German Research Foundation (DFG)

The DFG is the central institution for basic research in Germany. It funds scientific projects in all disciplines and aims to produce new findings without direct commercial benefit.

The DFG offers a wide range of funding formats for research projects at all career stages (from doctoral level upwards). An overview of all funding formats can be found on the DFG website. The GEPRIS database provides a brief summary of all DFG-funded projects. 

In addition to the funding advisory service at TU Dortmund University, DFG liaison officer Professor Dr. Dr. Wolfgang Rhode is available as a contact person for all applicants to the DFG. Please make an appointment by e-mail.

The EU supports a broad spectrum of research: from basic research and applied research to innovation and market launch. Programs such as the European Research Council (ERC), Horizon Europe or Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions promote transnational research networks, mobility and solutions for societal challenges.

As a research funding instrument, EU funding is strongly oriented towards competition and excellence and at the same time sets clear strategic priorities, such as societal challenges, innovation, interdisciplinarity and European added value. It is therefore important for researchers to adapt project ideas to the specific call text (objectives, expected impact, funding logic) at an early stage, to build up international partner consortia in a targeted manner and to consider the formal requirements - such as budget, open science, ethics, equality and exploitation - from the outset.

The ministries at federal and state level often promote application-oriented research, technological innovations and scientific projects with social relevance (e.g. health, climate protection, digitalization). They set thematic priorities and programs, for example through the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The funding database of the federal and state governments as well as the EU bundles funding programs and grants from these institutions and makes them searchable according to various criteria.

The Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW) of the state of NRW promotes independent and science-driven research. The aim is to promote cooperative projects for the development of new research profiles and the establishment of strong research networks through regular and open-topic calls.

In addition, the MKW NRW supports the return of young researchers to a university in NRW with the return program.

In NRW, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy (MWIKE) also promotes economically relevant research and builds research infrastructures.

Foundations (e.g. Volkswagen Foundation, Fritz Thyssen Foundation, Humboldt Foundation) often offer specialized programmes with different funding profiles. Some focus on basic research, others on social innovation or interdisciplinary projects. They are flexible in terms of size and subject matter and complement state funding. You can also find many specialized foundations at the Association of German Foundations.

The DAAD is the world's largest funding organization for the international exchange of researchers and students. The exchange of researchers focuses on research scholarships for doctoral candidates, postdocs and established researchers, for example for short and long-term stays abroad, guest stays at universities and research institutions as well as the initiation and intensification of international research cooperation.

At the same time, the DAAD supports universities in the internationalization of their research through structured programmes, partnerships and research networks and strengthens German studies, the German language and German studies worldwide as well as the development of efficient higher education systems - especially in developing and transition countries. It also acts as the national agency for Erasmus+ in the higher education sector. Information on research stays abroad can be found here.