Collaborative Research Centres
The German Research Foundation's Collaborative Research Centres fund long-term, multidisciplinary research hubs at German universities to drive innovative, collaborative science and international partnerships.
Funder: German Research Foundation
Due Dates: No fixed deadline (draft proposals and full proposals accepted any time) | Funding decisions in May and November annually
Funding Amounts: No upper/lower limit; funding based on justified need—typical CRCs receive multi-million euro support over up to 12 years (4-year periods)
Summary: Supports the creation of long-term, multidisciplinary research centres at German universities to foster innovative, collaborative, and internationally connected research.
Key Information: Only German doctorate-awarding universities can apply; non-university and international partners may participate.
Description
The Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) programme, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), enables German universities and equivalent higher education institutions to establish long-term, multidisciplinary research hubs. These centres (including CRC/Transregio consortia) are designed to support innovative, complex research projects that require coordinated collaboration across disciplines, departments, and institutions. The programme emphasizes institutional development, early career researcher advancement, international cooperation, and measures to promote equity and diversity in research environments.
