DFG-CAPES Collaborative Research Initiative
Joint call for Brazilian-German research projects in the field of production and manufacturing technology
Within the scope of their Cooperation Agreement, the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) are pleased to announce a joint call for German-Brazilian research projects in the field of production and manufacturing technology with a focus on research on production and manufacturing systems and processes, considering the application of advanced concepts and technologies: advanced digitalisation, industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimisation and simulation, in order to improve the efficiency, productivity, energy efficiency, resilience and sustainability of production systems.
The researchers involved in the funded bilateral projects in each discipline may collaborate by means of workshops, meetings or other collaborative activities.
The proposals for German-Brazilian research projects have to be submitted to the DFG according to the following rules:
- The cooperation with Brazilian partners, which is a prerequisite for proposal submission, has to be based on an already existing cooperation between these partners with substantial preliminary joint research.
- Researchers may apply for a funding period of up to two years with the possibility of a renewal for a period of two more years.
- Proposals have to be written in English and must be submitted to both organisations in parallel in accordance with the proposal preparation requirements of each side, respectively. For German groups, this means submission via elan, the DFG’s electronic proposal processing system, according to the guidelines for the Research Grants Programme (DFG form 50.01, see link below).
- After logging in, please use the link “Proposal for a Research Grant” in the Proposal Forms column. Please select the relevant call: BRASILIEN CAPES CRI-SCMfg 2023 – Joint Research Grants.
- The proposal of the Brazilian partner has to be submitted as an annex to the DFG proposal.
- The proposals have to be submitted to DFG and CAPES by 19 February 2024.
In addition to the guidelines of the DFG, the following considerations have to be taken into account:
- Description of already jointly realised scientific-technological cooperation and exchange between the German and Brazilian partners on which the submitted proposal is based.
- Description of the added value of the cooperation in comparison to a proposal without international cooperation.
If you are using the DFG’s elan system for the first time, please note that you will need to register before using the system. Registration must be completed by 14 February 2024 in order to submit a proposal. Allow at least two business days to process your registration.
These opportunities follow the general DFG funding lines and budgets. There are no additional funds available, and proposals must succeed on the strengths of their intellectual merit in comparison with other proposals within the same research area. Funding of the joint research projects is contingent upon positive assessment by both funding organisations. Joint German-Brazilian projects will be co-funded by CAPES; unilateral funding of only one part of a project is not possible.
Specific instructions for applicants from Germany
Applicants to be funded by the DFG are required to fulfil the eligibility requirements of the DFG´s Research Grants Programme. This includes the duty to cooperate (“Kooperationspflicht”) within Germany for members of non-university institutions with permanent positions. Please note that any duty to cooperate for DFG applicants at non-university research institutions can only be fulfilled through cooperation with a partner at a German university. For more information, see the corresponding guidelines for the Research Grants Programme (DFG forms 50.01 and 55.01, see links below).
While via elan, only the budget figures for the German applicant(s) have to be provided, the proposal itself should contain not only the German budget part but also a budget overview for the Brazilian part so as to provide comprehensive information to the reviewers. In the proposal submitted by the German applicant(s) to the DFG, an academic curriculum vitae for all Brazilian principal investigators should be submitted to complete the reviewers’ information.
Note that only Germany-based applicants should be entered as “applicants”. Country partners (and potential further international partners) should be entered as “cooperation partners”. Employees whose positions are requested for funding should not be assigned to this category.
Specific instructions for applicants from CAPES
The Brazilian researchers submit their proposals with an identical scientific core in parallel to CAPES. The applicants have to be eligible according to the guidelines of CAPES. The German cooperation partners have to be mentioned in the Brazilian proposal. Information about the call on the Brazilian side including formal aspects and evaluation is available at CAPES. Funding for approved proposals will be provided approximately twelve months after the launch of the call.
Equity and diversity
The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness.
Good research practice
Please note that according to a resolution of the DFG General Assembly, as of 1 August 2019, DFG funding may only be awarded to institutions that have implemented the guidelines laid down in the Code of Conduct for Safeguarding Good Research Practice in their own regulations in a legally binding manner. This means that also for international proposals, funding from the DFG can only be received if the guidelines for safeguarding good research practice (see link below) have been implemented by the German applicant´s institution. If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the Research Integrity Team at the DFG Head Office (see contact below). Further information regarding the implementation can be found on the Research Integrity website (see link below).
Timeline and notification of results
- Call opening: 21 November 2023
- Call closure: 19 February 2024
- Assessment of results: October 2024
- Communication of results: November 2024
- Approximate beginning of funding: January 2025
Further Information
To submit a proposal to the DFG, please follow the “Guidelines for the Research Grants Programme“ (DFG form 50.01) and the ”Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals” (DFG form 54.01) under:
General information for German principal investigators on research grants may be found at:
Further general information on elan:
- www.dfg.de/elan/e
- elan flyer:
www.dfg.de/download/pdf/foerderung/antragstellung/elan/flyer_eant_en.pd - elan FAQ:
www.dfg.de/download/pdf/foerderung/antragstellung/elan/faq_eant_en.pd
DFG’s data protection notice on research funding:
Please note the DFG’s data protection notice on research funding. If necessary, please also forward this information to those individuals whose data will be processed by the DFG due to their involvement in your project:
Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice; Code of Conduct:
Information on the implementation of the Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice; Code of Conduct:
Contact of the DFG´s Research Integrity team (Good Research Practice):
Contact persons at the DFG in Bonn, Germany:
For questions concerning DFG funding in the field of Industry 4.0 and Advanced Digitalisation:
- Dr. Sebastian Heidrich
phone +49 228 885-2277
sebastian.heidrich@dfg.d
For questions concerning international cooperation with Brazil:
- Dr. Dietrich Halm
phone +49 228 885-2347
dietrich.halm@dfg.d
Contact person at the DFG Office Latin America in São Paulo, Brazil:
- Dr. Christina Peters
phone +55 11 5189 8308 (BR) or +49 228 885-4550 (D)
latinamerica@dfg.d
Information on the call for the Brazilian side are available at CAPES (in Portuguese):
Name of the call: PIPC – PROGRAMA INICIATIVA DE PESQUISA COLABORATIVA, Capes-DFG PIPC nº 33/2023
Contact at CAPES:
- Team PIPC
E-Mailpipc@capes.gov.b