Calls for Project Proposals

The aim of this call for proposals is to support transnational research and/or innovation projects that help cities tackle urban challenges and transition towards a climate neutral and resilient future for all. It is the fourth call of the DUT Partnership co-funded by the European Commission (EC) under the Horizon Europe framework programme. The DUT Call 2025 addresses the following topics that are supported by German funding organisations:

• The 15-minute City Transition Pathway (15mC TP) addresses challenges of urban mobility, logistics, public space and proximity-based policies to promote implementation of climate neutral, resilient neighbourhoods for all. It draws on research and innovation projects to showcase a diverse mosaic of approaches that drive mobility transitions. The 15mC TP aims to enable analysis, development and testing of ideas, tools and innovations for 15-minute cities within co-creative and transdisciplinary settings. 15mC call topic that is supported by Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR): Next steps for multimodal urban mobility, building on the travel experience.
• The Positive Energy Districts Transition Pathway (PED TP) aims to develop innovative solutions for planning, large-scale implementation, and replication of PEDs across Europe’s urban and peri-urban areas. By combining energy efficiency, renewable energy production, and energy flexibility at the local level, PEDs offer and contribute to affordable energy systems, affordable quality housing, and competitive, resilient and inclusive local economies for cities through energy communities, contributing to European goals such as the SET Plan and the EU Mission on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities. PED call topic that is supported by Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ-PtJ): PEDs in urban heating and cooling strategies.

Each consortium participant will be funded by the Funding Partner Organisation from their country/ region. Participants are therefore subject to eligibility criteria of national/ regional funding organisations. Please note, that maybe not all topics will be funded by the respective national/ regional funding organisations. In Germany, the DLR and the FZJ-PtJ are responsible. Further information and more details are provided by the DUT Call 2025 Annex A: Specific Funding Agencies’ Budgets and Rules of Eligibility.

A two-step application procedure will be used, with the pre-proposal submission deadline on 17 November 2025. After a first evaluation of pre-proposals, the deadline for submitting full proposals will be on 23 April 2026. An information webinar for potential applicants was held. A recording is available online.
DUT: Further information on the call (EN)
BMFTR: Further information on the call - The 15-minute City Transition Pathway (DE)
BMWE: Further information on the call - The Positive Energy Districts Transition Pathway (EN)

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, a European partnership under the European Commission’s Research & Innovation Framework Programme Horizon Europe, announced its third Joint transnational call entitled "Digitalisation and Innovation for Resilient Marine Ecosystems Businesses, and Communities to Strengthen the EU Blue Economy’s Competitiveness". The Partnership aims to boost the transformation needed towards a climate-neutral, sustainable, productive, and competitive blue economy by 2030 while creating and supporting the conditions for a healthy ocean for the people by 2050.

The German funding organisation supports the following priority areas of the call (for details, please see Annex B on the regional/ national regulations of the participating funding organisations):

• Digital Twins of the Ocean (DTOs) at sub-basin scale,
• Blue economy sectors, development of marine multi-use infrastructure,
• Planning and managing sea uses at the regional level,
• Resilient Coastal Communities and Businesses.

Projects in this call must be impact-driven contributions to the transformation into a blue economy for a more resilient future and towards carbon neutrality targets, following an impact pathway approach. Applicants are requested to propose an impact plan under the theory of change (see section 2.3 – Impact of the proposals, and Annex A).

The proposals are strongly recommended to consider a minimum of two EU sea basins which are: the Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea, and to assess the project proposal’s impact and potential replication/scalability on various sea basins. Proposals can target European regional seas such as Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, the Arctic, Barents Sea, Celtic Sea, etc. but they must be from a minimum of 2 different EU Sea basins.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to involve stakeholders (i.e., small, and medium enterprises (SMEs), industries, authorities, public administrations, associations, as well as civil society organisations) as partners or self-funded partners (according to national/regional regulations) in their proposal. Stakeholder engagement in the research projects will enhance innovation, policy, and societal relevance and ultimately the impact of the projects.

Each applicant has to check the project idea with the national contact point as early as possible in the proposal phase, at the latest before submitting any applications. In Germany, the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)/ Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) are responsible. Applicants are strongly advised to consult the guidelines on eligible costs (Richtlinien für Zuwendungsantraege AZA/ AZK). A maximum of two German partners per project will be funded. Maximum funding per awarded project partner: EUR 250,000. Maximum funding per awarded project (for the maximum of two project partners together): EUR 350,000. The distribution of funds between the two partners is left up to them. Only two German partners in a consortium are eligible. The prerequisite for two German partners in a consortium is that at least one partner can be classified as company. If there is no German company in the consortium, only one German partner per consortium can participate - either as a coordinator or partner. PtJ recommends that applicants regard the BMFTR strategy “Research for Sustainability” (FONA) Strategy and the BMFTR funding priority “Costal, Marine and Polar Research for Sustainability (MARE:N)”.

