Project and congress funding

Current Calls for Applications

On April 1, 2026, the DAAD published its current calls for applications for various programs.

Special Call for Applications: April 22, 2026

University Dialogue with the Islamic World – Short-Term Programs 2026/2027

Call for Applications from the Fulbright Commission

Opportunities for Scholars: Network with the Research and Teaching Community in the U.S.

Scholars with a Ph.D. (professors, lecturers, postdocs) can apply to Fulbright Germany year-round for a travel grant under the Research and Teaching Program. We support three- to twelve-month teaching or research stays in all disciplines at academic institutions in the U.S.

The fellowship covers round-trip transatlantic travel, a lump-sum allowance of 600 euros for living expenses, health and accident insurance, and free Fulbright visa sponsorship.

Become part of the international network of Fulbright fellows and alumni

Detailed information about the fellowship program can be found on the website.

If you have any questions, please contact Annina Kull at germanprograms@fulbright.de.

Opportunities for doctoral candidates: Connect with the research community in the U.S.!

Early-career researchers with German citizenship can apply to Fulbright Germany for a doctoral fellowship. Funding is available for four- to six-month research projects at a U.S. university or research

Opportunities for Doctoral Students: Connect with the Research Community in the U.S.!

Early-career researchers with German citizenship can apply to Fulbright Germany for a doctoral fellowship. The program supports four- to six-month research projects at a U.S. university or research institution.

The fellowship covers living expenses of 1,700 euros per month, transatlantic travel, and health and accident insurance. The Fulbright J-1 visa is free of charge, and a lump sum of 300 euros is provided for other incidental expenses.

There are two application deadlines:

• November 1 for a start date between August 1 and December 31 of the following year. (Applications open in September)
• June 1 for a stay beginning between January 1 and May 31 of the following year. (Applications open in April)

Detailed information about the scholarship program can be found on the following website.

If you have any questions, please contact Johann Baumgart at doktoranden@fulbright.de.

Fulbright Doctoral Program (4–6 months)

Fulbright Germany supports early-career German researchers who are conducting a four- to six-month research project at a U.S. university or research institution that is directly related to their ongoing doctoral dissertation.

All information regarding application requirements, etc., can be found at this link.

JSPS Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researchers

Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers (with a stay of up to 6 months, short-term):
Apply to the DAAD for a fellowship start date between January 1 and March 31, 2027, by April 30, 2026:

Postdoctoral researchers with a stay of 6 months or longer:
Apply at any time to the A. von Humboldt Foundation
via the host institution at JSPS Tokyo:
for a fellowship start date between December 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027: Application deadline for host institutions at JSPS Tokyo: June 5, 2026
Please note that the application deadlines for the host institutions are prior to this date.

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship (standard), for postdoctoral researchers
Applications accepted at any time by the A.v.Humboldt Foundation
via the host institution at JSPS Tokyo:
for a fellowship start date between September 1, 2026, and November 30, 2026 Application deadline for host institutions at JSPS Tokyo: April 28, 2026
Please note that the application deadlines of the host institutions are prior to this date.

JSPS Invitation Fellowship (short-term)
Application via the host institution to JSPS Tokyo:
for a fellowship start date between 01.10.2026 –31.03.2027: April 28, 2026

With funds from the Federal Foreign Office, the DAAD actively promotes the participation of scientists in conferences and congresses abroad as well as lecture tours abroad with this program.

Congress and Lecture Travel Program

Lecture Tours program

Female scientists at the TU Ilmenau have the possibility to receive support via the Equal Opportunities Council. More details can be found on the GSR intranet pages (only in German language available).

The DFH combines in the call for scientific events for young scientists the funding of research studios and summer schools. The aim is to support the networking of young scientists and the development of intercultural Franco-German scientific dialogue. The funding amounts to between 2.000 € and 15.000€ depending on the scope of the event.

german-french university

The CDZ funds scientific working meetings lasting several days in the form of symposia or workshops dealing with a specific topic for particularly qualified scientists and scholars. The field of participants should cover the entire spectrum of the state of research in their field as comprehensively as possible. The workshops held in Germany or China should provide the impetus for bilateral research cooperation.

Chinese-German Center for Science Support

Funding for scientific events such as colloquia, international congresses and specialist conferences, symposia, workshops, annual conferences and roundtables can be subsidized by the DFG.

German Research Foundation

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research funds events in projects and innovation forums. Within the framework of project funding, funding for conferences can also be applied for. In addition, the BMBF offers a grant for the implementation of so-called innovation forums for the new federal states. These two-day events, which are similar to specialist congresses, are aimed at regional networking. Information on the right type of funding is available from the federal government's funding advisory service at 0800-2623008.

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Among other things, the COST initiative can subsidize the organization of international conferences, seminars, and workshops for projects that are funded at the national level.

EU-COST

Fritz Thyssen foundation:

Funding is provided in particular for smaller nationally and internationally oriented scientific events/conferences with the aim of facilitating the discussion and processing of concrete scientific issues as well as the thematically oriented cooperation and networking of scientists in the narrower subject area or also between different disciplines.

Robert Bosch foundation:

The foundation is very open to new ideas, but they should fit into the funding line. Only preliminary inquiries are accepted.

VolkswagenStiftung: Symposia and Summer Schools:

The projects must be interdisciplinary and international in scope. The grant also requires an active participation of young scientists as well as a significant involvement of scientists as participants and lecturers.

DSF - german foundation for peace research:

The DSF supports scientific events in the form of workshops, (international) conferences and symposia as well as scientific colloquia related to central problems of peace and conflict research.

Chemical Industry Fund: Meetings, Conferences, Workshops:

International meetings, conferences, and workshops in chemistry and chemistry-related fields may be supported by the Fund.

Money and Currency Foundation: conferences, conference participation:

The field of money and currency is a central component of the foundation. The connection between the monetary and the real economy should always be in the foreground. The foundation supports the organization of international conferences as well as the participation of young scientists in international conferences for the presentation of their research results (partial financing).