Teaching & Research
at the UW/H
Teaching & Research
at the UW/H
You are here:
Funding opportunities and funding newsletter
Overview of potential sponsors
Current calls for funding at national and EU level
Health
National sponsors
In modern cancer medicine and oncological research, extensive data sets are generated and information technology tools are developed. In addition to their original purpose, these data and tools offer potential for use in further innovative research ideas. Initial testing of the feasibility or applicability of such innovative research ideas holds great potential, but has so far been carried out on too small a scale.
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Link for the call of tenders
A complete project application for the open-topic area (single stage, short) can be submitted to the Innovation Committee office in electronic form at any time during the year until the funds available in the respective fiscal year (€20 million) have been exhausted, but no later than December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (submission deadline). Note: There is no automatic confirmation of receipt, but rather an individualized confirmation during normal business hours.
Deadline: 31.12.2025
Link for the call of tenders
Funding objective:
The purpose of the funding guideline is to promote research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) projects for the clinical validation of innovative medical technology solutions. The aim is to enable SMEs to ensure the rapid transfer of their innovative solutions into healthcare within the framework of individual projects.
Deadline: January 15 / May 15 / September 15 each year
Link for the call of tenders
Despite slight improvements in recent years, almost 800 million people worldwide are still starving,
while another 2 billion suffer from “hidden hunger,” i.e., a lack of vitamins and minerals.
At the same time, the world's population continues to grow, and with it the demand for food. Changing consumption habits
in emerging economies and the growing global demand for renewable raw materials for non-food
uses are leading to increasing demand for and competition over agricultural production land. Global
challenges such as climate change are also putting agriculture under considerable pressure to adapt. In order to
improve the global food situation in a sustainable manner, progress is needed in areas such as agricultural productivity
agriculture and the further development of skills and structures. International agricultural
and food research has a key role to play here. The German government is therefore stepping up its support for international
agricultural and food research through contributions from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
(BMEL), the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), whereby the objectives and orientations of the respective funding
programs and instruments are designed to complement each other in a meaningful way.
Deadline: /
Link for the call of tenders
Research cooperation with the countries of the Eastern Partnership (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) has already increased significantly in recent years and has become even more important since 2022 as a result of Russia's war of aggression. Many of these countries are striving to transform their political and economic systems and scientific landscapes and to move closer to or integrate into European structures (including the European Research Area).
Deadline: January 18, 2024, or January 15, 2026
Link for the call of tenders
The Walter Benjamin Program enables researchers in the qualification phase following their doctorate to independently carry out their own research project at a location of their choice.
The project can be carried out at a research institution in Germany or abroad, with the host institution providing support for the project.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time.
Link for the call of tenders
With this funding measure, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) aims to strengthen the innovation potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the field of cutting-edge research and to make research funding under the health research program more attractive, especially for first-time applicants from SMEs. The funding is intended for high-risk industrial research and experimental development projects that are cross-technology and application-oriented. These R&D projects must be related to medical technology and be significant for the company's market positioning. The main objective of BMBF funding is to strengthen the position of SMEs in the accelerated transfer of technology from the pre-competitive sector to practical application in the healthcare industry.
Deadline: April 15 and October 15 of each year.
Link for proposals
Topics ranging from quantum field theory to media anthropology and collective decision-making to inflammatory tumor secretome / €72 million for an initial period of four and a half years
The German Research Foundation (DFG) is establishing 16 new Research Training Groups (RTGs) to further strengthen young researchers. This was decided by the responsible approval committee in Bonn. The new GRKs will receive a total of around €72 million in funding for an initial period of four and a half years starting in the first half of 2020. This includes a 22% program allowance for indirect costs incurred by the projects. One network is an International Graduate School (IGK) with partners in the United Kingdom.
Deadline:
- Application outlines at any time
- Applications for establishment – after consultation with the office – also at any time
Link for the call of proposals
The German Research Foundation (DFG) is establishing ten new Collaborative Research Centers (SFB) to further strengthen cutting-edge research at universities. This was decided by the responsible approval committee in Bonn. The new SFBs will initially receive a total of around €101 million in funding for four years starting on January 1, 2020. This includes a 22% program allowance for indirect costs incurred by the projects. Three of the new networks are SFB/Transregio (TRR) networks, which are spread across several applicant universities.
Deadline: /
Link for the call of proposals
To give outstanding researchers the opportunity to gain the qualifications required for appointment as a university lecturer by independently leading a junior research group and performing qualification-specific teaching duties.
To attract outstanding young scientists from abroad (back) to Germany.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time.
Link for the call of proposals
Applications for the development, establishment, or organization of research software infrastructures can be submitted under the “Research Software Infrastructures” funding program. Research software infrastructures comprise technically and organizationally networked services and offerings, for example for the creation, processing, and use of research software, as well as for access to and preservation of such software.
