Infrastructure Area – Antarctic Research with Comparative Investigations in Arctic Ice Areas (SPP 1158)
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 career. 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.
In the current programme phase (2025–2030), research work will focus on four overarching Antarctic research topics:
Dynamics of Climate System Components
Response to Environmental Change
Connectivity and Exchange in Polar Systems
Improved Understanding of Polar Processes and Mechanisms
These overarching research topics are underpinned by over 60 specific research questions and will help to clarify the role of Antarctica in the earth system. Projects with geological questions should focus on the recent history of Antarctica (not older than about 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. It will take place from 28–30 September 2026 at the TRIHOTEL in Rostock, Germany. The coordination workshop is mandatory for applicants who wish to apply for a new project in the Priority Programme in November 2026 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 Rostock, for which you can still register. All information on registration for the coordination workshop can also be found on the (externer Link). The deadline for registration for the workshop is 9 August 2026.
Formal Requirements and Proposal Submission
Proposals must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 2 November 2026. Please note that proposals can only be submitted via (externer Link), the DFG’s electronic proposal processing system. To enter a new proposal, go to Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Priority Programmes and select “SPP 1158/25 Infrastructure area – Antarctic Research with comparative investigations in Arctic ice areas” from the current list of calls.
When preparing your proposal, please review the programme guidelines ((interner Link), section B) and follow the proposal preparation instructions ((interner Link)). Please note that the forms have been recently updated and only proposals based on the current template can be accepted.
Applicants must register in elan prior to submitting a proposal to the DFG. Applicants who are not yet registered must do so by 26 October 2026 to submit a proposal under this call; registration requests received after that date cannot be considered. Successful registration will be automatically confirmed, usually by the next working day. Note that the appropriate Priority Programme call has to be selected both during the registration and the proposal submission process.
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 (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 (externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the (externer Link) at the DFG Head Office.
Further Information
When preparing your proposal, please review the Infrastructure Priority Programme’s website ((externer Link)) as well as the programme guidelines ((interner Link), section B) and follow the proposal preparation instructions ((interner Link)).
Please note that only project proposals can be accepted that follow the current DFG templates and their specifications:
For your project description, (interner Link) applies for both new and renewal proposals.
For all CVs including publication lists, (interner Link) is mandatory.
These forms can either be downloaded from our website or accessed through the (externer Link).
The (interner Link) may also be helpful.
Contact Persons at the DFG Head Office
Programme contact: (externer Link), Tel. +49 228 885-2825
Administrative contact: (externer Link), Tel. +49 228 885-2455
Administrative contact from 1 January 2027: (externer Link), Tel. +49 228 885-2357
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 (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.