The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

(DFG, German Research Foundation):

Research funding programs and
international collaboration
 Introducing the DFG
Organisational structure

The DFG is

 an independent organisation in the form of an

association of private law

 Germany’s central, self-governing research funding

organisation

Member institutions include

 German universities (69)

 non-university research institutions (16)

 German academies of sciences and humanities (8)

 scientific associations (3)

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 Introducing the DFG
Mission statement

The DFG’s goals are to

 serve all branches of science and the humanities by funding

research projects and facilitating cooperation among researchers

 support the education and advancement of young scientific

researchers

 promote equality between men and women

 advise parliaments and public authorities on scientific matters

 foster relations between research and the private sector and

between scientists and academics at home and abroad
 support the transfer of knowledge between science and industry

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 Introducing the DFG
Funds and resources

The DFG is funded by* Funding in 2015,

by scientific disciplines
 the German federal government (67,5%)
Humanities and
Engineering Sciences
Social Sciences
 the German states (32.4%) €443.7 million
€345.1 million
(21.5%)
(16.7%)

 private sources (0.1%)

* (Figures refer to revenues in 2015)

Project funding by DFG goes

 ~90% to universities Natural Sciences Life Sciences

€482.6 million €796.0 million
(38.5%)
 ~10% to extra-university institutions (23.3%)

The DFG’s 2015 budget totalled

approx. €2.99 billion

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 International scientific cooperation
DFG representations abroad

Moscow
Poland
(Liaison Scientists)
Brussels Beijing
New York (KoWi)
New Tokyo
Washington DC
Delhi

Mexico City
(Liaison Scientist)

Main goals and key responsibilities:

 Contact point for scientists, research institutions, funding
Sao Paulo organisations, embassies and industry
(Office and
Liaison Scientist)
 Paving the way for new collaborative research projects in the
field of basic research and providing information, especially on
core research areas, research funding activities and on suitable
partners for research cooperation in each country
Valdivia  Public relations and research marketing
(Liaison Scientist)
 Analysis and assessment of current affairs in academia and
science policy

USA
China 2002 Russia India Japan Brazil
5 2000 2007 2003 2009
2006 2011
 International scientific cooperation
DFG Funding Programmes for International Cooperation

The DFG fosters cooperation in all funding programmes

and through specific measures including, e.g.:

 Initial funding for bilateral cooperation

 Fellowships abroad for postdoctoral researchers

 Joint calls for proposals with partner organisations

 International Research Training Groups

 International scientific events

International modules, such as additional travel expenses,

personnel exchanges, etc., may be applied for in all DFG funding programmes.

There is no quota for cooperation with certain countries. Proposals submitted to DFG for
cooperation with foreign countries must compete among each other by proven excellence.

There are no special funds for proposals for international cooperation. Proposals have to
be characterised by an added value compared to national projects.

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 International scientific cooperation
DFG Funding Programmes for International Cooperation

Initial Funding for Bilateral Cooperation

 enables initial contacts and enhances cooperation with foreign partners

 offers a flexible framework for cooperation, allowing different elements to be

combined (preparatory and cooperative visits, bilateral events such as
workshops, etc.)

 Different elements within the above framework can be funded over a period of
one year.

Research Grants

 Enable scientists to carry out a thematically defined research project within a

specific time frame (usually several years)

 Are open to researchers from all disciplines at German research institutions

who have completed their scientific training (in most cases by achieving their
doctorates)

 Applicants can combine different funding modules they need to complete their
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 International scientific cooperation
DFG partner organisations in Southeast Asia

Vietnam: National Foundation for Science and Technology

Development (NAFOSTED)

Thailand: National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT)

Indonesia: Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI)

Singapore: National Research Foundation (NRF)*

Funding principles
 The agreements allow the provision of funding for the activities within the funding mechanism for
the Initiation of International Collaboration (mobility and project cooperation; workshops)
 For all therein outlined activities the sending organisation will cover return travel costs from the
home country to the first host institute, while domestic transport as well as an adequate living
allowance or accommodation will be provided by the organization of the host country

*An MoU is currently being negotiated

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 International scientific cooperation
International Research Training Groups (IRTGs)

International Research Training Groups (IRTGs)

 Purpose: To provide structured doctoral training under ideal

conditions using well-established mentoring and qualification
strategies in an international environment

 Eligibility: Research universities together with their foreign

partner universities

 Duration: 4.5 years per funding period, maximum of nine years

 Particular features: Complementary funding through the foreign

partner organisation

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 International scientific cooperation
International Research Training Groups (IRTGs)

Expected benefits
DFG funded International Research Training Groups in:
 higher scientific innovation potential 10
Canada 2 3 6 1

9
USA 3 4 2 1

 broader theoretical and methodological 8

China 2 2

training of doctoral candidates 7

Japan 1 2

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Netherlands 1 2

 development of common standards for 5

Sweden 1 1 1

“design” of the doctorate 4

France 1 1

3
Great Britain 2

 symmetric approach to exchange 2

Russian Federation 1 1

1
15 more countries* 6 2 7
knowledge and researchers between 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

international institutions Humanities and Life Sciences Natural Sciences Engineering Sciences
Social Sciences

*Argentina, Australia, Brasil, Denmark, Estonia, India, Israel,

 no brain drain Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Austria, Poland, Spain, South
Korea and Czech Republic
 new generation of international
scientists!

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 International scientific cooperation
Collaborative Research Centres (CRC)

Collaborative Research Centres (CRC)

 Purpose: To create a core research focus at a university

through the long-term promotion of interdisciplinary
cooperation within the framework of a coordinated programme

 Eligibility: Research universities

 Duration: Up to 12 years, with each funding period encom-

passing four years

 Particular features: CRC/Transregios are supported by

multiple (usually up to three) university locations

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 International scientific cooperation
Collaborative Research Centres/Transregio

CRC 564:
“Sustainable Land Use and Rural Development
in Mountainous Regions of Southeast Asia”

 2000-2012, concluded in June 2014

 German institutions
 Hohenheim University

Partners in Vietnam Partners in Thailand

Hanoi University of Agriculture Chiang Mai University
Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry Kasetart University
National Institute of Animal Husbandry Maejo University
Silpakorn University

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 Thank you for your attention!

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