. Invitations to the workshop and further information will be sent out by the DFG in good time before the event.
Proposal Submission
Please submit your proposal to the DFG by 16 September 2026. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan porta(externer Link) in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted.
When preparing your proposal, please review the Infrastructure Priority Programme’s website (www.new-data-spaces.d(externer Link)) as well as the programme guidelines (DFG form 50.0(interner Link), section B) and follow the proposal preparation instructions (DFG form 54.0(interner Link)).
Please note that only project proposals can be accepted that follow the current DFG templates and their specifications:
For your project description, DFG form 53.0(interner Link) applies for both new and renewal proposals.
For all CVs including publication lists, DFG form 53.20(interner Link) is mandatory.
These forms can either be downloaded from our website or accessed through the elan portal.
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 16 September 2026. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.
Note that you will be asked to select the Priority Programme “SPP 2431” from the current list of calls during both the registration and the proposal process.
In addition to submitting the proposal through elan, applicants are kindly asked to send an electronic copy to the managing director.
Proposals will be reviewed in winter 2026/2027, the decision is expected in March 2027 and the envisaged start of the projects as part of the Infrastructure Priority Programme is July 2027.
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 Practic(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 Porta(externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the Research Integrity tea(externer Link) at the DFG Head Office.
Further Information
The Infrastructure Priority Programme SPP 2431 was initiated by Cordula Artelt (Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsverläufe, LIfBi), Corinna Kleinert (LIfBi), Stefan Liebig (FU Berlin), Alexander Mehler (Universität Frankfurt) and Reinhard Pollak (GESIS – Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften). They all serve as members of the programme committee.
Further information about the Infrastructure Priority Programme can be found at:
Specific information for applicants can be found her(externer Link).
Questions with regard to scientific contents should be directed to the speaker and managing director of the Infrastructure Priority Programme or to the members of the programme committee.
Speaker / Programme Coordinator:
Professor Dr. Cordula Artel(externer Link), Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsverläufe e. V. (LIfBi), Tel. +49 951 863 2060
Managing Director:
Dr. Anika Schenck-Fontain(externer Link), Leibniz-Institut für Bildungsverläufe e. V. (LIfBi), Tel. +49 951 700 60340
When submitting proposals, please use the elan porta(externer Link) and refer to the respective guidelines DFG form 50.0(interner Link) and DFG form 54.0(interner Link). The FAQ on Proposal Submissio(interner Link) may also be helpful.
Contact Persons at the DFG Head Office
Programme contact: Dr. Eckard Kämpe(externer Link), Tel. +49 228 885-2270
Administrative contact: Jennifer Seeman(externer Link), Tel. +49 228 885-2380
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 Polic(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.