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Funding and awards

Here you will find a selection of funding programmes for international established researchers and academics run by various funding organisations. For more funding opportunities please search our funding databases.

Selection of funding programmes (alphabetical order):

Alexander von Humboldt Professorship

Award winners receive the opportunity to carry out long-term and groundbreaking research in Germany.

Bilateral Exchange of Academics

The programme supports research and study visits of up to three months within the framework of the bilateral exchange of scientists and scholars.

DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships

Outstanding PhD students can complete a doctorate in the fields of space, aeronautics, energy, transport, digitalisation and security at an institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

ERC Advanced Grants

Established researchers of any nationality can carry out research projects at the frontiers of knowledge in all disciplines. Interdisciplinary projects are highly encouraged.

ERC Synergy Grants

The ERC Synergy Grants target excellent emerging scientists at the start of their career as well as established researchers with outstanding scientific track records.

Fraunhofer Attract

International specialists in application-oriented research can set up a new research group at a Fraunhofer institute to develop their ideas into actual innovations.

Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award

Award winners are invited to work closely with a partner at one of the Fraunhofer institutes in Germany. They become part of a global network of researchers maintained by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award

Outstanding international researchers are invited to spend a period of 6 to 12 months cooperating on a research project with fellow experts at a research institute in Germany.

Funding of first-time professorial appointments of excellent women scientists

This programme supports women seeking their first appointment to a W2- or W3-level professorship in cooperation with a partner university. It is aimed at rising stars from both Germany and abroad.

Georg Forster Research Award

Established researchers from developing countries, emerging economies and transition states are invited to cooperate on a long-term research project with fellow experts at a research institute in Germany.

Georg Forster Research Fellowship

Early career and experienced researchers with above-average qualifications from developing and transition countries can carry out a research project in cooperation with an academic host of their choice in Germany.

Heisenberg Programme

Excellent researchers can prepare for a leading position in science and research and spend time working on an advanced research topic at an institution of their choice.

Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship

Together with a partner university, Helmholtz offers exceptionally qualified, experienced and internationally recognised women scientists a professorship at W3 level.

Humboldt Research Award

Researchers from abroad are invited to cooperate on a research project with fellow experts at a research institute in Germany.

Humboldt Research Fellowship

International junior and senior researchers in all disciplines can carry out their own research project in cooperation with an academic host of their choice at a research institute in Germany.

Initiation of International Collaboration

These grants support international collaboration by enabling eligible German and international researchers and academics to plan partner visits, trips abroad and/or joint workshops with their partners.

International Visiting Researchers at Max Planck Institutes

International researchers can conduct independent research at a Max Planck institute. The programme aims to strengthen cooperation and promote networking between Max Planck institutes and their international partners.

International Visiting Scholars at Leibniz Institutes

International established researchers can conduct research at a Leibniz institute in Germany that relates to their specific field of interest.

Leibniz Programme for Women Professors

The programme seeks to significantly increase the number of excellent female researchers in leading positions at Leibniz Association institutions by offering them reliable career prospects.

Lichtenberg Endowed Professorships

Outstandingly qualified researchers can pursue highly innovative developments in contemporary areas of research at a university in Germany.

Max Planck-Humboldt Research Award

Excellent researchers from abroad are given the opportunity to set up a permanent research project at a host institution of their choice in Germany.

Philipp Schwartz Initiative

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative enables universities and research institutions in Germany to host researchers at risk on the basis of a full fellowship.

Research Grants

Early career and established researchers can pursue a research project on a specific subject within a limited period of time. The programme can provide support for project costs, staff and equipment required to carry out the project.

Scientific Networks

Scientific Networks offer researchers with a PhD the opportunity to engage in multi-year scientific exchange and cooperation on a topic area of their choice across various locations.

Search funding databases

More funding programmes are available for international researchers. For more information you can either search the funding databases or go straight to the websites of the funding organisations.