The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) wish to inform the Indian and German scientific communities that, effective immediately, it is possible for teams of Indian and German researchers to seek synchronised funding for integrated Indo-German cutting-edge fundamental research projects proposing innovative approaches in the academic disciplines covered by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, with a duration of up to three years.

Since this programme addresses all fields of the life sciences, interested applicants may note that it is also suitable for Indo-German projects about epidemics or pandemics such as the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Please note that in line with the general orientation of this programme, only proposals describing fundamental research projects will be considered. This excludes, for example, clinical trials or applied diagnostics. If you are unsure about whether a given project would count as fundamental research, please contact DBT and/or DFG before you write and submit a proposal. 

DBT and DFG expect that proposals submitted under this funding initiative describe ambitious projects of curiosity-driven research, which do not just benefit from but essentially require international collaboration to achieve the defined objectives. The basis for this funding initiative is the Programme of Cooperation signed by the two agencies on 25 October 2012.

On the German side, the regulations governing the funding opportunity, including the eligibility criteria, proposal and submission procedures, follow the funding line “Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants” (see the DFG guidelines 50.01). This also includes the duty to cooperate (“Kooperationspflicht”) within Germany for members of publicly funded non-university research institutions with permanent positions. On the Indian side, the eligibility requirements follow normal DBT regulations (see in the end of document as subjected DBT-Modalities-of-Participation-and-Funding).
Submission of proposals under this open funding opportunity will be possible between 11 May 2020 and 28 February 2021. Please note that this is not a deadline – project proposals will be reviewed as soon as they are submitted, and early submissions are encouraged. DFG and DBT may extend the programme beyond the provisional end date given.
Contact persons
At the DFG India Office in New Delhi:
Dr. Matthias Kiesselbach, phone +91 11 4922-4900 or +49 228 885-4900, atthias.kiesselbach@dfg.de
At DBT, New Delhi:
Dr. Manish Rana, Scientist-E, DBT; phone +91-11-24363012, ic.dbt2019@gmail.com

DBT and DFG resume their open synchronised funding programme for fundamental research projects in all fields of the life sciences.