Preparing for Tomorrow – Societies and Strategies in Times of Transition
DFG funds collaborative, international social sciences and humanities research to help societies anticipate and respond to future challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.
Funder: German Research Foundation
Due Dates: July 1, 2026 (elan portal registration for Lead PIs) | July 8, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | October 21, 2026 (elan portal registration for national PIs) | October 28, 2026 (Full proposal submission)
Funding Amounts: Up to €400,000 per project (DFG share; not per applicant); total DFG budget €3.2 million; typical project duration 24–36 months.
Summary: Supports international, transdisciplinary social sciences and humanities research to help societies anticipate, understand, and respond to future challenges.
Key Information: Registration in DFG's elan portal is required before submission; only transnational research teams are eligible.
Description
This funding opportunity, organized under the Trans-Atlantic Platform and supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), aims to advance innovative, transnational research in the social sciences and humanities (SSH). The focus is on enhancing societies' capacities to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to uncertain and rapidly changing futures. Projects should generate actionable knowledge to support resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking strategies, addressing risks and opportunities arising from societal, political, technological, and environmental change.
Research proposals must be collaborative and international, addressing topics such as sources and management of uncertainty, crisis perspectives, response strategies, and normative aspects of crisis prevention and preparation. The initiative encourages interdisciplinary approaches, stakeholder engagement, and the inclusion of early career researchers.
