Funding opportunities for refugee/endangered researchers
Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung: Philipp Schwartz Initiative
- Gives universities and research institutions in Germany the opportunity to host endangered researchers as part of a fellowship
- Extent of funding: Fellowship/research grant or employment contract, plus a funding grant of 20,000 euros
- Funding period: up to 24 months; an extension of up to 12 months within the framework of a co-financing model can be applied for in the course of the initial funding
- Application procedure: Only scientific institutions in Germany are eligible to apply; researchers cannot apply directly
- The application deadline for the 17th round of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative has expired. As soon as the 18th call for proposals is announced, the information will be updated on this website.
- The Philipp Schwartz Initiative's main calls are only issued once a year
- Information: Webpage of the Philipp Schwartz-Initiative
- Initial contact: Birgit Luger, Section National Research Funding
German-Ukrainian agreement on cooperation in the fields of science, technology, innovation and higher education
On October 22, 2024, the Federal Government of Germany and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine signed an agreement on cooperation in the fields of science, technology, innovation and higher education. Further details can be found in the Bundesgesetzblatt.
ERA4Ukraine: a one-stop-shop to support researchers of Ukraine
The European Commission launched ‘European Research Area for Ukraine' (ERA4Ukraine), a one-stop-shop for information and support services to Ukraine-based researchers and researchers fleeing Ukraine.
This specific initiative wants to support researchers of Ukraine by providing them with an overview of all existing actions at European and national levels. ERA4Ukraine is hosted on the existing EURAXESS platform, with a dedicated subpage on each of the 43 Member State and associated country's portal on which support services are listed in a structured way.
Special programme for Ukranian researchers
- additional funds for DFG grants within the framework of individual research grants, a research group or a priority programme according to the existing forms and guidelines for "Cooperation with Developing Countries"
- Target group: researchers (project leaders) who are still in Ukraine and whose research can be continued
- Subject of funding: funds for project implementation (individual) and living expenses up to 1.000 EUR per month per person
- Application (within DFG projects!):
- Information:
DFG: Supplemental proposals/integration in currently funded projects
- For prospective, doctoral researchers, researchers with a doctorate
- All project leaders and also higher education institutions can submit supplemental proposals to integrate qualified refugees – prospective or doctoral researchers – in DFG projects that already receive funding. These proposals can be justified based on the fact that individuals are now available for the further development of a project whose involvement can be expected to provide additional stimuli for the research programme in question.
- Funding period: 1 to 3 years, depending on the project
- Extent of funding: A supplemental proposal can be geared towards any type of funding that enables refugees to be integrated in a project, in particular guest funds, staff positions and the Mercator module.
- Application procedure: online; submitted informally at any time.
- Information: DFG webpage
- Contacts: DFG head office, Michael Sommerhof, phone +49 228 885-2017; University of Passau, Section National Research Funding, Birgit Luger
DFG: Walter Benjamin posts
- The program provides research funds for an independent research project. Impotant: The restriction of the target group to the early postdoc phase that otherwise exists under this programme does not apply to refugees
- Extent of funding: position as "Postdoctoral Researcher and Comparable" and grants a general allowance for direct project costs (including travel and publication costs) and, where applicable, additional funding associated with high production costs.
- Funding Period: up to two years
- Application procedure: submitted at any time; online
- Information: DFG webpage
- Contacts: DFG Head office (Fachreferat); University of Passau, Section National Research Funding, Birgit Luger
BMFTR: International Projects with the Ukraine
Funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space for multilateral collaborative projects to strengthen Ukraine’s capacities in jointly identified priority areas, such as energy, cybersecurity, medical and health research, and social sciences and humanities. Project consortiums must include an eligible partner from Ukraine and at least two other mentioned countries participating in the Call. Proposals must be submitted by the consortium coordinator by 15 May 2026.
For further information, please contact Julia Maly, III/2 - National Research Funding.
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