Research Units - German Research Foundation
The DFG Research Units programme funds collaborative, interdisciplinary research teams to tackle ambitious projects that go beyond individual grants, supporting new research directions for up to eight years.
Funder: German Research Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (Draft and establishment proposals can be submitted at any time)
Funding Amounts: No formal upper limit; typical total funding per Research Unit is several million euros over up to 8 years (usually split into two 4-year periods)
Summary: Supports collaborative, interdisciplinary research alliances to tackle ambitious projects beyond the scope of individual grants.
Description
The German Research Foundation (DFG) Research Units programme funds collaborative alliances of outstanding researchers working together on a joint research project that extends well beyond the scale of individual grants. These Research Units are designed for medium-term, close cooperation—typically lasting up to eight years—and provide the necessary personnel and material resources to advance new research directions, foster early-career researcher development, strengthen non-university partnerships, and encourage international collaboration. The structure and focus of each Research Unit are flexible, adapting to the specific research question, involved disciplines, and broader structural objectives.
