In March 2018, the DFG expanded its proposal preparation instructions to include guidance on dealing with security-relevant aspects of research projects. These instructions provide explanations regarding possible security-relevant aspects.

Dual Use Research of Concern and Foreign Trade Law 

Applicants are asked to consider the following:

Please check whether there are indications in your planned research project that possible research results could produce knowledge, products or technologies that might be directly misused for significant harmful purposes (Dual Use Research of Concern, DURC). 

If there are such indications, please familiarise yourself with the recommendations issued by the DFG and Leopoldina on handling security-relevant research(Download). In your proposal, describe how the risk/benefit ratio is to be assessed and what measures are planned to minimise the risk. 

If due to the regulations at your university or research institution, a committee for ethics in security-relevant research (KEF) or a comparable body is to be involved in advance and asked to issue a statement on the project, please include this statement with the proposal. 

Projects must comply with foreign trade regulations (especially the War Weapons Control Act [Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz], EC Regulation No. 428/2009 [EC Dual Use Regulation], the Foreign Trade and Payments Act [Außenwirtschaftsgesetz], the Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance [Außenwirtschaftsverordnung] or embargo regulations) relating to the non-proliferation strategy and the handling of potentially critical goods, including technologies, software and sensitive knowledge transfer; applicants are advised to examine their projects accordingly. Information for researchers is available on the website of the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA)(externer Link).

If you require further clarification, please contact BAFA directly. For research subject to licensing, please note that licences must be obtained from the responsible authority prior to beginning research. 

Risks in International Cooperation 

International scientific cooperation is one of the basic principles of research. However, particularly when collaborating with researchers in countries where certain research findings could be at risk of misuse, it is important to consider these risks, weigh them against the benefits of the cooperation, and make informed decisions based on careful assessment. Where applicable, please undertake a reflection on how the risk-benefit ratio is to be assessed with regard to the research topic, research partners and research conditions, and indicate which measures are planned to minimise risks. In doing so, please note the “Recommendations on Dealing with Risks in International Research Cooperation”(interner Link) and the aspects of assessment and reflection set out therein.

Forms and Guidelines

You will find the DFG programme guidelines under Forms and Guidelines(interner Link)