DFG – German Research Foundation

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG) is the central self-governing research funding organisation in Germany. It provides financial support for research at universities and public research institutions in Germany, but does not run any research establishments itself.

Scientist at German aerospace center in Cologne

The German Research Foundation funds research based in Germany in all disciplines using a bottom-up approach. That means any researcher who is affiliated with a public German university or non-university research institution and holds a PhD can submit an application without any subject restrictions. DFG programmes offer a wide range of opportunities for various career stages.

This begins with the funding of positions in DFG-funded projects and extends to the funding of an applicant’s own project or research group. The central element of DFG funding is what is known as the Individual Research Grants Programme. This programme allows all researchers to submit applications in relation to their own research projects.

International collaboration and international exchange are possible and desired in all DFG funding programmes. Additionally, the DFG provides funds for the Initiation of International Collaboration and has agreements with specific partner organisations in other countries to fund integrated research projects between German researchers and researchers abroad. Also, specific coordinated programmes of the DFG focus on international cooperation. They include international research training groups and research consortia.

Facts and figures

Approx. 974 employees

In addition to its headquarters in Bonn and the Berlin Office, the DFG also maintains representative offices in India, Japan, Latin America and North America, as well as the Sino-German Center (SGC) in Beijing, a joint venture of the DFG and the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Funding for approx. 32,000 research projects
Annual budget: 3.6 billion euros (2023)

FAZIT / Source: DFG

Budget

The funds distributed by the DFG on the basis of a science-driven evaluation system come from the Federal Government (70 per cent) and the German states (Länder) (29 per cent), and to a small extent from foundations and the European Union. In 2023 the DFG's budget totalled 3.6 billion euros.

More information:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG)

Head Office

Kennedyallee 40
53175 Bonn

+49 228 885-1

www.dfg.de/en

Funding programmes:

Collaborative Research Centres

Collaborative Research Centres offer PhD students opportunities to pursue an outstanding research programme that crosses disciplinary, institutional, departmental and faculty boundaries.

Research Training Groups

Research Training Groups are set up by universities and pursue a focused research programme. They offer a structured PhD programme relating to an innovative, peer-reviewed research topic.

Emmy Noether Programme

Outstanding early career researchers can rapidly qualify for leading positions in science and research or for a university teaching career by heading an independent junior research group and assuming relevant teaching duties.

Initiation of International Collaboration

These grants support international collaboration by enabling eligible German and international researchers and academics to plan partner visits, trips abroad and/or joint workshops with their partners.

Research Grants

Early career and established researchers can pursue a research project on a specific subject within a limited period of time. The programme can provide support for project costs, staff and equipment required to carry out the project.

Heisenberg Programme

Excellent researchers can prepare for a leading position in science and research and spend time working on an advanced research topic at an institution of their choice.

Research Centres

Higher education institutions can set up interdisciplinary research centres with DFG support. Up to six professorships and supplementary junior research groups can be funded in this way.