In their continuous effort to strengthen the cooperation between their research communities, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) are happy to announce the expansion of their partnership for funding of one joint research project in the International Research Training Groups (IRTG) programme and hereby invite proposals under a joint proposal and funding scheme.

International Research Training Groups (IRTG), in which German universities cooperate with research institutions in other countries and regions, combine innovative top-level research and the structured promotion of excellent early career researchers. As a bilateral programme set up by experienced researchers with a track record of previous collaboration, IRTGs promote systematic academic cooperation through joint research and corresponding qualification measures for doctoral researchers. A central feature of IRTGs are coordinated and reciprocal research visits by doctoral researchers to the respective partner institutions. IRTGs can only be established by universities and research institutions entitled to confer doctoral degrees. 

The German-Canadian IRTG will be supported for a potential maximum period of nine years, divided into two funding periods, the first one being 5 years and the second one being 4 years. Continuation of funding after the first funding phase can be granted based on a successful renewal proposal. Both parties will accept only joint proposals by German and Canadian institutions. All joint proposals are to be prepared according to the DFG guidelines for IRTGs and have to provide separate budget requests for the German and the Canadian part of the project.

---

Termin: 31.03.2027 (Submission of draft proposals), 01.04.2028 (Submission of establishment proposals)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Astrid Evers, Research Careers, Tel.: 0228/885-3252, astrid.evers@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

This is a joint initiative between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the DFG, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), United Kingdom Research and Innovation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UKRI-EPSRC), United States National Science Foundation (NSF) and NordForsk on behalf of the Innovation Fund Denmark, the Research Council of Finland, the Research Council of Norway and the Swedish Research Council. This funding opportunity will support bilateral or multilateral collaborative research projects on quantum science and technologies. Proposals may address any challenge in quantum science, but their thrust must aim to advance research in any of the following quantum technologies: quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography, quantum communications, quantum computing, quantum materials, quantum sensing.

Research areas:

• quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography

• quantum communications

• quantum computing

• quantum materials

• quantum sensing

---

Termin: 24.09.2026 (8:00 Uhr, NSERC)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Engineering Sciences: Dr. Ina Strauß, Tel.: 0228/885-2523, Natural Sciences: Dr. Andreas Deschner, Tel.: 0228/885-2959
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

Drilling is an indispensable tool for modern geosciences, addressing a large variety of topics from deep-time Earth processes and their interaction with an early atmosphere, to understanding the entire chain from geohazards to the processes shaping the Earth’s present condition. The benefit of continental scientific drilling in helping us understand these processes is well documented by the long-running International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). The main research questions driving SPP 1006 are shaped by the key themes summarised in the ICDP Science Plan 2020–2030 that include 

• geodynamic processes,
• geohazards,
• georesources and
• environmental change. 

Another important future development is the realisation of land-to-sea (L2S) drilling campaigns that include, for example, the holistic assessment of natural hazards, the interplay between fresh and sea water along coastlines, the transition between continental and oceanic crust, ice-sheet dynamics or the formation of sustainable georesources.

SPP 1006 provides opportunities for cutting-edge research on ICDP drilling data and samples, basic research on core material, development and preparation of scientific drilling projects, pre-site surveys, development and use of ground-breaking drilling devices and logging tools, and innovative experiment techniques for long-term measurements. Proposals submitted under SPP 1006 must have a very clear link to a future, ongoing or past drilling campaign.

---

Termin: 23.09.2026 (Registrierung bis 16.09.2026)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Iris Sonntag, Tel.: 0228/885-2253, iris.sonntag@dfg.de 
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

Die DFG sucht für ihren Wandkalender 2027 Fotomotive, die auf ausgewählte DFG-geförderte Projekte verweisen, und initiiert hierzu einen Fotowettbewerb. Die zwölf schönsten Motive werden für den Kalender ausgewählt. Das Thema des kommenden Kalenders ist „Dynamik“. Der Begriff darf von allen Teilnehmer*innen gerne weit ausgelegt werden.

