Research grants for German researchers

For early-career independent investigators (lab established 3–8 years prior to Dec 31, 2026; appointment start 2018–2023) at non-profit academic/research institutions worldwide. Supports high-impact, high-risk cancer research distinct from the applicant's current portfolio. Single PI only; no co-investigators. Applicants must have multi-year independent funding active in 2027. All materials must be submitted in English.

Joint Transnational Call (JTC) 2026 — joint transnational call by the BE READY NOW European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating funders.

DFG funding for Ukrainian researchers as part of expanded refugee researcher support. Covers living expenses up to €1,000/month per Ukrainian project leader and allows supplemental proposals to include Ukrainian partners in existing German or German-Ukrainian projects. Requires confirmation from Ukrainian university of limited or no salary payment. Open to proposals received up to 31 August 2026.

DFG funds the Ukrainian share of bilateral German-Ukrainian research projects under Cooperation with Developing Countries. German applicants can request up to €1,000/month per Ukrainian project leader for living expenses. Supplemental proposals possible for existing projects. Initiation of International Collaboration instrument also available.

For postdoctoral researchers with <5 years mentored research experience at award activation, working at the intersection of cancer immunology and computational biology/data science. Must be conducted at a non-profit institution (US or abroad); no citizenship restrictions. Sponsor must hold assistant professor or higher rank. Proposals must be hypothesis-driven in basic or translational cancer immunology.

Supports postdoctoral researchers in immunology and cancer immunology at non-profit institutions worldwide (no citizenship restrictions). Applicants must hold a doctoral degree by award activation and have <5 years of mentored research experience (M.D.s exclude residency years). Research must be hypothesis-driven and mechanistic, relevant to the immune system's role in cancer. Only 1 fellow per sponsor per round.

Supports outstanding early-career postdoctoral scientists seeking dual expertise in immunology and data science at the intersection of cancer immunology and bioinformatics/computational methods.

Postdoctoral researchers of any nationality, max 8 years full-time research experience post-PhD at deadline. Mobility rule applies: researcher must not have resided/worked in the host country for >12 months in the 3 years before deadline. Full-time commitment required. Host must be an eligible organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.

Restricted to nationals or long-term residents of EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, max 8 years post-PhD. Outgoing phase at a non-EU/non-Associated Country organisation, with mandatory return phase to an EU/Associated Country host. Full-time commitment required; mobility rules apply.

Horizon Europe RIA under the EU Cancer Mission supporting development of validated microbiome tools for early cancer prediction before disease onset, including AI risk modelling, longitudinal cohort studies, and comparison with liquid biopsy tests. Proposals must address multiple cancer types where possible and collaborate with large cohorts/registries. Lump sum grant; one grant expected.

Horizon Europe RIA under the EU Cancer Mission call HORIZON-MISS-2026-02. One indicative grant of approximately €15M. Full topic description available in the Work Programme. Consortia must include eligible entities from at least 3 EU member states or associated countries.

Horizon Europe Innovation Action under the EU Cancer Mission call HORIZON-MISS-2026-02. One indicative grant of approximately €7M. Full topic description available in the Work Programme. Consortia must include eligible entities from at least 3 EU member states or associated countries.

Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action under the EU Cancer Mission call HORIZON-MISS-2026-02. One indicative grant of approximately €5M. Full topic description available in the Work Programme. Consortia must include eligible entities from at least 3 EU member states or associated countries.

Horizon Europe RIA (lump sum) for academic investigator-initiated pragmatic clinical trials on immunotherapeutic interventions for refractory cancer patients. Proposals must include a clinical studies annex, disaggregate data by sex/gender/age, and engage patients in endpoint definition. Applicants must include diverse stakeholders and plan to join the EU Cancer Mission 'Diagnosis and Treatment' cluster. ~3 grants expected.

