African-German Scientific Exchange in the Field of Neurosciences
Pre-Call Announcement: Initiation of International Cooperation in the Field of Neurosciences between African und German Researchers
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) invites interested researchers from all African countries and Germany to engage in a scientific exchange in the field of neurosciences.
This initiative covers all research questions that are primarily concerned with neurosciences. Subject areas include basic, applied and clinical topics. Research questions concerning neglected tropical infectious diseases in humans and animals as well as their social and behavioural aspects are excluded from the initiative and will not be considered to be within the scope of the call.
Aim of the Initiative
The aim of the initiative is for participating researchers to identify joint interests in the area of neurosciences and initiate new collaborative ventures.
The DFG aims to facilitate this exchange by means of the following measures:
(1) An invitation to submit posters reflecting the participating researchers’ expertise, research interests and ideas for collaborative research projects and subsequently to engage with other participants on the basis of the compiled posters.
(2) A subsequent call for DFG proposals for funding of the Initiation of International Collaboration.
(3) A “Forum Connect and Exchange” in Bonn/Germany to convene all researchers due to receive funding under this call for the Initiation of International Collaboration.
(1) Invitation to Submit Posters
In order to initiate networking and participation in the subsequent call, the posters should reflect the profile of the researcher along with their expertise, experience and contact details. At the same time, the posters should highlight current research interests and, importantly, ideas for joint research projects. Posters that are limited to showcasing previous research projects are out of scope and will not be considered. Posters must comply with the template provided below. Researchers are required to submit their posters in English by 29 February 2024.
Submitted posters will be screened by the DFG for compliance with the eligibility requirements and the scope of the initiative before they can be accepted and included in a posterbook compilation. This posterbook will exclusively be sent to peers who have submitted an accepted poster. Participating researchers will subsequently be invited to engage with their peers on the basis of the information provided in the posterbook, contact potential collaboration partners, develop joint research ideas and prepare a proposal to the DFG under the Initiation of International Collaboration programme.
Eligibility: Qualified researchers from all African countries and Germany are invited to submit posters (as a rule they should hold a doctorate and have a track record in their respective research field).
(2) Call for the Initiation of International Collaboration
The call for the Initiation of International Collaboration serves to establish and facilitate collaborative relationships between researchers from African countries and Germany. In general, the DFG can fund bilateral or multilateral African/German researcher teams under this initiative. More information regarding the specifics of this call will be provided to all participants in a virtual meeting in June 2024. For further information on the programme and instructions for proposal preparation, please refer to the “Guidelines for the Initiation of International Collaboration Programme with Proposal Preparation Instructions” (DFG form 1.813). Proposals must be submitted in English by 31 August 2024.
Eligibility: All proposals must include at least one researcher from Germany and one researcher from an African country who have both previously submitted an accepted poster. According to DFG regulations, proposals can only be submitted by researchers from Germany who are required to fulfil the DFG eligibility requirements. Funds can be allocated to researchers from Germany as well as their collaboration partners in African countries.
(3) Forum Connect and Exchange
Approved travel funds (air and ground) from the funding for the Initiation of International Collaboration must be used to enable project partners from the African countries to participate in the “Forum Connect and Exchange” in Bonn in the week of 22–26 September 2025. This Forum will be organised centrally by the DFG with the aim of facilitating networking and scientific exchange within and between researcher teams and collect lessons learnt regarding the frameworks within which such African/German collaborations can evolve.
Participation in the Forum will be limited to applicants from Germany and their collaboration partners from the African countries with funding under the Initiation for International Collaboration.
Gender 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.
Further Information
This call for proposals is also available in French:
Poster template:
Platform for poster upload:
Guidelines for the Initiation of International Collaboration Programme with Proposal Preparation Instructions (DFG form 1.813):
Please note the DFG’s data protection notice on research funding, which can be viewed and downloaded at:
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.
For questions on administrative aspects of this call as well as general enquiries about DFG funding opportunities for African-German scientific collaboration, please contact:
- Ariane Brake
phone +49 228 885-2926
ariane.brake@dfg.d
For questions concerning DFG funding of projects in the field of neurosciences, please contact:
- Dr. Thomas Baumgarten
phone +49 228 885-2456
thomas.baumgarten@dfg.d - Dr. Katharina Hartmann
phone +49 228 885-2632
katharina.hartmann@dfg.d