Purpose

Implementation of a research project that is limited in terms of topic and schedule under the coordinated programmes “Research Groups”, “Priority Programmes” or “Collaborative Research Centres” with partners from Switzerland and/or Austria.

Eligibility Requirements

For the programmes “Research Groups” and “Priority Programmes”, Researchers of all disciplines from German research institutions who have completed research training (usually a doctorate) and their partners from Austria/Switzerland, who must be eligible to apply to the respective funding organisations for funding and for the programme, “Collaborative Research Centres”, Universities (and institutions of equivalent status entitled to confer doctorates) in Germany.

Not eligible: Members of organisations that are dedicated solely to commercial purposes; members of organisations that are not permitted to publish their results in a publicly accessible form.

Proposal Requirements

The projects must compete with proposals submitted nationally. Research projects must therefore feature a high degree of scientific quality and originality at an internationally competitive level.

The lead agency is always the DFG. Funding for these D-A-CH projects is always provided separately by the respective nationally responsible funding organisation.

Type and Extent of Funding

The type and extent of funding for the German component of a project is based on the rules for Research Groups, Priority Programmes and Collaborative Research Centres.

• Research Grants In Brief(interner Link)
• Priority Programmes In Brief(interner Link)
• Collaborative Research Centres In Brief(interner Link)

Funding Duration

Project-specific (usually several years)

Proposal Deadlines

• New proposal: no deadline for submission
• Renewal proposal: no later than 6 months before the approved funds have been used

In addition, the proposal deadlines of the partner organisations must be observed.

Forms and Guidelines

All guidelines, templates and further forms for this programme can be found in the List of forms and guidelines(interner Link).

For details of how to apply to the FWF and SNF, please see the website (see below for more information).

Within the FWF programme structure, the D-A-CH Lead Agency Procedure can also be applied to FWF Special Research Areas and, for full proposals as of 2026, Specialized Research Groups.
 

The relevant department at DFG Head Office will be more than happy to provide you with details of how to submit a proposal.

Proposal Submission for Research Groups, under the Priority Programme and FWF-Special Research Programmes:

• Maria Borre, Telephone: 0228 / 885-2715, maria.borre@dfg.de(externer Link)
• Christina López Castillo, Telephone: 0228 / 885-2295, christina.lopezcastillo@dfg.de(externer Link)

Proposal Submission for Collaborative Research Centres: Brit Redöhl(externer Link)

Technical questions: Programme contacts at the DFG Head Office(interner Link)

Information provided by the FWF(externer Link) and SNF(externer Link) on Lead Agency Processes with the DFG.

Information on the Weave Lead Agency Process(interner Link).

General information on international cooperation(interner Link).