Academies’ Programme: Applying for New Research Projects

The official call for proposals for new projects within the Academies’ Programme for the year 2027 provides detailed information on funding criteria, eligibility requirements, and the formal submission process. You can access the current call here. In addition, comprehensive guidelines for applicants are available here.

Researchers considering an application are strongly advised to arrange an advisory meeting with the Göttingen Academy at an early stage. This consultation helps clarify whether a proposed project aligns with the goals of the Academies’ Programme and ensures early guidance on developing a competitive pre-application.

Project proposals for the Academies’ Programme undergo a thorough internal review by the Göttingen Academy before they can be submitted to the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities. This review is primarily carried out by the Academy’s Project Commission, which is established specifically for new research initiatives and supports applicants throughout the evaluation process.

Preliminary proposals for projects that may qualify for the Academies’ Programme are discussed by the Project Commission. If there is fundamental agreement on the quality and suitability of a proposal, applicants are invited to develop and submit a full application. Full proposals are also reviewed by the Project Commission, which may provide suggestions for revision and improvement. If no significant issues are identified, the proposal is forwarded for external peer review coordinated by the Union of Academies. As a rule, three written expert assessments are obtained.

Once the expert reviews are received, the Project Commission evaluates the proposal in light of the feedback and submits a recommendation to the Göttingen Academy’s Executive Board. If approved, the Academy submits the proposal to the Union of German Academies for inclusion in the Academies’ Programme. The Union’s Scientific Commission (Wissenschaftskommission, WiKo) ranks all proposals submitted by the eight member academies and recommends the top-rated projects to the Union’s Executive Committee, composed of the member academies’ presidents and the president of the Union. Funding typically begins in the calendar year following the WiKo’s decision meeting