Link for the call of proposals
EU and international sponsors
Foundations
According to its statutes, the mission of the Daimler and Benz Foundation is defined as “promoting science and research to clarify the interrelationships between people, the environment, and technology.” Since these interrelationships are complex and dynamic, expert reflection on a scientific basis is required to understand them and lay the foundation for targeted research activities.
With the “Ladenburg Discourse” conference format, the Daimler and Benz Foundation offers a space for interdisciplinary reflection on a scientifically and socially relevant research topic. The foundation provides a venue on its premises where scientists and experts from the field can discuss a freely chosen, interdisciplinary research topic with an open mind.
Deadline: /
We need changes in our society and in existing structures in order to overcome the multitude of crises we face today. Science is expected to identify planetary boundaries and vulnerabilities, explore fact-based options for action, and contribute to solutions. Therefore, the Volkswagen Foundation is looking for individuals from the scientific community who would like to conduct research on transformation processes together with non-scientific stakeholders and help drive these processes forward.
Deadline: Annual deadlines are planned.
The Fritz Thyssen Foundation's project funding is aimed at researchers in the humanities, social sciences, and biomedicine. The planned project should be limited in scope and duration.
Deadline: February 1 and September 1 of each year
Since its establishment over 40 years ago, the Wilhelm Sander Foundation has funded over 2,200 research projects and distributed over €236 million in funding (as of December 31, 2018). The Wilhelm Sander Foundation primarily supports research projects focusing on cancer research (clinical and clinical-experimental). Funding is limited to Germany and Switzerland.
Before submitting a detailed application, please submit a brief preliminary inquiry to the Wilhelm Sander Foundation to ensure that the planned research project is suitable for the foundation's current funding spectrum.
Deadline: None
Link for the call of proposals
Through its programs and initiatives, the ROMIUS Foundation aims to promote young people's interest in science in order to contribute to the quality of healthcare and secure Germany's position as a center of scientific excellence. In doing so, it complements the diverse activities of Roche in Germany as a research-based healthcare company.
You can submit your application for funding to the foundation at any time. After an initial internal review and discussion of the submitted project, we will inform you about the progress of the process. Please refrain from contacting the foundation during this review phase, as statements about your project can only be made after a thorough preliminary review. If we require further clarification, we will of course contact you.
Deadline:/
Economy and society
National sponsors
Funding objective:
With the umbrella brand “KMU-innovativ” (SME Innovative), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) aims to strengthen the innovation potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the field of cutting-edge research and to attract first-time applicants for research funding. SMEs are to be encouraged to increase their efforts in research and development and be better equipped to respond quickly to changes and actively shape the necessary transformation. Funding is to be provided for innovative projects that contribute to solving current socially relevant issues.
Deadline: April 15 and October 15 of each year until 2027
Link for the call of proposals
Research cooperation with the countries of the Eastern Partnership (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) has already increased significantly in recent years and has become even more important since 2022 as a result of Russia's war of aggression. Many of these countries are striving to transform their political and economic systems and scientific landscapes and to move closer to or integrate into European structures (including the European Research Area).
Deadline: 18.01.2024 oder 15.01.2026
The Walter Benjamin Program enables researchers in the qualification phase following their doctorate to independently carry out their own research project at a location of their choice.
The project can be carried out at a research institution in Germany or abroad, with the host institution providing support for the project.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time.
Research and development provide significant impetus for securing prosperity and innovation in our society. Within the German science system, universities of applied sciences (FH)/universities of applied sciences (HAW) contribute to this by offering high application-oriented research and development potential for knowledge and technology transfer in companies. At the national level, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports application-oriented research at universities of applied sciences (FH/HAW) through its “Research at Universities of Applied Sciences” program. However, within the European Research Area, universities of applied sciences (FH/HAW) should be able to exploit their research potential even further. As part of the funding program “The European Innovation Union – German Impulses for the European Research Area,” the BMBF is responsible for strengthening research excellence and close cooperation between science, industry, and society in the European Innovation Union.
With FH-Europa, the BMBF aims to increase the participation of universities of applied sciences/universities of applied sciences and arts in EU programs such as Horizon Europe or other EU programs such as the Green Deal and EUREKA as partners, and possibly also as coordinators, of EU research proposals. The purpose is to enable universities of applied sciences to expand and strengthen their networks at the European level and to engage in their research priorities in the scientific community in a sustainable and long-term manner.
Deadline: 30. Juni 2027
The German Research Foundation (DFG) is establishing ten new Collaborative Research Centers (SFB) to further strengthen cutting-edge research at universities. This was decided by the responsible approval committee in Bonn. The new SFBs will initially receive a total of around €101 million in funding for four years starting on January 1, 2020. This includes a 22% program allowance for indirect costs incurred by the projects. Three of the new networks are SFB/Transregio (TRR) networks, which are spread across several applicant universities.
Deadline: /
To give outstanding researchers the opportunity to gain the qualifications required for appointment as a university lecturer by independently leading a junior research group and performing qualification-specific teaching duties. Attracting outstanding young scientists from abroad.
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time.
