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Knowledge transfer

Knowledge transfer funding options are intended to support work on scientific questions in collaboration with an application partner (commercial enterprise or a non-commercial, non-profit institution) in the pre-competitive area. The aim is to apply the scientific findings and results generated by basic research. The projects are also expected to provide an impetus for pursuing new scientific questions in basic research.

Knowledge transfer funding options

The DFG offers three distinct knowledge transfer funding options which differ in their application criteria so as to ensure the best possible access criteria and conditions for successful processing.

Knowledge transfer projects

Project consortium

Science partners*
Application partner

Required preliminary work

DFG-funded basic research project

Proposal submission

Any time, no topic restrictions

Trilateral transfer projects

Project consortium

HEI partners*, Fraunhofer partner, application partner

Required preliminary work

DFG-funded basic research project

Proposal submission

Annual call for proposals, two-stage procedure, no limitations on topics

Transfer HAW/FH PLUS                      

Project consortium

HEI partners at university of applied sciences, application partner

Required scientific preliminary work

Findings generated by basic research carried out previously

Proposal submission

At any time, two-stage procedure, no limitations on topics

*Science partners = researchers at universities/universities of applied sciences or non-university research institutions who are eligible to apply to the DFG.

*HEI partners = researchers at universities/ universities of applied sciences and non-university research institutions with the exception of Fraunhofer, who are eligible to apply to the DFG.

DFG projects in GEPRIS

An overview of all DFG-funded projects relating to knowledge transfer is available in our information system GEPRIS:

Contact persons

General questions about knowledge transfer:

Further Contact persons: