Research Units
A Research Unit is made up of a team of researchers working together on a research project which, in terms of thematic focus, duration and finances, extends beyond the funding options available under the Individual Grants Programme or Priority Programme. Research Units provide the staff and material resources required for carrying out intensive, medium-term cooperative projects (generally eight years). Research Units often contribute to establishing new research directions. Funding opportunities for Research Units are subject to the same principles as research grants.
A research unit consists of various programme modules, weighted and combined in accordance with the respective subject-matter requirements. The funding programme therefore allows the research network to be designed in a relatively flexible way, depending on the respective research question, the research areas involved and the desired structure-creating aspect. Within this framework, research units can provide development opportunities for independent junior research groups, strengthen collaboration with partners outside universities, enable temporary exemption for researchers and intensify international cooperation. Research units can be integrated into overarching research policy initiatives in their various designs. Examples of this are “clinical research units” or “humanities centres for advanced studies”.
Information about the Programme
Purpose
To fund research groups in which those involved collaborate closely on specific medium-term research projects whose anticipated findings would not be able to be achieved within the scope of the individual grants programme
Eligibility Requirements
Outstanding researchers
Proposal Requirements
Scientific quality and originality of a research project at an international level
Type and Extent of Funding
Modules:
- Interner LinkBasic Module
- Interner LinkTemporary Positions for Principal Investigators
- Interner LinkReplacements
- Interner LinkTemporary Substitutes for Clinicians
- Interner LinkProfessorships
- Interner LinkMercator Fellows
- Interner LinkProject-Specific Workshops
- Interner LinkStart-Up Funding
- Interner LinkCoordination
- Interner LinkNetwork Funds
- Interner LinkPublic Relations
- Interner LinkStandard Allowance for Gender Equality Measures
Emmy Noether Independent Junior Research Groups and Heisenberg grant holders may be associated in Research Units.
Funding Duration
As a rule, up to six years
Forms and Guidelines
Proposal Deadlines
New proposals: no submission deadline, draft proposals may be submitted at any time. The submission of a revised draft application is possible once.
Decisions on first-time funding for Research Units are made by the DFG's Senate four times per year.
Renewal proposals: six months before the approved funds are exhausted.
International Collaborations
The DFG has a wide range of options to support research groups engaging in international collaboration.
DFG support for collaborative ventures
- Travel funds and guest funds for foreign cooperation partners as part of the Basic Module
- Travel funds and, where applicable, remuneration for foreign cooperation partners in connection with the Mercator Fellows module
- Travel funds for foreign cooperation partners in connection with the Project-Specific Workshops module
- Funds for project implementation by the foreign cooperation partner under special procedures via transfer of funds on the part of the project management entitled to apply to the DFG (cooperation with the Middle East and with developing countries)
- By way of an exception, proposals can be submitted directly by the foreign researcher to the DFG if the project abroad makes an important additional contribution to achieving the goals of the research group and adds significant value to the projects planned in Germany.
Support for cooperation provided by foreign partner organisations
- Under the D-A-CH (with Austria and Switzerland), D-Lux (with Luxembourg) and D-Süd (with South Tyrol) lead agency procedures
- or an academic institution abroad based on an individual agreement (only on prior consultation with the DFG Head Office)