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Collaborative Research Centres (CRC / Sonderforschungsbereiche)

Up to 12 years (4-year funding periods)

New proposals: no submission deadline; draft proposal and mandatory consultation required before full proposal. Renewal proposals: must be submitted within the final year of the current funding period.

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The DFG Collaborative Research Centres (CRC/Sonderforschungsbereiche) fund long-term, multidisciplinary research programmes at German universities for up to 12 years in consecutive 4-year funding periods. Grants cover staff, equipment, consumables, travel, and integrated training groups, with early-career researcher development as a key evaluation criterion. A single university hosts a standard CRC; a CRC/Transregio spans 2-3 universities and may integrate international partners and non-university research institutions.

Details

Funder DFG
Duration Up to 12 years (4-year funding periods)
Consortium Required — single university (CRC) or 2–3 universities (CRC/Transregio); non-university research institutions may be integrated
Application 2-stage: draft proposal + mandatory consultation → full proposal
Frequency Continuous
Eligible countries DE

Eligibility & scope

Open to German universities (and doctorate-granting institutions of equivalent status). Funds long-term, multidisciplinary research programmes including staff, instrumentation, consumables, travel, Mercator Fellows, Integrated Research Training Groups, equality measures, science communication, and transfer projects. Early-career researcher support is a key review criterion. CRC/Transregio allows up to 3 co-applicant universities; international project integration possible.

Who Should Apply

  • •German universities and doctorate-granting institutions of equivalent status
  • •Research groups ready to commit to long-term multidisciplinary collaboration (4-12 years)
  • •Consortia spanning one institution (CRC) or 2-3 universities (CRC/Transregio)
  • •Programmes with explicit early-career researcher support and training components
  • •Applicants able to integrate non-university research institutions and international partners (CRC/Transregio only)

Key Dates

  • •Continuous call: submit draft proposal any time; mandatory consultation required before full proposal
  • •Renewal proposals: must be submitted within the final year of the current 4-year funding period
  • •Funding awarded in 4-year cycles; total duration up to 12 years (three renewals possible)

Tips for Applicants

  • ✓The draft proposal and mandatory consultation are gating steps, do not skip the consultation; reviewers will assess feasibility and strategic fit before you invest in the full application.
  • ✓Early-career researcher support is explicitly weighted in review; detail your mentoring plan, training group structure, and career-development milestones for junior scientists.
  • ✓CRC/Transregio (multi-university) proposals must clearly delineate each university's role and demonstrate that multidisciplinary integration adds scientific value over single-site work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a DFG Collaborative Research Centre last?

Up to 12 years in three consecutive 4-year funding periods; each period is reviewed separately and renewal is not automatic.

Can a CRC span multiple universities?

Yes, a CRC/Transregio can span 2-3 German universities and may integrate non-university research institutions and international partners.

What does a DFG CRC budget cover?

Staff, instrumentation, consumables, travel, Mercator Fellowships, integrated research training groups, equality measures, science communication, and transfer projects.

Is there a submission deadline for new DFG CRC proposals?

No fixed deadline; the call is continuous. However, you must submit a draft proposal and complete a mandatory consultation before submitting a full proposal.

How are renewal proposals handled?

Renewal proposals must be submitted within the final year of the current 4-year funding period and undergo the same review process as new proposals.

dfgcollaborative-researchmultidisciplinarygermanylong-term-fundingearly-career-supportconsortium-requiredfundamental-research

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