Teilnahmeberechtigt sind alle derzeit DFG-geförderten Projekte. Die eingesandten Fotos können sowohl von Wissenschaftler*innen als auch von – durch die Projekte beauftragten – Fotograf*innen stammen. Zudem können Illustrationen, Modellierungen, Grafiken, Collagen oder ähnliches eingereicht werden.

---

Termin: 15.09.2026
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Thomas Köster, Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit der DFG, thomas.koester@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

Mit dem Programm sollen Transferaktivitäten initiiert werden, mit denen geeignete komplementäre Partner aus dem Wissenschafts- und dem Anwendungsbereich wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse in Richtung Anwendung entwickeln und dadurch bestehende Lücken zwischen Grundlagenforschung und Anwendung schließen. 

In den trilateralen Transferprojekten fungieren Fraunhofer-Institute als forschende Partner und Mittler zwischen Hochschule und Anwendung (bspw. Industrie), indem sie zum einen anwendungsorientierte Vorlaufforschung durchführen und zum anderen bestehende Kontakte zur Wirtschaft verstärken und neue initiieren. Ziel ist es, die Forschungsergebnisse insbesondere auch wirtschaftlich zu verwerten.

Der Aufruf ist nicht auf Transferprojekte mit bestimmten Arten von Anwendungspartnern beschränkt.

---

Termin: 01.09.2026 (Projektskizzen), 20.03.2027 (Anträge)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Heidrich, Ingenieurwissenschaften 1, Tel.: 0228/885-2277, Dr.-Ing. Bastian Mohr, Mathematik und Ingenieurwissenschaften 2, Tel.: 0228/885-3140, Christiane Mohren, Mathematik und Ingenieurwissenschaften 2, Tel.: 0228/ 885-2019, erkenntnistransfer@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

In a time of profound global uncertainty – shaped by climate change, pandemics, geopolitical tensions, economic disruption, technological transformation and epistemic challenges – the call will support innovative, transnational social sciences and humanities (SSH) research that strengthens society’s capacity to anticipate, understand and respond to future challenges and opportunities.

Aim: The Preparing for Tomorrow call will fund collaborative research that advances conceptual, empirical and normative understanding of how societies envision, prepare for and respond to uncertain futures. It seeks to generate knowledge that supports resilient, inclusive and forward-looking strategies, and that informs policy and practice at local, national and international levels.

Overarching themes:

A) Uncertainty: sources, costs, communication and improvement;

B) The many faces of the future and crisis: historical, cultural and regional perspectives;

C) Scope and coordination of response strategies;

D) Normative inquiry into prevention and preparation for future crises.

---

Termin: 08.07.2026 (letter of intent), 28.10.2026 (proposal)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Sigrid Claßen, Humanities and Social Sciences, Tel.: 0228/885-2209, Anna Knaps, Social and Behavioural, Sciences, Tel.: 0228/885-3031, Niklas Hebing, Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tel.: 0228/885-2949, t-ap@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

Die Ausschreibung richtet sich an Hochschulen, die sich durch den Betrieb eines Datenspeichersystems an den Aufgaben eines oder mehrerer NFDI-Konsortien beteiligen oder dies planen. Gefördert werden können den Programmgrundsätzen entsprechend nur reine Investitionskosten, und zwar für alle Arten von Speichersystemen, unabhängig von der Art der Nutzung, wie z. B. Datenbereitstellung, Langzeitarchivierung, georedundante Datenspiegelung oder im Rahmen von Datenprozessierung. Es gilt die übliche hälftige Finanzierung aus Landesmitteln.

In dieser konzertierten Aktion entfällt die (sonst übliche) Anforderung, dass die Beschaffung des beantragten Geräts direkt mit laufenden oder geplanten Forschungsvorhaben begründet werden muss. Da das Vorhalten und Bereitstellen der Daten vor dem Hintergrund erfolgt, dass eine weitere Nutzung noch nicht unmittelbar absehbar ist, muss stattdessen die Beschaffung der Speichersysteme durch die Bedarfe der damit zu versorgenden NFDI-Konsortien hergeleitet werden. Dabei ist auch eine nur anteilige Bedarfsdeckung durch ein System sowie die Unterstützung eines Konsortiums durch mehrere Standorte bzw. Anträge möglich. Entsprechend müssen die Konsortien im Antrag ihre Bedarfe konkret darlegen und den Umfang plausibel belegen können. Dies setzt voraus, dass Anträge im Vorfeld bestmöglich koordiniert werden. Außerdem soll in den Anträgen dargelegt werden, wie die Schnittstelle zwischen den Betreibenden des Speichersystems und der NFDI ausgestaltet wird, um eine angemessene Integration des Systems in das Gesamtkonzept der NFDI zu gewährleisten.

---

Termin: 14.07.2026 (Absichtserklärung); 06.10.2026 (Vollanträge)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Wissenschaftliche Geräte und Informationstechnik: Tobias Schwabe, Tel.: 0228/885-2471, tobias.schwabe@dfg.de, Stefan Winkler-Nees, Tel.: 0228/885-2578, stefan.winkler-nees@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

Germany has established a world-leading fleet of research vessels that operates in all parts of the ocean and can host a large range of scientific equipment to tackle most challenges that are faced in ocean sciences. The research vessels serve as platforms supporting highly specialised missions and increasingly interdisciplinary research teams. They also play an important role in the training and education of researchers in early career phases and students. The Infrastructure Priority Programme “Research Vessels” (SPP 2520) offers funding to address emerging questions and future challenges related to vessel-based research.

In the current programme phase (2026–2031), research is centred around five overarching themes:

1. the oceans in a changing Climate, 
2. ocean interfaces and biogeochemical cycles, 
3. ocean-lithosphere dynamics 
4. ocean-biosphere interactions, 
5. ocean-based new technologies and Innovation.

---

Termin: 02.12.2026 (Registrierung bis 30.11.2026)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Tim Haarmann, Tel.: 0228/885-2328, tim.haarmann@dfg.de, Inga Rechenberg, Tel.: 0228/885-2711, inga.rechenberg@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO) are pleased to announce a funding opportunity for joint Dutch-German research projects. The funding opportunity is planned as a three-year pilot for a joint Lead Agency Procedure with the NWO Domain Science. It is open for proposals that fit the scope of the NWO Domain Science and the corresponding DFG review boards.

Dutch-German research teams are invited to submit their joint research proposals within the scope of basic research in the remit of the NWO Domain Science (Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics) and the corresponding DFG review boards.

---

Termin: Proposals can be submitted at any time during the three-year pilot phase: 6 August 2024 until 30 July 2027
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Michael Sommerhof, Tel.: 0228/885-2017, michael.sommerhof@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

During the first funding period, the DFG Priority Programme “Combinatorial Synergies” has established itself as a new and internationally visible combinatorics network in Germany. Through targeted funding of projects and activities, such as workshops, Mercator Fellowships and Dive into Research formats, the SPP Combinatorial Synergies facilitated substantial and innovative mathematical research within and across the thematic areas described below.

In the upcoming second funding period, the individual projects in the Priority Programme concern combinatorial synergies in themes ranging from fundamental mathematical research to applications. The programme will continue to revolve around the following nine themes: 

• enumeration 

• Dynkin classification

• commutative algebra 

• matroids 

• convexity

• lattice points

• statistics

• non-linear optimisation 

• mathematical physics 

---

Termin: 30.11.2026 (Registrierung bis 16.11.2026)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Carsten Balleier, Tel.: 0228/885-2063, carsten.balleier@dfg.de, Luka Madunic, Tel.: 0228/885-2883, luka.madunic@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

The SPP 2431 aims to facilitate research that exploits the potential of new forms of data and data generation, and that drives a surge in methodological innovations to improve data quality. It will integrate and consolidate skills, knowledge and expertise from different fields of empirical social research and computer science, and provide the means to test new methods and procedures of data generation and data analytics. Its objective is to develop high-quality best-practice examples of methods for generating, collecting and integrating data, with the aim of enhancing data quality. These methods have the potential to be implemented in existing panel studies, new data collection programmes and data analytic approaches.

