Proposals can be submitted from 2027, with funding commencing in 2028

The DFG’s open access funding is to be restructured from 2027 onwards with the introduction of the programme “Open Access Publication Grant”, which will succeed the existing funding programme “Open Access Publication Funding”. Under the new programme, allowances can be requested towards the cost of publishing research articles and scholarly books in open access. Both higher education institutions and non-university research institutions are eligible to submit proposals. Proposals may be submitted under the programme “Open Access Publication Funding” for the final time in 2027. 

New Simplified Proposal Procedure

The programme “Open Access Publication Funding” enabled the funded institutions to restructure their funding flows to support the transition to open access. The new programme “Open Access Publication Grant” now allows institutions that have already received six years of funding under the predecessor programme “Open Access Publication Funding” to request funding through a simplified procedure. The relevant proposal form mainly covers the calculation of the funding requested. Institutions that have not received funding under the predecessor “Open Access Publication Funding” programme, or have received such funding for less than six years, are likewise eligible to submit proposals. However, they must submit a detailed proposal explaining how their structures are being adapted to support the transition to open access.

Funding Calculated on the Basis of Articles and Books Resulting from DFG-Funded Research

The funding takes the form of a fixed allowance for publication costs. The amount of funding required is calculated based on the annual number of articles resulting from DFG-funded research, taking the average for the previous three years. Fixed allowances may also be requested for books that can be shown to have resulted from a DFG-funded project. The DFG may adjust the allowance amounts annually. 

Funding Conditions

On receiving funding under the new programme, applicants undertake, among other things, to provide sufficient funding for all open access publications demonstrably resulting from a DFG-funded project. They must also continue to improve their procedures for allocating resources and determining publication costs.

Proposal Options for Individuals

Under certain circumstances, individuals who have received DFG funding are also eligible to submit proposals. This applies to individuals who are not affiliated with an eligible institution and to individuals with specific additional funding needs (see Guidelines DFG form 12.24(interner Link)).

Proposal Format and Deadline

Institutions may submit proposals annually by 4 May for the following calendar year. Proposals may be submitted for the first time in 2027 (deadline: 4 May 2027). Supplementary proposals for monographs can be submitted at any time, providing an institutional proposal for allowances towards articles has been approved. Funding for monographs can also be requested as part of the main proposal. Proposals may be submitted by individuals at any time. Proposals can only be submitted via elan(externer Link).

When preparing your proposal, please refer to the programme guidelines (DFG form 12.24(interner Link)) and the proposal form (DFG-Vordruck 53.42(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 27 April 2027 [one week before the proposal deadline]. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.

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(interner Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the Research Integrity team(externer Link) at the DFG Head Office.

Further Information

Please find detailed information on the new funding programme “Open Access Publication Grant” here(interner Link).

When submitting proposals, please use the elan portal(externer Link) and refer to DFG form 12.24(interner Link) and DFG form 53.42(interner Link). The FAQ on Proposal Submission(interner Link) may also be helpful.

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.