The funding program is aimed at scientific information infrastructure institutions such as libraries, archives, museums, computing and media centers.
The aim of the funding is to digitize and/or index holdings and collections that are of supraregional importance for research (manuscript and printed documents, non-textual object collections including audio and/or visual media, and also genuinely digital data (“born digital”), e.g., digital works of art, digital estates (e-mail correspondence, etc.), image data sets (e.g., three-dimensional micro-CT data)).
Applications for the development, establishment, or organization of research software infrastructures can be submitted under the “Research Software Infrastructures” funding program. Research software infrastructures comprise technically and organizationally networked services and offerings, for example for the creation, processing, and use of research software, as well as access to and preservation of such software.
EU and international sponsors
Projects’ results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following outcomes:
- Critical infrastructure is more resilient to natural hazards, intentional and accidental harmful human actions, including cyberattacks;
- Critical infrastructure operators and authorities have better mapping of the interdependencies relevant for the addressed sector(s) also in view of better managing potential multi-hazard, cross-sectorial and cross border crisis;
- Critical infrastructure operators and authorities have access to improved monitoring, risk and threat assessment, forecast, and if applicable modelling tools as well as cyber- and physical security solutions;
- Critical infrastructure operators and authorities have access to increased post-incident investigation capabilities contributing to better crisis prevention, preparedness, management and response;
- Effective digital tools to conduct virtual and physical stress tests are available for relevant security practitioners;
- Training curricula for critical infrastructure operators, authorities and/or first responders are developed
Deadline: 12.11.2025
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Improved, modern, uniform and validated tools, skills, methodologies and innovative training curricula for Police Authorities in Europe, to prevent, detect and investigate organised crime offences, including the early detection of criminal networks and the identification of emerging trends and challenges;
- Improved mechanisms for the use of cross-border tools to facilitate secure information exchange in the fight against organised crime, including criminal networks, taking into account all applicable legislation and fundamental rights;
- Enhanced understanding of the key challenges and best practices related to combating cross-border organised crime;
- Evidence-based support to policy-makers on shaping and tuning of regulation related to cross-border organised crime including criminal networks.
Deadline: 12.11.2025
Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes:
- Improved, modern, uniform and validated tools, skills or methodologies as well as innovative training curricula for security practitioners (Police Authorities, Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations) in Europe, to prevent, detect and deter criminal or terrorist offences, taking into account all applicable legislation and fundamental rights;
- Enhanced understanding of the cultural and societal aspects of crime or terrorism/radicalisation, as well as on the key challenges related to combating them;
- Evidence-based support to policymakers on shaping and tuning of regulation related to crime or terrorism/radicalisation;
- Enhanced perception by citizens that Europe is an area of freedom, security and justice, fully respecting privacy and human rights, thanks to, e.g., innovative awareness-raising campaigns explaining to citizens the key and evolving mechanisms of crime or terrorism/radicalisation, and how to protect against them.
Deadline: 12.11.2025
Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes:
- Modern, uniform and validated tools, skills, methodologies and innovative training curricula for security practitioners (Police Authorities and forensic institutes in Europe) to prevent, detect and investigate criminal and terrorist offences, including the lawful court-proof collection of crime evidence;
- Improved mechanisms for cross-border information exchange in the fight against crime and terrorism, taking into account all applicable legislation and fundamental rights;
- Evidence-based support to policy-makers on shaping and tuning of regulation related to modern information analysis, forensic evidence analysis or frontline policing.
Deadline: 12.11.2025
Foundations
According to its statutes, the mission of the Daimler and Benz Foundation is defined as “promoting science and research to clarify the interrelationships between people, the environment, and technology.” Since these interrelationships are complex and dynamic, expert reflection on a scientific basis is required to understand them and lay the foundation for targeted research activities.
With the “Ladenburg Discourse” conference format, the Daimler and Benz Foundation offers a space for interdisciplinary reflection on a scientifically and socially relevant research topic. The foundation provides a venue on its premises where scientists and experts from the field can discuss a freely chosen, interdisciplinary research topic with an open mind.
Deadline: /
Link for the call of proposals
We need changes in our society and in existing structures in order to overcome the multitude of crises we face today. Science is expected to identify planetary boundaries and vulnerabilities, explore fact-based options for action, and contribute to solutions. Therefore, the Volkswagen Foundation is looking for individuals from the scientific community who would like to conduct research on transformation processes together with non-scientific stakeholders and help drive these processes forward.
Deadline: Annual deadlines are planned.
The Fritz Thyssen Foundation's project funding is aimed at researchers in the humanities, social sciences, and biomedicine. The planned project should be limited in scope and duration.
Deadline: February 1 and September 1 of each year
Further sponsors
The major challenges facing our society in implementing climate protection targets and the necessary energy and raw materials transition can only be met through the efficient and sustainable extraction, production, and use of renewable resources. The basis for project funding is the “Sustainable Renewable Resources” (FPNR) funding program of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The primary aim is to support applied research and development in the field of sustainable production and use of renewable resources.
Deadline: /