---

Termin: 10.04.2026 (kurze, einseitige, Darstellung der Projektidee per Mail an die Koordinatorin: (anika.schenck-fontaine@lifbi.de), 08.05.2026, 11:00 bis 17:00 Uhr (Vorbereitungsworkshop), 16.09.2026 (Anträge), 09.09.2026 (Registrierung)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Eckard Kämper, Tel.: 0228/885-2270, eckard.kaemper@dfg.de, Jennifer Seemann, Tel.: 0228/885-2380, jennifer.seemann@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

The first funding period of SPP 2411 (LOOPS 1.0) established cortico-subcortical loops as a framework for studying adaptive sensing across mammalian species and sensory modalities. Research during LOOPS 1.0 demonstrated that sensory representations in cortical and subcortical circuits are dynamically shaped by behavioural context, internal state and experience. At the same time, LOOPS 1.0 identified several open questions, particularly regarding the mechanisms of plasticity in cortico-subcortical circuits, the role of these loops under naturalistic conditions, and the extent to which common circuit principles generalise across sensory systems.

The second funding period (LOOPS 2.0) will build on the results and questions gathered during the first funding phase and refine the focus of the programme accordingly. While the original thematic areas (context-dependency, prediction, attention and learning) will be maintained, LOOPS 2.0 will place stronger emphasis on the following aspects:

1. Plasticity and circuit dynamics across timescales:

Projects are encouraged to investigate cortico-subcortical plasticity across multiple temporal scales, ranging from rapid modulation of neuronal responses occurring within milliseconds (for example forward masking, gain modulation or stimulus-specific adaptation) to slower forms of plasticity that emerge across hours or days, such as changes in topographic maps or learning-related reorganisation of circuit function. Particular emphasis should be placed on understanding how fast and slow forms of plasticity interact within the same circuits.

2. Naturalistic and behaviourally relevant processing:

LOOPS 2.0 will place stronger emphasis on studying cortico-subcortical circuits in the context of behaviours that are relevant for the ecology of the species under investigation. Projects should therefore include a clear statement explaining how the studied behaviour or task relates to the natural repertoire and ecological demands of the respective animal. Approaches investigating natural behaviours under natural or naturalistic conditions are particularly encouraged, although it is understood that not all recording and manipulation techniques can be implemented in such settings. Alternatively, projects may explain how classical laboratory paradigms were modified or adapted to better capture the natural behavioural strategies of the studied species

3. Direct comparisons across sensory systems:

Finally, LOOPS 2.0 encourages projects aiming at direct comparisons of cortico-subcortical circuit properties across sensory modalities. These comparisons may be performed within a single project or through coordinated tandem projects involving different groups. Importantly, projects aiming at such comparisons should explicitly describe how experimental procedures, behavioural paradigms, recording approaches and analytical pipelines will be standardised in order to generate directly comparable results across sensory modalities.

---

Termin: 03.02.2027 (Registrierung bis 27.02.2027)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Andreas Görlich, Tel.: 0228/885-2566, andreas.goerlich@dfg.de, Alexandra Schäpe, Tel.: 0228/885-3087, alexandra.schaepe@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

The aim of this Priority Programme is therefore to explore the potentials of ongoing developments in the field of main memory technologies and architectures. Despite the disruptive nature of these technologies, systems software and applications need to be enabled to fully exploit them. In order to master disruptive memory technologies and their impact on the overall memory hierarchy, research efforts are required on all levels of the classic system software stack, for example:

• Computer architecture (technical computer science): innovative architectures, for example, sensor nodes with fully-persistent state; improving/adapting existing architectures, for example, issues of volatile and non-volatile memory co-existence; instruction set extensions and memory management units
• Operating systems: software abstractions for new types of memory, including disaggregated on-demand memory from shared pools; integration into the memory hierarchy; fine-grained isolation and sharing of persistent objects; synchronisation mechanisms and memory transactions; systems that never reboot; removal of “persistent” faults or bugs; models and strategies for thread and data placement in a world of changing memory technologies
• Algorithms / data structures: dealing with heterogeneity (high/low bandwidth, different read/write performance); lightweight transactions on data structures
• Databases: optimised usage of different memory types, for example, index structures in persistent memory or optimised query execution by making use of in-/near-memory computing
• Languages / compilers / software engineering: support for in-/near-memory computing; evolution of persistent state; extended type systems and other models for novel classes of memory; conversion of legacy software; potential bugs related to the new technology

