The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) remains deeply concerned about Russia’s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation of researchers in the country.

Since December 2015, the DFG has supported researchers who have fled their home countries and, since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, has provided such support for Ukrainian refugees, too.

 In order to provide assistance within Ukraine as well, the DFG established its Special Programme for Ukraine in 2022. Under this programme, applicants working in Germany can use the existing DFG funding measure “Cooperation with Developing Countries” to request funding under the Research Grants Programme, Research Units and Priority Programmes not only for conducting projects in Ukraine but also for the living expenses of Ukrainian project leaders, up to a maximum of €1,000 per month per project leader. If the proposal is approved, applicants can pass these funds on to the project leaders concerned. Initially established for two years, the special programme was extended for a further two years in summer 2024. On 30 June 2026, the DFG Joint Committee approved another two-year extension, until the end of August 2028.

For new research projects involving cooperation partners in Ukraine, funding can be requested in accordance with the existing rules governing “Cooperation with Developing Countries” (DFG form 54.013(interner Link)). Applicants in Germany are asked to enter the total amount requested for partners in Ukraine under “Other” in the “Direct Project Costs” section of the Basic Module on the elan portal(externer Link). A detailed breakdown of the funding requested must be included in the “Description of the Project – Project Proposal”.

This funding can also be requested for existing DFG-funded research projects by submitting what are known as supplemental proposals. Supplemental proposals can be submitted for ongoing German-Ukrainian projects or projects that have so far involved German participants only. If researchers from Ukraine are to be newly included in projects in this way, an explanation must be provided of the work to be added to the current projects. Supplemental proposals can be submitted via the elan portal(externer Link); no specific form is required.

Together with the proposal, whether for a new project or a supplemental proposal, the Ukrainian research institution or university concerned must provide evidence indicating the amount by which the current salary falls below the pre-war salary and the reasons for this, or demonstrating why no salary can currently be paid and is likely to be paid in the foreseeable future.

Funding cannot be requested outside the context of a DFG project. For the time being, the option of requesting this funding is limited to a further two years and applies to all proposals received by the DFG up to and including 31 August 2028.

Projects with a small financial volume are also welcome as a means of initiating collaboration and preparing more extensive joint projects. When initiating joint projects, funds can be applied for using the funding instrument “Initiation of International Collaboration(interner Link)”.

Further Information 

• See here for further information on the Special Programme for Ukraine(interner Link).

• See here for further information on refugee researchers(interner Link).

• See here(interner Link) for the contact persons responsible at the Head Office. 

Please also refer to the following links:

• General information on relations, partner organisations and funding opportunities involving Ukraine(interner Link) (under “Ukraine” in the drop-down menu)

• Information on cooperation with developing countries(interner Link) (including the supplementary instructions in DFG form 54.013)

• Information on the Research Grants Programme(interner Link) (please also refer to the information on cooperation with developing countries linked above)

• Information on the funding instrument “Initiation of International Collaboration”(interner Link)

• elan portal(externer Link)