The call follows a two-stage application procedure: pre-proposals (stage 1) and full proposals (stage 2). The deadline for submitting pre-proposals will expire on 17 November 2025. A first evaluation of pre-proposals will be organised and the deadline to submit full proposals is foreseen for 17 June 2026. A general information webinar will be organised on 06 October 2025. The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership developed a project partner tool to help researchers connect and collaborate.
SBEP: Further information on the call (EN)
BMFTR: Further information on the call (DE Bekanntmachung)
BMFTR: Further information on the call (DE Förderaufruf)

The Green ERA-Hub (GEH) represents initiatives in the field of agri-food and biotechnology. Among the main aims, the GEH builds on previous achievements and further enhance cross-sectoral collaboration between agri-food and biotechnology ERA-Nets by identifying common research and innovation priorities and addressing them in joint transnational funding of collaborative research projects. The 2025 Joint International Call is developed and funded by partners of the GEH in collaboration with the “Wheat Initiative” (WI).

The Call funds the following call topics (for details, please see the Call Announcement and especially Annex I Funders regulations):

• Topic A: Plant breeding for improved resilience & health of crops, environment, and soil.
• Topic B: Biotechnological applications to improve the utilisation of biomass.

In Germany, the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)/ Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) are responsible. German applicants have to refer to the National Announcement (“Nationale Bekanntmachung”) where all national requirements and legal aspects for funding are defined (Homepage - Bekanntmachung - BMFTR) and they are strongly recommended to contact their Funder Contact Persons before submitting a proposal. The maximum funding per projects of 500,000 € relates to the maximum funding of all German applicants within one consortium.

The call follows a two-stage application procedure: pre-proposals (stage 1) and full proposals (stage 2). The deadline for submitting pre-proposals will expire on 28 November 2025. There will be a webinar for applicants on 15 October 2025, 9:30 CEST. A registration is necessary. The presented slides will be available for download after the webinar.
GEH: Further information on the call (EN)
BMFTR: Further information on the call (DE)

QuantERA II ERA-NET Cofund in Quantum Technologies (QT) is a consortium of national and regional research funding organisations in Europe supporting research in QT. The funding organisations of QuantERA jointly support European multilateral research projects with the potential to initiate or foster new lines of QT through collaborations exploring advanced multidisciplinary science and/or cutting-edge engineering.

The submitted proposals are expected to be aligned with one of the two QuantERA Call 2025 topics:

• German Research Foundation (DFG): Quantum Phenomena and Resources (QPR) – with the goal of laying the foundations for the QT of the future;
• Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)/ Projektträger VDI TZ: Applied Quantum Science (AQS) – aimed at leveraging established quantum effects and concepts from quantum science, translating them into technological applications and developing new products.

All projects aligned with one of the two Call 2025 topics are expected to address one or more of the following areas:

• Quantum communication,
• Quantum computing,
• Quantum simulation,
• Quantum sensing and metrology,
• General quantum science.

Each applicant has to check the project idea with the respective national contact point as early as possible in the proposal phase, at the latest before submitting any applications. In Germany, DFG and BMFTR/ Projektträger VDI TZ are responsible:

• The DFG will fund only projects addressing the topic of Quantum Phenomena and Resources (QPR). With the exception of the duty to collaborate, the regular eligibility rules for funding from the DFG apply. The different specifics of submitting proposals to the DFG are described in the annex of the Call Announcement. For example, for each project, one copy of the proposal, the financial form, necessary offers for scientific equipment and accompanying documentation has to be submitted via the DFG’s elan portal.
• BMFTR/ VDI TZ will only fund projects addressing the topic of Applied Quantum Science (AQS). Mandatory registration: German applicants are required to contact and to register with the responsible BMFTR funding agency (Projektträger VDI TZ) prior to the submission of a project proposal they are involved in. Compulsory industry involvement: Due to the application orientation of the AQS topic, the involvement of at least one company (from Germany or another EEA country) in the project is compulsory. Obligatory exploitation plan: In section 2.2 proposal must contain a concrete, appropriately detailed plan (who? what? when?) for the subsequent innovation steps, the technical application and the future commercial utilisation of the results in the EEA. Please note that in this context, the term application does not imply the utilisation of the results for merely scientific purposes. Demonstrating additional benefit: To be eligible for BMFTR funding, project proposals must demonstrate an additional benefit due to the transnational cooperation. Funding limits: The requested BMFTR funding must amount to at least 120 k€ per German partner over the entire duration of a project. Moreover, at least 50% of the total eligible costs/ expenses on the part of the German participant(s) in a project must be personnel costs/ expenses.