Horizon Europe RIA under the Cancer Mission. Requires development of multiscale AI-integrated Virtual Human Twins for cancer onset, progression and personalised treatment. Proposals must include clinical study annex if clinical studies are envisaged. Interdisciplinary consortia including healthcare professionals, patient representatives, AI experts and SMEs expected. Open science principles mandatory; data must be shared via UNCAN.eu and Advanced VHT Platform.

Consortia apply to develop an EIT Label-certified micro-credentials programme for advanced Master's students and PhD candidates in life sciences, medical technologies, and biotechnology, focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and project management in healthcare. Applicants must register in the EU Funding & Tenders portal to obtain a PIC number before applying. Open to members and non-members of EIT Health.

Open to European SMEs (≥4 FTE employees) with ≥€2M total equity investment closed in the prior 36 months. Requires 50% co-funding from other sources. Scope: biotech (IML≥5), medtech (IML≥6), digital health/AI (IML≥7), biomarkers/diagnostics (IML≥7). Applicants must register in the EU Funding & Tenders portal to obtain a PIC number before applying.

Second funding period (2027–2030) of SPP 2431 'New Data Spaces for the Social Sciences'. Open to researchers at German institutions. Covers four areas: data integration/linkage, respondent-driven designs, instrument validity, and multimodal data acquisition. Proposals must be submitted via the DFG elan portal. Host institution must have implemented DFG Code of Conduct for Good Research Practice.

Funds mature digital, data-driven and AI-powered healthcare solutions ready to scale across European markets. Led by a Commercialising Entity (SME or industry player). Applicants must be legal entities established in eligible Horizon Europe countries (EU Member States, associated countries, or eligible third countries). 50% co-funding required. Covers commercialisation pilots, market adaptation, health economics analysis, and reimbursement pathway development.

Shaping the Future of Animal Health and Welfare — joint transnational call by the EUPAHW European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating funder

Funds design and delivery of an EIT Label-certified Biotech pathway (personalised learning courses) within the Certified Innovation Path portfolio. Consortium must include ≥2 HEIs in ≥2 eligible Member States (at least one in an EIT RIS region) and ≥1 industry/non-academic partner. At least one HEI must be authorised to award ECTS credits. Focus on health biotech innovation, entrepreneurship, and translation to market-ready solutions across Europe.

Open to researchers at German institutions (DFG funding rules apply; host institution must have implemented DFG Code of Conduct). Covers four research areas: data integration/linkage, respondent-driven designs, instrument validity, and multimodal data acquisition for social science panel surveys. Proposals submitted via elan portal; DFG forms 53.01 and 53.200 mandatory.

Consortium of ≥2 HEIs in ≥2 eligible EU Member States (at least one in an EIT RIS region) plus ≥1 industry/non-academic partner. Funds design and delivery of EIT Label-certified personalised learning courses in health biotechnology (innovation, entrepreneurship, regulatory/translational expertise). At least one HEI must be authorised to award ECTS credits.

Global Health EDCTP3 Calls for proposals 2026 — joint transnational call by the GH EDCTP3 JU European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating fu

RAMP Joint Transnational Call 2026 — joint transnational call by the Raw Materials for the Green and Digital Transition European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the cal

Third funding period (beginning 2027) of the annually open SPP 1006, supporting research on ICDP continental scientific drilling data/samples, pre-site surveys, drilling device development, and long-term experiments. Proposals must have a clear link to a future, ongoing, or past ICDP drilling campaign. Proposals must be submitted in English via the DFG elan portal. Open to German research institutions that have implemented the DFG Code of Conduct for Good Research Practice.

For postdoctoral researchers with a PhD in a biological discipline moving to a new country and new research area. Must be ≤3 years post-PhD at Full Proposal deadline (24 Sep 2026). Applicants cannot work in their country of nationality or PhD country. 100% FTE commitment required. For-profit host institutions ineligible. Basic life sciences research only; applied/clinical projects excluded.

For postdoctoral researchers holding a doctoral degree from a non-biological discipline (physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, computer science) with no or little life sciences experience, moving to a new country. Must be ≤3 years post-PhD at Full Proposal deadline. Cannot work in country of nationality or PhD country. 100% FTE required. For-profit host institutions ineligible.

Joint call (NSERC, DFG, JST, UKRI-EPSRC, NSF, NordForsk) for bilateral/multilateral research in quantum science and technologies: quantum algorithms/encryption, communications, computing, materials, and sensing. German applicants must be DFG-eligible; non-university researchers must comply with DFG form 55.01 duty-to-collaborate rule. Projects must include at least one NSERC-eligible Canadian researcher.

For postdocs with a PhD in a biological discipline moving to a new country and new research area. Must be ≤3 years post-PhD at Full Proposal deadline (24 Sep 2026). Applicants cannot work in their country of nationality or PhD country. For-profit host institutions ineligible. 100% FTE required. Basic life sciences research only; applied/clinical projects excluded.

For postdocs with a PhD in a non-biological discipline (physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, computer science) with no/little life sciences experience, moving to a new country. Must be ≤3 years post-PhD at Full Proposal deadline. Cannot work in country of nationality or PhD country. For-profit host institutions ineligible. 100% FTE required. Basic life sciences research only.

Annual call for cancer research projects with Nordic collaboration. Norwegian Cancer Society contributes annually to this Nordic Cancer Union initiative. Applications via NCU's own portal. Nordic collaboration required.

PRIMA Call 2026 Section 2 — joint transnational call by the PRIMA European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating funders.

Annual call for cancer research projects with Nordic collaboration. Total pool of €950,000. Applications submitted via NCU's own portal. Questions to ncu@kreftforeningen.no.

Annual call for cancer research projects with Nordic collaboration, funded by Nordic Cancer Union with Norwegian Cancer Society contributions. Total budget €950,000. Information and application portal on NCU's website. Questions to ncu@kreftforeningen.no.

Annual call for cancer research projects with Nordic collaboration. Total budget €950,000. Applications submitted via NCU's own portal. Nordic cross-country collaboration is required.

Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds PhD Fellowship funds ambitious basic biomedical PhD projects. Europe-wide: EU citizens anywhere, or non-EU citizens whose PhD is at a European host. Experimental basic biomedical research only.

Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds MD Fellowship funds medical students (primarily enrolled in Germany) for an experimental basic-biomedical research project in a leading lab away from their home institution.

PRIMA Call 2026 Section 1 — joint transnational call by the PRIMA European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating funders.

Directly funded by the European Union and fully managed by the PRIMA Foundation. Supports transnational research and innovation projects among Mediterranean countries. Focuses on water management, agricultural systems, and the agri-food chain (water-energy-food-ecosystems nexus). Consortium of partners from Mediterranean/EU countries required.

IHI Call 13 — joint transnational call by the Innovative Health Initiative European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating funders.

CETP Joint Call 2026 — joint transnational call by the CETP European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating funders.

Achieving open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging en — joint transnational call by the Made in Europe European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for

Open to researchers of any nationality, 0–10 years post-PhD (extensions possible for parental leave, illness, etc.), proposing frontier research in any field. Host institution must be a public or private research organisation in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. Single PI applies; no consortium required.

Trans-Atlantic Platform (TAP) fifth international call for collaborative SSH research on how societies envision and respond to uncertain futures. Proposals must be submitted via the DFG elan portal. Encourages involvement of early career researchers. Transnational teams required; national addenda apply per participating country.

EIC call (HORIZON-EIC-2026-STEP-DEFENCE-01): HORIZON EIC Equity Only

EIC call (HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01): HORIZON EIC Grants

EIC call (HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01): HORIZON EIC Grants

EIC call (HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01): HORIZON EIC Grants

ERDERA Clinical Trial Call 2026 (pre-announcement) — joint transnational call by the ERDERA European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating fun

Invite-only full application stage for NERC Large Grants. Applicants must be based at UK research organisations eligible for NERC funding. Associated studentships may be available. Proposals must align with NERC's environmental science remit.

Open to researchers at German universities, universities of applied sciences, and research institutions. Proposals must be written in English and submitted via the DFG elan portal. Focuses on four Antarctic research topics (climate dynamics, environmental change, polar connectivity, polar processes). Projects with geological questions must address Antarctic history no older than ~34 million years. Programme phase 2025–2030.

Novel ecosystems: biodiversity, socio-ecological consequence — joint transnational call by the Biodiversa-plus European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page fo

Water4All 2025 Joint Transnational Call - Sustainable Water — joint transnational call by the Water4All European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for parti

Supports early-stage, pre-development concepts with potential to transform cancer immunotherapy. Targets bold, innovative technology ideas at the pre-development stage in cancer immunotherapy.

Supports early-stage, pre-development technological innovations in cancer immunotherapy (computational, profiling, visualization, culture systems, novel therapeutics). Applicants must hold a tenure-track position at a not-for-profit research institution. Co-PIs encouraged. Does not fund clinical trials or continuation of existing technologies. Proposals must be submitted in English.

DUT Call 2026 — joint transnational call by the DUT European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating funders.

M-ERA.NET Joint Call 2026 — joint transnational call by the M-ERA.NET 3 European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating funders.

MSCA Doctoral Networks fund collaborative doctoral training programmes across a consortium of academic and non-academic organisations. Doctoral candidates (early-stage researchers) must not have a PhD and must comply with MSCA mobility rules (not resided/worked in host country >12 months in last 3 years). Proposals submitted in English.

Second three-year funding period of SPP 2458, covering combinatorics research across nine themes (enumeration, Dynkin classification, commutative algebra, matroids, convexity, lattice points, statistics, non-linear optimisation, mathematical physics). Proposals encouraged to address synergies between human mathematical insight and AI-supported methods. Open to new projects and renewals. Host institution must comply with DFG Code of Conduct for Good Research Practice.

Improved system design for innovative PV applications — joint transnational call by the EUPI-PV European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for participating

Supports innovative investigations at the intersection of laboratory discovery and clinical application in cancer immunology, accelerating translation of immunological discoveries into cancer therapies. Requires integration of clinical and laboratory components.

Supports pioneering immunotherapy clinical trials designed and led by academic researchers. Requires a clinical trial focus; applicants must be academic investigators leading immunotherapy trials.

Open to tenure-track assistant professors or higher at non-profit medical schools and research centers worldwide (US or abroad); no citizenship restrictions. Funds translational cancer immunology research bridging lab discovery and clinical application. For-profit institutions are ineligible. A chordoma-focused sub-track is co-funded with the Chordoma Foundation.

Funds investigator-initiated phase I/II or phase II immunotherapy clinical trials led by academic PIs. Open to researchers at medical schools or research centers in the US or abroad; no citizenship restrictions; for-profit institutions ineligible. Emphasis on novel immunotherapy, mechanistic insights, and biomarker discovery. Up to 10% indirect costs provided in addition to award. Co-funding available for chordoma-focused proposals (with Chordoma Foundation).

Third call of SPP 2520 (2026–2031); funds participation in expeditions on German research vessels (RV MARIA S. MERIAN, METEOR, SONNE, POLARSTERN, ALKOR, HEINCKE, ELISABETH MANN BORGESE) and initial sample/data analysis. Open to researchers at German universities, universities of applied sciences, and research institutions. Proposals must be in English. Five thematic areas: climate, biogeochemical cycles, ocean-lithosphere dynamics, biosphere interactions, and new technologies.

Open to leading laboratories, organisations, or collaborative projects dedicated to fighting blindness and visual impairment, primarily in developing regions, and/or developing new technologies to assist the visually impaired (odd-year focus). Candidates may span multiple disciplines or institutions. Award funds may be used without restrictions except for commercial purposes.

Open to laboratories, organisations, or collaborative projects focused on fighting blindness and visual impairment, primarily in developing regions, and/or developing innovations/technologies for the visually impaired (odd-year focus). Candidates may span multiple disciplines or institutions. Award funds unrestricted (except commercial use); no individual researcher eligibility.

Supports the transition of distinguished postdoctoral researchers into independent tenure-track investigators in cancer immunotherapy. Aimed at researchers at the postdoc-to-faculty transition stage.

For mid-career scientists (tenure-track assistant professors with ≥3 years or associate professors with ≤3 years in role) with MD, PhD, or MD/PhD. Minimum 80% time commitment to research. Open globally; host institution must be a non-profit medical school or research center (US or abroad). For-profit institutions ineligible. Adjunct/acting positions not eligible. Funds high-risk, high-reward cancer immunotherapy research.

Supports mid-career scientists pursuing high-risk, high-reward research at the leading edge of cancer immunotherapy. Targets established investigators with bold, transformative research directions.

Branco Weiss Fellowship (Society in Science, administered by ETH Zurich) funds postdocs (PhD ≤5y, before first faculty post) pursuing independent, interdisciplinary research at any host institution worldwide. Not host-country-restricted.

Supports internationally mobile postdoctoral researchers. International mobility is a key requirement (applicant must move to a new host lab/country). Includes salary/stipend, relocation allowance, and childcare support. Awardees gain access to EMBO Laboratory Leadership course and global EMBO Fellows network. Only one application per researcher permitted (no re-applications from Autumn 2027 round onward).

Open to established researchers or teams led by an established researcher based at eligible not-for-profit organisations in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or low- and middle-income countries (excluding India and mainland China). Research must fit within Wellcome's Discovery Research remit and have potential to improve human life, health, and wellbeing across any discipline including STEM, humanities, social science, and public health.

Production technologies for solar photovoltaics beyond the s — joint transnational call by the EUPI-PV European Partnership, listed on the ERA-LEARN joint-call calendar. Funded by national/regional agencies in participating countries; requires a transnational consortium. See the call page for partic

Supports life scientists who have been group leaders for less than four years at time of application. Provides financial support for networking, training opportunities, lab member support, and mentoring for four years. Open to researchers in Europe and beyond.

MSCA call (HORIZON-MSCA-2027-COFUND-01): HORIZON TMA MSCA Cofund Doctoral programme

MSCA call (HORIZON-MSCA-2027-COFUND-02): HORIZON TMA MSCA Cofund Postdoctoral programme

VolkswagenStiftung Momentum funds professors 3-5 years after their first tenured (full) professorship at a German university to develop their research strategy. Narrow career window; Germany-only.

MSCA call (HORIZON-MSCA-2027-SE-01): HORIZON TMA MSCA Staff Exchanges

MSCA call (HORIZON-MSCA-2027-CITIZENS-01): HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

Joint Lead Agency Procedure for Dutch-German research teams in NWO Domain Science areas (Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics). Applicants must be based in Germany (DFG) or the Netherlands (NWO). Proposals outside the defined scope cannot be considered. Unilateral funding of only one national part is not possible.

Three-year pilot for a joint Lead Agency Procedure between DFG and NWO (Dutch Research Council), open from 6 August 2024 until 30 July 2027. Facilitates bilateral research projects between researchers in Germany and the Netherlands through mutual opening of individual funding procedures.

Joint basic research proposals within NWO Domain Science (Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics) and corresponding DFG review boards. Commercial companies excluded. Non-university German researchers must fulfil DFG 'duty to cooperate' with a German university partner. No fixed budget cap; standard DFG Sachbeihilfe rules apply. Proposals compete with all other individual grants.

MSCA call (HORIZON-MSCA-2027-PF-01): HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships

MSCA call (HORIZON-MSCA-2027-DN-01): HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks

Invites German universities, in conjunction with relevant ministries, to open and design experimental spaces to test new forms of cross-border or cross-institutional cooperation. Strategic projects only.

Long-Term Fellowships (LTF) and Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships (CDF) for postdoctoral researchers. Fellowship must be undertaken in an HFSPO member country. Applicants must not have previously worked/studied in the proposed host country or with the host supervisor. Excludes primarily clinical, pharmaceutical, applied engineering, or agricultural projects. Basic biological research only.