National Research Funding
The leading funders at national level are the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft - DFG), the federal ministries of various departments (e.g. BMBF) and the state ministries. While the DFG funds basic research on an open-topic basis, the ministries follow topic-specific funding programs and work with changing calls for proposals.
German Research Foundation (DFG)
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Following an open-topic, bottom-up principle, the German Research Foundation (DFG) promotes scientific excellence and quality in basic research by selecting the best projects in a competitive process. The funding spectrum includes individual and collaborative research, as well as infrastructure and networking measures (see selection below). The DFG places particular emphasis on the promotion of early career researchers and equal opportunities for female and male scientists. In addition to the option of submitting a first proposal for a research grant, the DFG offers specific funding opportunities for each career phase in the promotion of early career researchers with the three programs Walter Benjamin, Emmy-Noether and Heisenberg. |
Important links:
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Funding type
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Execution of a thematically and time-limited research project |
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Phase |
All academic career stages from doctorate onwards |
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Scope of funding |
Project-specific (personnel, consumables) |
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Runtime |
Project-specific, usually 3 years |
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Deadlines |
none |
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Further information |
Consideration of career stage (initial application), "Eigene Stelle" module for postdocs |
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Funding type
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Particularly innovative or high-risk projects that cannot be applied for in another funding procedure or carried out as part of the work of the respective institution. |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
500k-1.25m (staggered in steps of 250k) |
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Runtime |
usually 5 years |
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Deadlines |
nones |
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Further information |
- |
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Funding type |
Independent research project at home or abroad |
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Phase |
Early Postdoc phase |
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Scope of funding |
Position or rotation position in Germany or scholarship abroad, consumables |
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Runtime |
usually 2 years |
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Deadlines |
none |
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Further information |
Change of institution is planned, support from experienced researcher necessary |
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Funding type |
Independent leadership of a junior research group as a qualification for a professorship |
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Phase |
Later Postdoc phase |
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Scope of funding |
Own position, material and personnel resources |
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Runtime |
6 years |
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Deadlines |
none |
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Further information |
Application usually 2-4 years after doctorate |
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Funding type |
Funding for scientists in preparation for a scientific management position |
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Phase |
Late postdoc phase, (temporary) junior professorships, postdoctoral lecturers, returnees from abroad |
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Scope of funding |
Own position, material and personnel resources |
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Runtime |
5 years |
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Deadlines |
none |
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Further information |
Projects in Germany can apply for additional material funding |
Collaborative Research Centers
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Funding type |
Funding of an interdisciplinary research program consisting of innovative, demanding, complex and long-term research projects (so-called sub-projects) |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
Project-specific, material and personnel resources, investment funds |
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Runtime |
Up to 12 years (Funding period of 4 years) |
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Deadlines |
None |
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Further information |
Submission of an CRC outline and consultation prior to application, cooperation with non-university research institutions desired, cooperation of 2-3 universities for CRC/TRR program variant, serves to develop the university's focus and structure |
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Funding type |
Support for graduate students, junior researchers within the framework of a thematically focused research program and a structured qualification concept
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
Positions/scholarships for approx. 30-45 doctoral students and up to 2 postdocs, funding for visiting researchers |
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Runtime |
Up to 9 years (5+4) |
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Deadlines |
None |
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Further information |
Program variant International Research Training Groups (IRTG), submission of an (I)RTG outline prior to application, application of 5-10 university lecturers by a spokesperson |
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Funding type |
Medium-term, close collaboration between several outstanding scientists on a specific research task |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
Project-specific, material and personnel resources, investment funds |
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Runtime |
Up to 8 years (funding period of 4 years) |
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Deadlines |
None |
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Further information |
Submission of an outline and application for an institution before submitting the application, cooperation with scientists abroad possible, transfer projects possible |
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Funding type |
Supra-regional cooperation between scientists to stimulate the further development of science |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
Project-specific, material and personnel resources, investment funds |
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Runtime |
Max. 6 years (3+3) |
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Deadlines |
Annual deadlines at october 15th |
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Further information |
Usually funding for up to 30 individual projects |
Centres for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences
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Funding type |
Collaboration of particularly distinguished researchers to further develop a research topic in the humanities or social sciences at one location |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
Project-specific, material and personnel resources, investment funds |
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Runtime |
Up to 8 years (funding period of 4 years) |
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Deadlines |
none |
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Further information |
Submission of an outline before application, application of 2-3 university lecturers by one speaker, Fellow program for integration of foreign researchers possible for 2 years |
Initiation of International Collaboration
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Funding type |
Initiation of international, scientific cooperation |
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Phase |
All academic career levels |
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Scope of funding |
Project-specific, including funds for trips abroad, guest stays in Germany, project preparation workshops |
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Runtime |
Max. 12 months |
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Deadlines |
none |
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Further information |
- |
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
