17.07.2024

NWO Domain Science – DFG: Funding Opportunity for Dutch-German Basic Research Projects in Fields of the Sciences

(Pilot for a joint NWO-DFG Lead Agency Procedure) Application period: 6 August 2024 until 30 July 2027

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO) are pleased to announce a funding opportunity for joint Dutch-German research projects. The funding opportunity is planned as a three-year pilot for a joint Lead Agency Procedure with the NWO Domain Science. It is open for proposals that fit the scope of the NWO Domain Science and the corresponding DFG review boards. 

Dutch-German research teams are invited to submit their joint research proposals within the scope of basic research in the remit of the NWO Domain Science (Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics) and the corresponding DFG review boards. 

Please note that proposals outside the scope/remit cannot be considered. Regarding the review boards within the scope of the NWO-DFG funding opportunity, please refer to the document “NWO-DFG Pilot Scope” (see link below) and – in case of questions – contact the funding organisations beforehand. Especially when planning a proposal with the DFG as Lead Agency, it is recommended to contact NWO to ensure the proposal is within their scope/remit.

NWO and DFG Lead Agency cooperation is applied to existing funding programmes, i.e. NWO: “Open Competition Domain Science – M“, DFG: “Research Grants Programme”. 

Each research project must be conducted jointly by a team of applicants from the Netherlands and Germany. The principal investigators on each side must be eligible to apply to their respective funding organisation: applicants in the Netherlands must meet the eligibility requirements of NWO Open Competition Domain Science – M programme, applicants in Germany must meet the eligibility requirements of the DFG’s Research Grants Programme (DFG form 50.01). Please note that the rules for funding eligibility apply to all applicants from Germany, including the duty to cooperate for non-university researchers. Any duty to cooperate for DFG applicants at non-university research institutions can only be fulfilled through cooperation with a partner at a German university (see DFG form 55.01). 

Applicants should demonstrate how bringing together researchers based in the Netherlands and Germany will add value and advance their research. It is expected that each partner contributes substantially to the common project. Projects should be integrated but do not have to be symmetrical in terms of funds applied for. However, work packages are expected to be delivered with a reasonably equal distribution between the partners and schedules should be well coordinated. The teams of applicants should ensure there is a plan for effective delivery and coordination of research among the partners.

Please note that the duration of the projects must not exceed 36 months. 

Duration of the Pilot Phase
As a rule, proposals can be submitted at any time during the three-year pilot phase (6 August 2024 until 30 July 2027). Please note that NWO might temporarily not accept Lead Agency proposals at the end of each yearly call (for more information, please refer to the website of NWO Domain Science, link below).

In case the pilot is evaluated positively, it is expected that the NWO-DFG funding opportunity is continued either bilaterally or within the Weave Lead Agency Initiative.

The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. 

Further Information:

Original Call
https://www.dfg.de/de/aktuelles/neuigkeiten-themen/info-wissenschaft/2024/ifw-24-64 

“NWO-DFG Pilot Scope”
www.dfg.de/resource/blob/336160/1fc529be-b6dd-4a54-8886-2a992fca9323/dfg-nwo-scope-data.pdf 

DFG´s NWO-DFG Pilot Website (please check for current news and updates)
www.dfg.de/nwo