Networking Opportunities with Researchers from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) invites researchers from German Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) and Central Asia, particularly from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, to participate in the initiative “Networking for Research – Universities of Applied Sciences and Researchers Worldwide”, designed to foster international collaboration in knowledge-driven research in the natural and engineering sciences. 

The goal of this initiative is to strengthen scientific exchange and facilitate the development of new joint research projects between researchers from German UAS and researchers from Central Asia. Through this call for proposals researchers will be given the means to connect with international peers by submitting posters to present their expertise and to explore potential collaborations in the following research topics: 

• Digitalisation and Smart Technologies
• Sustainable Urban Development and Smart Cities
• Renewable Energy and Resource Management

While these research topics allow a broad spectrum of disciplines to engage, this call is focussed primarily on research in the natural and engineering sciences. It is the further intention of this call to promote concepts for joint activities in knowledge-driven research with generalisable methodological advancements, going beyond solutions for specific use cases.

In this initiative, the DFG will provide the following opportunities for researchers to engage with one another and develop collaborative ideas:

• Poster Submission & Topic-Specific Networking: Researchers are invited to submit a poster reflecting their expertise and collaboration interests in the research topics mentioned above. Accepted posters will be compiled in a posterbook, which will serve as a basis for networking, allowing researchers to connect and initiate discussions on potential collaborations. This posterbook will be shared exclusively with accepted participants.
• Information Events on Funding Opportunities: In March and April 2025, the DFG will host virtual information sessions, providing insights into DFG funding instruments for international research cooperation.
• Delegation Trip & On-Site Matchmaking: An optional delegation trip to Central Asia is foreseen in September 2025, subject to the success of the matchmaking. This trip would enable representatives of German UAS to visit research institutions in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, to meet potential collaboration partners and to explore research opportunities on site.

At this stage, we invite you to submit your poster to the DFG by 15 April 2025. Posters are to be submitted as PDF files through the submission platform.

When preparing your poster, please refer to the poster template.

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. 

Further Information 

Link to the poster submission platform.

Please find the poster template here.

Please find general information on DFG’s funding for UAS here.

Privacy Policy

We, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), take the protection of your personal data and its confidential treatment extremely seriously. Therefore, please refer to the DFG’s Privacy Policy. If you intend to transmit personal data of third parties, please make sure to do so only if the necessary legitimation under data protection law exist. Before transmitting data of third parties to the DFG, please forward the DFG’s Data Protection Notice to the individuals affected (data subjects). If there is a legitimate interest not to inform individuals beforehand (e.g. for reasons of secrecy or in case of a nomination or candidate proposal), these individuals should be informed no later than at the time of publication.