DFG — German Research Foundation (German: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
Overview: Main research funding programs in Germany and Europe
The DFG supports knowledge-driven research at the highest level, independent of political and economic interests. Funding is therefore open to all topics and is based solely on the quality of the application. Funding formats include individual projects, research groups, research training groups, collaborative research centres, clusters of excellence and infrastructure measures. Scientists and scientific institutions are eligible to apply. Funding for international collaborations is also available.
Funding: The DFG’s annual budget is approximately EUR 4 billion. The amount of funding for a project is not predetermined, but is based on its needs. Scientists with a doctorate and scientific institutions are eligible to apply. Scientific evaluation is carried out by peer review and is characterised by a high degree of transparency and quality standards
DFG: DFG: German Research Foundation (German: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
The DFG supports knowledge-driven research at the highest level, independent of political and economic interests. Funding is therefore open to all topics and is based solely on the quality of the application. Funding formats include individual projects, research groups, research training groups, collaborative research centres, clusters of excellence and infrastructure measures. Scientists and scientific institutions are eligible to apply. Funding for international collaborations is also available.
Funding:
The DFG’s annual budget is approximately EUR 4 billion. The amount of funding for a project is not predetermined, but is based on its needs. Scientists with a doctorate and scientific institutions are eligible to apply. Scientific evaluation is carried out by peer review and is characterised by a high degree of transparency and quality standards.
Programs:
The DFG offers a wide range of funding programmes for knowledge-driven research – from individual projects and support for early-stage researchers to large collaborative structures. The application system distinguishes between application opportunities for researchers and application opportunities for organisations:
DFG Funding Portfolio
Individual funding (grants) accounts for the largest share of projects. Grants are used to support funding projects that are limited in terms of subject matter and duration. Scientists from all disciplines at German research institutions who have completed their scientific training are eligible to apply (https://www.dfg.de/en/research-funding/fundingopportunities/programmes/individual/research-grants).
The DFG enables research cooperations between researchers in Germany and in developing countries through research grants for individual projects. The aim is to promote scientific cooperation between Germany and developing countries within the framework of scientifically demanding research projects. The countries of Central Asia are eligible for support due to their status as developing countries. (https://www.dfg.de/en/research-funding/funding-opportunities/programmes/international-cooperation/developing-countries)
The funding instrument ‘Initiation of International Cooperation’ serves to initiate international cooperation. To this end, support can be provided for ‘project preparation workshops’, ‘trips abroad’ and ‘visiting stays’(information at https://www.dfg.de/de/foerderung/foerdermoeglichkeiten/programme/inter-foerdermassnahmen/aufbau-internationaler-kooperationen)
With the UDIF-HAW initiative (Support for Internationalisation at Universities of Applied Sciences), the DFG has been strengthening networking opportunities for universities of applied sciences with scientists from Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, since this year. Themed virtual matchmaking events provide an opportunity for professional exchange with scientists from these countries (https://www.dfg.de/en/about-us/international-cooperation/udif-haw-initiative).
A list of all DFG funding opportunities can be found at https://www.dfg.de/de/foerderung/foerdermoeglichkeiten/programme. You can also find information on DFG-funded projects in the GEPRIS project database. Prospective applicants can contact CASIB as the DFG’s regional representative.