Recognising the importance of international collaborations in promoting scientific discoveries, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on research cooperation. The MoU provides an overarching framework to enhance opportunities for collaborative activities between U.S. and German research communities and sets out the principles by which jointly-supported activities might be developed. To facilitate the support of collaborative work between U.S. researchers and their German counterparts under this MoU, the Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) at the NSF and the Divisions of Physics and Chemistry (PC) and Engineering Sciences (ING 1) at the DFG are pleased to announce this Lead Agency Activity. 

The goal of this Lead Agency Opportunity is to reduce current barriers to working internationally by allowing US and German researchers to submit a single collaborative proposal that will undergo a single review process while funding organizations maintain budgetary control over their awards. 

Lead Agency selection

The prospective investigators must discuss within their research team where they feel the largest proportion of research lies and agree on a Lead Agency (either DFG or NSF). Proposals eligible for funding consideration through this Lead Agency Opportunity will need to have a research focus that falls within the scope of a participating division/program at both DFG and NSF.

Participating subject areas

Proposals eligible to apply for this lead agency activity will need to have a research focus relevant to DFG’s subject areas:

• 3.11 – 3.17 Chemistry
• 4.21 Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
• 4.22 Fluid Mechanics, Technical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Engineering

US researchers should review the CHE and CBET programme descriptions for research supported through these NSF divisions. Research teams are strongly encouraged to contact DFG and NSF programme officers prior to submission.

Further, proposals must provide a clear rationale for the need for a US-German collaboration, including the unique expertise and synergy that the collaborating groups will bring to the project.

Proposal Preparation

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the proposal preparation requirements of the chosen Lead Agency. Researchers in Germany and the US must comply with the respective agency’s eligibility criteria. This includes the duty to cooperate (“Kooperationspflicht” DFG form 55.01) within Germany for members of non-university institutions.

Proposals submitted to DFG as Lead Agency must comply with the proposal preparation requirements outlined in the guidelines for the Research Grants Programme (DFG form 50.01), and must be prepared according to the Proposal Preparation Instructions (DFG form 54.01) and the template for Project Description (DFG form 53.01). 

• Individual Research Grants

Further details on proposal submission to DFG will be published in April 2025.

Timelines for Submission

Research Proposals where DFG is Lead Agency are accepted on a continuous basis from September 1, 2025 at the earliest. Applications submitted earlier cannot be accepted. 

For proposals where the Lead Agency is the NSF, please refer to the participating NSF programmes.

• [link zur NSF-Ausschreibung]

Contacts persons at the DFG:

PC:      

• Ilka Paulus, phone +49 228 885-2021, NSF-DFG-Chemistry@dfg.de
• Markus Behnke, phone +49 228 885-2181, NSF-DFG-Chemistry@dfg.de

ING 1:  

• Sebastian Peukert, phone +49 228 885-2834, NSF-DFG-Chemistry@dfg.de
• Simon Jörres, phone +49 228 885-2971, NSF-DFG-Chemistry@dfg.de

Contact persons at the NSF:

CHE:    

• Tomislav Pintauer, phone +1 703-292-7168, NSFDFG@nsf.gov

CBET:  

• Catherine Walker, phone +1 703-292-7125, NSFDFG@nsf.gov