Purpose of Funding

Conducting research projects of particular academic importance, over an extended period of time, that offer benefits extending beyond a single subject area as a result of the often infrastructural character of the projects. Long-term projects may consist of different modules. The choice of modules will depend on subject-related factors and may vary according to the research question, the disciplines involved and the desired infrastructural aspect.

Eligibility Requirements

The requirements for research grants apply.

Proposal Requirements

The academic quality and originality of the research project at the international level, with special consideration of its long-term character.

Proposal Modules:

• Basic Module(interner Link)
• Temporary Position for Principal Investigator(interner Link)
• Replacement(interner Link)
• Temporary Substitutes for Clinicians(interner Link)
• Mercator Fellow(interner Link)
• Project-Specific Workshops(interner Link)
• Public Relations(interner Link)
• Standard Allowance for Gender Equality Measures(interner Link)

Funding Duration

Minimum of 7 and maximum of 12 years; initial proposal is for a maximum of 3 years

Forms and Guidelines

Here you can find the Proposal Preparation Instructions (Research Grants)(interner Link).

Please also refer to the Supplementary Instructions for Proposals for Long-Term Projects(interner Link).

The Cross-board Section of Long-Term Projects in the Humanities and Social Sciences meets in the spring of each year. Proposals to be evaluated during these meetings must be submitted no later than 1 October of the preceding year. The DFG’s Joint Committee will make the final decision about the admission as a long-term project in its summer session.

Responsibility for long-term projects and for advising project leaders and interested researchers lies with the programme directors of the relevant subject area. Please refer to the Programme Contacts at the DFG Head Office(interner Link).

Questions not related to a specific project and concerning the decision-making process and general aspects of long-term projects or the relationship of the DFG’s funding for long-term projects to that of the academy programme (coordinated by the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities) can be addressed to the coordinators for long-term funding:

Humanities and Cultural Studies: Dr. Nora Böttcher(externer Link)

Social and Behavioural Sciences: Dr. Eckard Kämper(externer Link)

Contact for administrative queries: Sigrid Claßen(externer Link)