DFG
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (the German Research Foundation) is one of the largest institutions supporting science in Germany. DFG finances research in all fields of learning and at every stage in a researcher’s career, while also emphasizing the development of international cooperation. DFG’s activity is publicly financed, but it is nonetheless an autonomous institution; decisions about its goals and directions of activity are made primarily by the academic community (most German universities are affiliated to the organization).
The Foundation for Polish Science has been collaborating with DFG since 2000, and the fruits of that cooperation include the Polish-German Copernicus Award launched in 2005, and the Liaison Scientists Network, a network of Polish academics whose task is to promote Polish-German academic cooperation, in particular by making it easier for Polish scientists to gain access to information on sources of financing for research in Germany and in Poland. Also the two institutions jointly organize conferences and workshops (including FOCUS 2009).
Since 1 January 2009, DFG has made significant changes in relation to instruments for the support of international scientific cooperation. These changes involve the integration of previously existing tools (mobility support, short research visits, bilateral workshops, etc.) into a single more flexible module. Under this module it is possible to submit projects within the scope of all of the previously supported forms of cooperation, and obtain financing for a maximum period of 12 months.