About the DFG

Funding

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) has become the largest central research funding organisation in Germany over the course of its 80-year history. Financed by the German federal and state governments, the DFG provides funding for research projects, covering all fields of science and the humanities, conducted at universities and publicly funded research institutions. In contrast to other government-financed or privately financed research funding programmes, the DFG particularly funds basic research projects.

Scientific Quality Assurance

Scientific quality and excellence take top priority in the DFG’s decision-making processes. The respective review boards are made up of experts in the field who are also active in research. Thus, funding decisions for future projects are primarily made from a scientific point of view. In addition, the DFG also has a set of regulations to secure good scientific practice, providing an internationally recognised framework that makes a significant contribution to successful research.

Research Across Boundaries

Other key areas that the DFG focuses on are funding young researchers and promoting international research cooperation. In supporting the establishment of interdisciplinary networks the DFG enables scientists to conduct their research without being hindered by geographical or subject boundaries. The DFG also makes a significant contribution to political and social discourse by providing scientifically sound advice in various areas.

Organisation

The DFG is an association under private law. Its membership institutions include most German universities, non-university research institutions, scientific associations and the academies of science. The DFG is financed by the federal and state governments, which are represented in its decision-making bodies. The majority of the members of these bodies are scientists.

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft