Collaborative Research Centres
DFG's Collaborative Research Centres fund long-term, multidisciplinary university research centres to advance innovative, collaborative science and institutional development.
Funder: German Research Foundation
Due Dates: No fixed deadline for draft proposals (rolling) | Full proposals coordinated individually after consultation phase | Decisions twice yearly (May & November)
Funding Amounts: No set upper/lower limit; funding based on justified project needs; typical duration up to 12 years (4-year periods)
Summary: Supports long-term, multidisciplinary university research centres for innovative, collaborative research and institutional development.
Key Information: Draft proposals can be submitted at any time; consultation is mandatory before full proposal.
Description
The Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) programme, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), supports the establishment of long-term, university-based research centres to foster innovative, complex, and multidisciplinary research. CRCs aim to strengthen institutional research priorities, promote structural advancement at universities, and facilitate collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and international borders. The programme encourages integration of early career researchers, international partners, and non-university research institutions, and supports knowledge transfer to industry and society.
CRCs are typically established for up to 12 years, structured in 4-year funding periods, and may be hosted by a single university or jointly by two or three universities (CRC/Transregio). The programme offers extensive flexibility in research themes and supports a wide range of activities, including research projects, integrated training groups, information infrastructure, transfer projects, and science communication.
