To facilitate the support of collaborative work between German and Japanese research groups, DFG and JSPS have opened the possibility for joint Japanese-German project proposals in the research fields of Condensed Matter Physics and Statistical Physics, Soft Matter and Biological Physics. Collaborations of research teams from both countries are invited to submit joint proposals. These proposals have to be based on a close interaction between the German and Japanese research teams and should present joint project goals as well as a joint work plan with balanced contributions from all project partners. Special emphasis should be put on the mobility and exchange of the participating researchers between Japan and Germany.
Joint projects within the scope of this call can only be funded if both the JSPS and the DFG finance their national parts. Up to ten projects can be funded within this call. The funding period for the projects should be three years starting in April 2026.
The principal investigators on each side must be eligible to apply to their respective funding agency. The eligibility for the applicants in Germany to submit a proposal follows the regulations for the DFG "Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants" funding programme. For members of non-university institutions with permanent positions, this includes the duty to cooperate ("Kooperationspflicht") with a partner at a German university. Applicants in Japan must meet the eligibility requirements of the JSPS International Joint Research Programmes. All prospective Japanese applicants must be eligible to apply for a Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research – KAKENHI, and their affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.
Proposals must be written in English and prepared according to the instructions for the DFG "Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants" programme. Proposals must be submit to the DFG by 3 June 2025. For a first time submission, it is necessary to register in the "elan portal" by 27 May 2025.
Applicants will be informed in writing of the results of the review and, where applicable, of the subsequent administrative steps according to the respective national regulations. The selection of the projects will be completed by the end of January 2026. Funding can only be granted if both JSPS and the DFG arrive at a positive decision.
