Collaborative Research Centres
Collaborative Research Centres support university researchers through long-term, interdisciplinary research programmes that tackle complex scientific challenges and strengthen institutional research priorities.
Funder: German Research Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (Draft proposals) | Individually agreed (Full proposals) | Final funding year (Renewals)
Funding Amounts: No minimum or maximum request; four-year funding periods, up to 12 years
Summary: Supports long-term, multidisciplinary university research programmes tackling complex scientific challenges and strengthening institutional research priorities.
Key Information: A draft proposal and consultation are mandatory before submitting a full establishment proposal.
Description
The German Research Foundation (DFG) funds Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) to bring researchers together around ambitious, innovative and complex long-term research programmes. Interlinked projects concentrate expertise and resources, promote interdisciplinary cooperation, and develop research priorities and structures at applicant universities. Cooperation with non-university research institutions is expressly encouraged.
A traditional CRC is based primarily at one university; a CRC/Transregio connects two or three universities making complementary, approximately equal contributions. Both variants compete for funding. Early-career independence, reliable qualification opportunities, equity and diversity, and international research networks are integral goals. Centres can include research, doctoral training, information infrastructure, science communication, knowledge-transfer and scientific service projects.