---

Termin: 05.03.2025 (Registrierung bis 19.02.2025)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Valentina Damerow, Tel.: 0228/885-2868, valentina.damerow@dfg.de, Constanze Grunwald,Tel.: 0228/885-2973, constanze.grunwald@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

The polar regions play a key role in the global climate, and interdisciplinary approaches such as those in this Priority Programme make a particular contribution to understanding them. The Priority Programme ensures that German researchers in the natural sciences can participate in international polar research, especially in the early stages of their careers. Above all, however, it gives researchers at German universities access to Antarctica and enables them to use the necessary infrastructure provided by the partner institutions. During the current program phase (2025–2030), proposed research projects should align with one or more of the following overarching topics:

• Dynamics of Climate System Components
• Response to Environmental Change
• Connectivity and Exchange in Polar Systems
• Improved Understanding of Polar Processes and Mechanisms

These overarching research topics are underpinned by over 60 specific research questions and will help to clarify the role of Antarctica in the earth system. Projects with geological questions should focus on the recent history of Antarctica (not older than about 34 million years).

---

Termin: 02.11.2026 (Registrierung bis 26.10.2026)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Ismene Seeberg-Elverfeldt, Tel.: 0228/885-2825, ismene.seeberg-elverfeldt@dfg.de, Ute Bennerscheid, Tel.: 0228/885-2455, Ute.Bennerscheid@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

HALO plays a key role in atmospheric research in Germany. It is a state-of-the-art airborne platform specifically equipped with modern in situ and remote sensing instruments. HALO enables Earth System research on a high international level. Main foci of the scientific investigations are:

a) sources, properties and processing of aerosol particles,

b) formation, evolution and radiative effects of clouds and precipitation,

c) transport and dynamics in the troposphere and lower stratosphere,

d) transport and transformation of chemical composition,

e) atmospheric coupling processes.

---

Termin: 27.11.2026 (Registrierung bis 13.11.2026)
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: Dr. Kristian Sudmann, Tel.: 0228/885-2012, kristian.sudmann@dfg.de, Pia Schmidgen, Tel.: 0228/885-2034, pia.schmidgen@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung

Die Villa Vigoni schreibt im Rahmen einer Vereinbarung mit der DFG für Konferenzen im Jahr 2028 erneut ein Veranstaltungsprogramm zur Förderung der Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften in Deutschland und Italien aus.
Ziel des Programms ist unter anderem die Exploration aktueller Herausforderungen in den Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften aus vergleichender deutscher und italienischer Perspektive sowie die Verstärkung neuer Verbindungen zwischen deutscher und italienischer Wissenschaft. Dabei müssen nicht zwingend ausschließlich deutsch-italienische Themen behandelt werden.

Die eingereichten Projekte müssen einen Beitrag zum institutionellen Auftrag der Villa Vigoni leisten, „die deutsch-italienischen Beziehungen im europäischen Kontext in den Bereichen Wissenschaft, Bildung und Kultur“ zu fördern, und auch eine Begegnung von Wissenschaftler*innen in frühen Karrierephasen ermöglichen.

Kern des Programms sind die Villa-Vigoni-Gespräche. Diese gelten Themen, die die aktuellen Debatten zur Kultur, Geschichte und Gesellschaft Europas vertiefen. Im Mittelpunkt steht die intensive Auseinandersetzung im Gespräch, die sich bewusst von den üblichen Konferenzformaten unterscheidet. Es wird daher empfohlen, den Kreis der Teilnehmer*innen ist auf maximal 22 Personen zu begrenzen. 

---

Termin: 01.12.2026
Adresse: DFG, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn
Kontakt: DFG, Gruppe Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften: Dr. Niklas Hebing, Tel.: 0228/885-2949, niklas.hebing@dfg.de
Weitere Informationen: Ausschreibung