Funding Opportunities
in the German-Speaking Countries

Max Planck Research Award 2011

Excellent scientists and scholars of all nationalities who are expected to continue producing outstanding academic achievements in international collaboration - not least with the assistance of this award - are eligible to be nominated for the Max Planck Research Award.

On an annually-alternating basis, the call for nominations addresses areas within the natural and engineering sciences, the life sciences, and the humanities.

The Max Planck Research Award 2011 will be awarded in the area of engineering sciences in the field of Intelligent Systems.

The deadline for nominations is 20 October 2010.

Sofja Kovalevskaja Award 2011

Submit an application if you are a successful top-rank junior researcher from abroad, only completed your doctorate with distinction in the last six years, and have published work in prestigious international journals or publishing houses. The Sofja Kovalevskaja Award allows you to spend five years building up working groups and working on a high-profile, innovative research project of your own choice at a research institution of your own choice in Germany.

Scientists and scholars from all disciplines may apply directly to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The Humboldt Foundation plans to grant up to eight Sofja Kovalevskaja Awards. The award is valued at 1.65 million EUR.

The next application round will start in 2011.

Humboldt Research Award

The award is granted in recognition of a researcher's entire achievements to date to academics whose fundamental discoveries, new theories, or insights have had a significant impact on their own discipline and who are expected to continue producing cutting-edge achievements in the future.

Academics from abroad, regardless of their discipline or nationality, may be nominated for a Humboldt Research Award. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation particularly encourages the nomination of qualified female academics.

Award winners are invited to spend a period of up to one year cooperating on a long-term research project with specialist colleagues at a research institution in Germany. The stay may be divided up into blocks.

The Humboldt Foundation grants up to 100 Humboldt Research Awards annually.

Nominations may be submitted by established academics in Germany. Direct applications are not accepted. The award is valued at 60,000 EUR.

Submission Date: All Year

DFG's Trilateral Projects – 2010

In 1995 DFG started to extend cooperation with Israel on a trilateral basis including Palestinian scientists. In this scheme the principal investigator in Germany may also apply for and receive funds destined for his Israeli and Palestinian co-investigators.

The funding of trilateral projects involving scientists and researchers from Germany, Israel and Palestine aims to support peaceful development in the Middle East. In appropriate cases it is possible for a partner from another of Israel’s neighbouring countries to participate in a trilateral project, either instead of, or in addition to, the Palestinian partner.

New initiatives may be submitted in the form of a preliminary proposal.

DFG's Bilateral Projects – 2010

The DFG funds bilateral Israeli-German research projects since the 1960s. In this scheme the principal investigator in Germany applies for and receives funds destined for his Israeli co-investigators. The work of the DFG serves all branches of science and the humanities to reflect its role as the self-governing organization of German science and research.

The DFG is Germany`s national research foundation and geared at German scientists only. However: Israeli scientists may be added to a research proposal as "subcontractors."

DAAD Scholarship Programmes 2011/2012 - Research stays for University Academics and Scientists

• Application deadline: 31 October each year.
• Value: A flat-rate travel allowance of 700 euros will be paid.
• Earliest beginning: 1 June 2011.

Funding Opportunities for Young Researchers

(PhD-students, post-docs)

in the German-Speaking Countries

Ernst Mach Grant for students from non-European countries for studying a fulltime programme at an Austrian university of applied sciences

The ÖAD/ACM on behalf of and financed by the BMWF provide research fellowships for students from non-European countries for studying a fulltime program at an Austrian university of applied sciences, for a duration of 4-10 months.

These fellowships are intended to undergraduate students.

Areas of Study: Natural Sciences, Technical Sciences, Medicine, Agriculture and Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, Social Sciences, Law and Economics, Humanities and Theology.

Ernst Mach Fellowships in Austria

The OAD/ACM on behalf of and financed by the BMBF provide research fellowships in Austria for a duration of 1-9 months.

These Fellowships are intended to postgraduates and PhD holders.

Areas of Study: Natural Sciences, Technical Sciences, Medicine, Agriculture and Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, Social Sciences, Law and Economics, Humanities and Theology, Fine Arts.

Max Planck International Research Schools

Educating and training junior scientists is of primary importance for the future of science, research, and innovation in Germany. In 1999, the Max Planck Society together with the Association of Universities and Other Education Institutions in Germany launched an initiative to promote junior scientists called the International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS). These Schools offer especially gifted students from Germany and abroad the possibility to prepare for their Ph.D. exam in a structured program providing excellent research conditions. The doctoral students obtain grants for up to three years.

The International Max Planck Research Schools - in cooperation between Max Planck Institutes and Universities - are centers of scientific excellence in innovative and interdisciplinary research areas such as molecular biology, the neurosciences, computer science, demography, law, plasma physics, and polymer research.

Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers

Submit an application if you are a researcher from abroad with above average qualifications, at the beginning of your academic career and only completed your doctorate in the last four years. A Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers allows you to carry out a long-term research project (6-24 months) you have selected yourself in cooperation with an academic host you have selected yourself at a research institution in Germany.

Research Grants for Doctoral Candidates and Young Academics and Scientists

• Application deadline: 31 October each year
• The grants are offered to highly qualified graduates of all disciplines. The duration (min. 1 month, max. 3,5 years) depends on the research subject.
• The DAAD will pay an appropriate flat-rate travel allowance.
• Applicants from Israel for research grants must be able to prove that they hold at least a Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.Sc.)
• At the time of application, generally no more than six years should have passed since the graduate gained the last degree; in the case of doctoral students, no more than three years should have passed since starting the doctoral process; and in the case of postdocs, no more than two years should have passed since gaining the doctorate. Applicants for a short term grant (up to 6 months) who hold a doctoral degree: no more than four years should have passed since gaining the doctorate.

Call for proposals for German-Israeli Minerva Schools 2012

Deadline: 4 February 2011

The Minerva Foundation is inviting proposals to hold a German-Israeli Minerva School in 2012. Minerva Schools may be held in all areas of research with a focus on young Israeli and German scientists (i.e. especially post doctoral- and doctoral students). Minerva Schools aim at enabling first contacts, scientific discourse, exchange of ideas and also interaction with select senior scientists. In this sense the funding provided is seed money to establish new collaborative efforts. The venue may be in either Germany or Israel. Minerva Schools are funded with up to EUR 25,500. The funding shall be spent to support all junior scientists (especially post doctoral- and doctoral students) involved and cover their travel, boarding, and lodging expenses. Senior scientists (lecturers) may also receive financial support, however no honoraria. Please send proposals in English only (by e-mail) and include the following points:

• Content and subject area that the Minerva School will be dealing with
• Specific topics to be addressed during the school
• Future impact of the school for the field of research
• Planned course of the programme (including a schedule)
• Outline of expected participants including their home universities (in both countries, the participants should come from different universities; the ratio between the numbers of Israeli and German participants should be approximately equal)
• Outline of potential lecturers
• Budget (if the costs exceed € 25,500, please mention the source(s) for the additional funds)
• Conference venue and date
• Co-operating institutions
• Name and affiliation of the organizer and co-organizer