If allegations of scientific misconduct come to light in connection with DFG funding, the DFG conducts an investigation based on its own Rules of Procedure and imposes sanctions where appropriate.

This procedure is subject to the principles of the rule of law. In particular, the identities of complainants and respondents are treated confidentially. 

Reports of potential cases of scientific misconduct can be sent by e-mail to the Research Integrity mailbox (wi@dfg.de) at the DFG Head Office. The Incident Reporting Platform is available as an alternative. The mailbox and the DFG Informant Portal can only be accessed by the responsible contact persons from the Research Integrity team. Any information received will be treated as strictly confidential.

According to the DFG Rules of Procedure, examples of scientific misconduct include making use of third-party content in a funding proposal without appropriately indicating the source, fabricating or falsifying data, and obstructing other researchers in their research activity. DFG reviewers and members of statutory bodies commit scientific misconduct if they violate the confidentiality of the review process or fail to disclose circumstances that could result in a conflict of interest.

The procedure consists of a preliminary inquiry carried out by the DFG Head Office and a formal investigation conducted by the Committee of Inquiry on Allegations of Scientific Misconduct which is chaired by the DFG Secretary General. If the Committee of Inquiry finds that scientific misconduct has been proven and sanctions are appropriate, it submits the results of its assessment and a recommendation for action to the DFG Joint Committee. Depending on the nature and severity of the misconduct, the Joint Committee may decide, among other things, to exclude applicants from DFG funding eligibility for a number of years, to withdraw funding decisions, or to exclude individuals from DFG statutory bodies and committees.

Here you can find an overview of DFG press releases on cases of scientific misconduct in the last ten years.