Research Units
The German Research Foundation's Research Units programme funds collaborative, interdisciplinary research teams to pursue innovative scientific projects across all disciplines in Germany.
Funder: German Research Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (draft and establishment proposals)
Funding Amounts: Typically up to 8 years (2 x 4-year periods); funding covers personnel, material resources, workshops, travel, and more; no fixed upper limit.
Summary: Funds medium-term, collaborative research projects by outstanding researchers at German institutions to advance innovative research directions.
Key Information: Proposals can be submitted at any time; early consultation with the DFG is strongly advised.
Description
The Research Units programme supports close, medium-term collaborations among outstanding researchers to pursue ambitious research projects that exceed the scope of individual grants. Designed for teams typically comprising fewer than ten coordinated projects, the programme fosters new research directions, strengthens ties with non-university partners, and enhances international collaboration. Research Units are encouraged to promote early-career researchers and contribute to equity and diversity in the research landscape. The programme is open to all disciplines and offers considerable flexibility in project structure to best suit the research questions and academic fields involved.