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Under the motto "Change through exchange", the DAAD supports high-performing students and (early career) researchers from Germany and abroad by providing opportunities for international networking. While the PROMOS program, annual scholarships and research scholarships promote the mobility of students and doctoral candidates, short-term research scholarships or the Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME) enable postdoctoral researchers to spend longer research periods abroad. |
Important links:
Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience (PRIME)
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Funding type
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Promotion of international mobility in the postdoctoral phase through a fixed-term position at a German university |
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Phase |
Early postdoc phase |
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Scope of funding |
Employment according to TV-L or TV-H E13, limited to 18 months, foreign allowance |
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Runtime |
12 months (phase abroad), followed by 6 months (integration phase) |
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Deadlines |
usually August |
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Further information |
A very good doctoral degree is required (at least magna cum laude), application possible up to four years after the doctorate |
Research fellowships - short fellowships for postdocs
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Funding type |
Implementation of a self-selected research project in all subject areas at an institute abroad to qualify for a later career in science, business or the cultural sector. |
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Phase |
Early postdoc phase |
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Scope of funding |
Monthly basic grant, foreign allowance, family allowance if applicable |
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Runtime |
3-6 months |
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Deadlines |
usually november |
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Further information |
A very good doctoral degree is required (at least magna cum laude), application possible up to four years after the doctorate. |
Funding from the federal government
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Federal ministries from various departments, but in particular the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), support the implementation of research and innovation projects within the framework of topic-specific and open-topic funding programs. The BMBF's broad range of funding is tailored to important fields of innovation or technology, but also to different social challenges and starting conditions. Funding guidelines for individual programs or funding priorities are published as announcements in the Federal Gazette. The High-Tech Strategy 2025 forms the strategic umbrella for the Federal Government's research and innovation policy. |
Important links:
Other ministries:
Research funding from the state
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The Hessian Ministry of Science and Culture (HMWK) has been funding top-level research in Hesse since 2008 in the sense of location development with a regional focus through the five open-topic funding lines of the State Offensive for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE). LOEWE supports outstanding individual and joint scientific projects, in particular intensive networking between science, non-university research and industry. The aim of this research funding program is to support universities in further developing their profile and implementing their strategic goals. |
Important links:
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Funding type |
LOEWE centers, funding line 1: Funding of already established research networks for further development into internationally visible and competitive research complexes |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
6-24 M (1,5-6M p.a.) in the build-up phase, 4,5-18M in the stabilization phase |
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Runtime |
7 years (4+3) |
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Deadlines |
Depending on call for application |
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Further information |
Strategic appointments and promotion of young academics is essential. Young talent is essential, application in two-stage procedure (outline, full proposal) |
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Funding type
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LOEWE Research cluster, funding line 2: Promotion of the expansion of research areas with significant preliminary work on research priorities |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
2-4,8M (0,5-1,2M p.a.) |
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Runtime |
4 years |
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Deadlines |
Depending on call for application |
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Further information |
Strategic appointments and promotion of young academics is essential. Young talent is essential, application in two-stage procedure (outline, full proposal) |
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Funding type
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LOEWE-Verbundprojekte, funding line 3: Research and collaborative projects between SMEs, universities, universities of applied sciences and non-university research institutions with the aim of accelerating marketable and innovative products, processes and services (2 modules) |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
100k-500k |
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Runtime |
usually 1-3 years |
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Deadlines |
6 per year |
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Further information |
At least 2 partners required, application in two-stage procedure (outline, full application), administration by Hessen Agentur GmbH |
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Funding type
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LOEWE top level professorship, funding line 4a: Attracting/retaining excellent, internationally recognized scientists for Hessen (endowment of a W3 professorship) |
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Phase |
Established researchers |
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Scope of funding |
1,5-3M (up to 600k p.a.) |
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Runtime |
5 years |
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Deadlines |
none |
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Further information |
The university submitting the application must make its own contribution, the focus of the funding recipient must match the university |
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Funding type
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LOEWE start up professorship, funding line 4b: Attracting/retaining excellent scientists for Hessen at an early stage of their career (provision of a W1 tenure track or W2 professorship) |
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Phase |
Established scientists from 2 to 7 years after the doctorate |
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Scope of funding |
Up to 2M (up to 330k p.a.) |
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Runtime |
6 years |
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Deadlines |
none |
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Further information |
The university submitting the application must make its own contribution, the focus of the funding recipient must match the university |
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Funding type
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LOEWE exploration areas, funding line 5: Promotion of novel, highly innovative and daring research ideas that challenge or substantially expand current understanding |
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Phase |
Established scientists with at least 2 years of research experience |
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Scope of funding |
200k-300k (incl. overhead) |
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Runtime |
Max. 2 years (100k-150k p.a.) |
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Deadlines |
Depending on call for applications |
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Further informations |
Interdisciplinary and/or inter-institutional research teams of more than 2 applicants with at least two years of research experience |
Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities
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The joint research program of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities, the Academies' Program, promotes basic research in the form of long-term research projects (12-25 years) in the humanities and social sciences. It serves to preserve, develop and research worldwide cultural traditions. The Academies' Program, which is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, is publicly advertised each year and is unique in its form worldwide. |
Important links: