DFG
Preparing for Tomorrow – Societies and Strategies in Times of Transition
Letter of intent due 8 July 2026 (lead PI elan registration by 1 July 2026); full proposal due 28 October 2026 (national PI elan registration by 21 October 2026)
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The DFG's Preparing for Tomorrow call, run under the Trans-Atlantic Platform, funds collaborative research teams studying how societies anticipate and respond to uncertain futures. The programme requires transnational consortia across the Atlantic and beyond, and welcomes social sciences and humanities projects of any disciplinary approach. It is now in its fifth iteration, with a two-stage application process opening to German-based lead PIs and international partners.
Details
| Funder | DFG |
| Deadline | 28 October 2026 |
| Consortium | Required — transnational teams across countries on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond |
| Application | 2-stage: letter of intent → full proposal |
| Eligible countries | DE |
Eligibility & scope
Trans-Atlantic Platform (TAP) fifth international call for collaborative SSH research on how societies anticipate and respond to uncertain futures. Transnational research teams required; proposals submitted via DFG elan portal. Encourages involvement of early career researchers and engagement with policymakers. Open to wide range of disciplinary and methodological approaches within social sciences and humanities.
Who Should Apply
- •Lead PI based at a German research institution
- •Transnational teams spanning Atlantic partners and beyond
- •Researchers in social sciences and humanities across disciplines
- •Projects exploring how societies anticipate or adapt to uncertain futures
- •Teams willing to engage policymakers or early-career researchers
Key Dates
- •Letter of intent deadline: 8 July 2026 (lead PI elan registration by 1 July 2026)
- •Full proposal deadline: 28 October 2026 (national PI elan registration by 21 October 2026)
- •Two-stage evaluation
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Build your transnational consortium early; this call gates on international coordination, and weak partnerships surface in review.
- ✓Position policy relevance explicitly, the call text encourages engagement with policymakers, and panels reward concrete pathways to impact.
- ✓The letter of intent is selective; use it to signal a clear research question and justified team structure, not to compress the full scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Preparing for Tomorrow call?
The DFG's fifth Trans-Atlantic Platform call for collaborative research on how societies respond to uncertain futures, requiring transnational consortia across the Atlantic.
Who can apply to Preparing for Tomorrow?
Lead PIs based at German institutions, partnered with international collaborators across and beyond the Atlantic.
Is Preparing for Tomorrow transnational?
Yes, it requires transnational teams with members in multiple countries, spanning the Atlantic.
What fields are eligible for Preparing for Tomorrow?
All social sciences and humanities disciplines; the call welcomes wide methodological variety in the study of societal transitions.
How many stages does the Preparing for Tomorrow application have?
Two stages: letter of intent (due 8 July 2026) followed by full proposal (due 28 October 2026).
Related on Grantsby
- DFG writing tips & FAQ
Evaluation criteria, proposal structure, common mistakes.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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