A one-stage submission and evaluation procedure will be applied. The deadline for submitting proposals will expire on 05 December 2025, 17.00 CET. An online webinar was hosted on 08 October 2025.
QuantERA: Further information on the call (EN)
DFG: Further information on the call (EN)
BMFTR: Further information on the call (DE)

Der Europäische Forschungsrat (European Research Council, ERC) fördert mit ERC Consolidator Grants bereits unabhängig arbeitende Principal Investigators (PIs), die ihre Karriere verstetigen möchten (7-12 Jahre nach Erlangung des Doktortitels). ERC Consolidator Grants finanzieren Projekte mit bis zu 2,0 Mio. Euro über eine Laufzeit von max. fünf Jahren.

Bei ERC-Förderungen werden ausdrücklich keine Themen vorgegeben ("Bottom up"-Prinzip). Anträge von allen Fächern und Disziplinen sind willkommen. Wissenschaftliche Exzellenz sowohl des Projekts als auch des Principal Investigators ist das alleinige Auswahlkriterium. Das Antragsverfahren ist einstufig angelegt, das Auswahlverfahren besteht aus zwei Stufen.

Um die Erfolgsaussichten der Antragstellenden zu erhöhen, sind an der Universität Göttingen Beratungs- und Antragswege etabliert worden, die sich in der Vergangenheit bewährt haben. Die Beratung übernehmen die Mitarbeiter*innen des EU-Hochschulbüros der Abteilung Forschung und Transfer. Damit diese ihren größtmöglichen Nutzen entfalten kann, möchten wir Sie ermutigen, sich drei Monate vor Ende der jeweiligen Einreichungsfrist mit dem EU-Hochschulbüro in Verbindung zu setzen. Der zeitliche Vorlauf ist notwendig, da Abstimmungen zwischen dem Antragstellenden, dem jeweiligen Dekanat, der Zentralverwaltung und dem Präsidium erfolgen müssen, um u.a. den Zugang zu Räumlichkeiten (z.B. Laborflächen) und Personalfragen zu klären sowie eine fundierte Budgetkalkulation für die gesamte Projektlaufzeit zu gewährleisten (z.B. Abschreibungen Equipment, Audits). Um alle Antragstellenden bei der Strukturierung des zeitlichen Ablaufs bis zur Antragsfrist zu unterstützen, hat das EU-Hochschulbüro interne Fristen formuliert, die als Empfehlung dienen.
Weitere Informationen zur Ausschreibung (EN)
Weitere Informationen zum ERC Consolidator Grant (EN)
Weitere Informationen zum ERC Consolidator Grant (DE)

Die EU-Kommission hat das Horizon Europe-Arbeitsprogramm 2025 veröffentlicht u.a. zur Förderung von Projektanträgen im Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility. Folgende Destinations mit mehreren Ausschreibungen sowie Themen wurden veröffentlicht:

• Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality
• Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply
• Efficient, sustainable and inclusive energy use
• Clean and competitive solutions for all transport modes
• Safe, Resilient Transport and Smart Mobility services for passengers and goods

Die Einreichung der Projektanträge erfolgt entweder in ein- oder zweistufigen Verfahren.
Arbeitsprogramm 2025 (EN)
Weitere Informationen zu den Ausschreibungsthemen (EN)
Weitere Informationen der KoWi (DE)
Weitere Informationen des BMBF (DE)

COST ist eine durch Horizon Europe (2021-2027) geförderte zwischenstaatliche Initiative zur europäischen Vernetzung, die allen wissenschaftlichen Disziplinen offen steht. COST Actions finanzieren u.a. die Organisation von Veranstaltungen, Training Schools, Publikationen und Short Scientific Exchanges. COST fördert nicht die Forschungsmaßnahmen selbst.

Die geförderten Netzwerke haben eine Laufzeit von vier Jahren. Das Besondere bereits bewilligter COST Actions liegt in der laufenden Aufnahme neuer Mitglieder. Sie können die COST-Datenbank der bereits bewilligten COST Actions nach für Sie relevanten Stichworten durchsuchen.

COST Actions bieten verschiedene Vorteile für Forschende wie z.B.:

• Sie erleichtern Kontakte zu europäischen Partnern, woraus sich gemeinsame Vorhaben im Bereich Forschung und Innovation entwickeln können wie u.a. Publikationen oder Projektanträge.
• Sie bieten vielfältige Möglichkeiten der Karriereentwicklung, was insbesondere für junge Wissenschaftler*innen nützlich sein kann.

Das Antragsverfahren für neue COST Actions ist themenoffen (Bottom-up-Prinzip) und einstufig angelegt.
Weitere Informationen zu COST (EN)
Weitere Informationen zu COST (DE)