Infrastructure Priority Programme “Research Vessels” (SPP 2520)
In September 2024, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) decided to establish the Infrastructure Priority Programme “Research Vessels” (SPP 2520) for a first funding period of six years running from 2026 to 2031. From October to December 2024, first proposals can be submitted for an individual funding period of up to three years starting in January 2026 or later. The subsequent calls will be published every year in July for projects starting earliest in January of the year after next.
Germany has established a world-leading fleet of research vessels that operates in all parts of the ocean and can host a large range of scientific equipment to tackle most challenges that are faced in ocean sciences. The research vessels serve as platforms supporting highly specialised missions and increasingly interdisciplinary research teams. They also play an important role in training and education of researchers in early career phases and students. The Infrastructure Priority Programme “Research Vessels” (SPP 2520) offers funding to address emerging questions and future challenges related to vessel-based research. Major aims are to support marine research including a strong participation of university groups. The programme provides a funding scheme for participation in vessel expeditions and initial analysis of samples and data.
In the current programme phase (2026–2031), research is centered around five overarching themes:
1) The oceans in a changing climate
2) Ocean interfaces and biogeochemical cycles
3) Ocean-lithosphere dynamics
4) Ocean-biosphere interactions
5) Ocean-based new technologies and innovation
In this first call, applicants can submit proposals for cruises with RV MARIA S. MERIAN, RV METEOR (IV) and RV SONNE only. The Priority Programme will be opened to the remaining vessels with the next call, which is scheduled for July 2025. Please note that grants starting in January each year can usually only support cruises that begin in May of the same year or later, due to the necessary lead time for commissioning container transports and making travel arrangements.
Ship users who already have a positively reviewed cruise proposal with requested funding in accordance with the former cruise funding scheme of BMBF (RV SONNE) and DFG (RVs METEOR (III) / MARIA S. MERIAN) need to submit a new SPP 2520 funding proposal in case the cruise is not scheduled before May 2026. The designated chief scientists will be personally informed about the necessary measures by the DFG, the Projektträger Jülich (Project Management Jülich, PtJ) and the SPP coordinator. Please consult also the information on funding categories in the section “Explanatory notes on SPP 2520 grant proposals” in the most recent version of the Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions (see link below).
Formal Requirements and Proposal Submission
Proposals must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 3 January 2025. Please note that proposals can only be submitted via elan, the DFG’s electronic proposal processing system. To enter a new proposal, go to Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Priority Programmes and select “SPP 2520/1 Infrastructure area – Research Vessels” from the current list of calls.
After you submitted your SPP 2520 grant proposal, do not forget to submit the SPP 2520 corresponding core cruise proposal under Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Cruise Proposals for Research Vessels (GPF Procedure). For more information, please refer to the Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions following the links below.
Important: The DFG Head Office cannot provide any administrative support between 20 December 2024 and the aforementioned deadline.
When preparing your proposal, please review the programme guidelines (DFG form 50.05_en, section B) and follow the proposal preparation instructions (DFG form 54.01_en) when filling in the relevant template (DFG form 53.01_en). Please note that the forms were recently updated and only proposals based on the current template can be accepted.
Applicants must be registered in elan prior to submitting a proposal to the DFG. If you have not yet registered, please note that you must do so by 18 December 2024 to submit a proposal under this call; registration requests received after this date cannot be considered. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day. Note that you will be asked to select the appropriate Priority Programme call during both the registration and the proposal process.
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. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.
Coordination Workshop for the Call SPP 2520/2
The annual coordination workshop for this Priority Programme is aimed at researchers from German universities, universities of applied sciences and research institutions, and will take place on 10–11 June 2025 at GEOMAR in Kiel. The coordination workshop is mandatory for applicants who wish to apply for a new project under the Priority Programme in the coming call for proposals published in July 2025. An oral 5-minute presentation is expected.
Further Information
The elan system can be accessed at:
DFG forms 50.05, 53.01 and 54.01 can be downloaded at:
For the Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions see also www.portal-forschungsschiffe.d
Content issues related to the Priority Programme can be addressed to its coordinator:
- Professor Dr. Oliver Friedrich, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Institut für Geowissenschaften, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234-236, 69120 Heidelberg, Tel. +49 6221 54-8277, oliver.friedrich@geow.uni-heidelberg.d
Questions on the DFG proposal process can be directed to:
- Programme contact: Dr. Kristian Sudmann, phone +49 228 885-2012, kristian.sudmann@dfg.d
- Administrative contact: Udo Frinke, phone +49 228 885-2742, udo.frinke@dfg.d