National research funding

Counselling and support

Funding organizations

Depending on the research topic and the research objective as well as the qualifications of the applicant, the individual funding organisations offer different forms of funding. These include, for example, funding for personnel, scientific equipment, publications, travel, events, scholarships, prizes, etc.

In the following you will find information on the most important institutions and organisations of national research funding.

As a self-governing organization of science in Germany, the German Research Foundation (DFG) serves science in all areas. It supports individual projects ("material grants"), collaborative projects (Research Units, Research Training Groups, etc.), and research collaborations. The DFG also funds scientific infrastructure and networking measures and awards prizes for outstanding research achievements.

Funding at a glance
Current calls for proposals
Proposal guidelines - information sheets & forms
Safeguarding good scientific practice - Recommendations
GEPRIS - Project database on funded research projects

Federal research funding is generally provided in the form of direct project funding as part of funding programs and in the form of non-repayable grants.

Federal research funding

Project management organizations are responsible for the technical and administrative support of the funded projects. They advise applicants and support the implementation of the projects until they are completed.

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), project management organization in subject areas such as the humanities and social sciences, the environment and international cooperation.

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Project Management Jülich

VDI Technology Centre GmbH, e.g. for civil security research