NSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're a chemist or chemical engineer at a US research institution with an established German collaborator, this cuts the red tape of dual submissions and gives you one streamlined funding path.
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What this is
This is a lead-agency mechanism designed to reduce friction in US-Germany research partnerships. US researchers team with German counterparts to submit a single collaborative proposal in chemistry, chemical engineering, bioengineering, environmental systems, or transport systems. The proposal is reviewed once by either NSF or DFG (depending on which country hosts the larger research effort), with results shared across both agencies before funding decisions. Award ranges from $200k–$700k per the NSF side.
Who can apply
US-based researchers (typically at universities or research institutions) who have a German research partner. Proposals must clearly justify why the US-Germany collaboration is essential and what unique expertise each side brings. Research must fall within NSF's Chemistry or Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems divisions, or DFG's Physics/Chemistry or Engineering Sciences divisions.
Eligible applicant types
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Full description — from the agency
Recognizing the importance of international collaborations in promoting scientific discoveries, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on research cooperation. The MoU provides an overarching framework to enhance opportunities for collaborative activities between US and German research communities and sets out the principles by which jointly supported activities might be developed. To facilitate the support of collaborative work between US researchers and their German counterparts under this MoU, the Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) at NSF and the Divisions of Physics and Chemistry (PC) and Engineering Sciences (ING 1) at DFG are pleased to announce a Lead Agency Opportunity for Collaborative Research in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems. The goal of this Lead Agency Opportunity is to reduce barriers to working internationally by allowing US and German researchers to submit a single collaborative proposal that will undergo a single review process while funding organizations maintain budgetary control over their awards. Proposals eligible for funding consideration through this Lead Agency Opportunity should review the CHE, CBET, PC, and ING 1 program descriptions for research supported through these divisions/organizations. Proposals are expected to adhere to typical proposal budgets and durations for the relevant CHE, CBET, PC, and ING 1 programs from which funding is sought. A list of participating NSF programs can be found at: https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/IntlCollaborations/Germany.jsp. German researchers are invited to read: www.dfg.de/nsf-che-cbet. Proposals submitted under this Opportunity will be reviewed by either NSF or DFG as the Lead Agency, depending on where the largest proportion of research lies. Proposals must provide a clear rationale for the need for a US-German collaboration, including the unique expertise and synergy that the collaborating groups will bring to the project. The result of the review process will be shared among the appropriate divisions (NSF/CHE and/or NSF/CBET, and DFG/PC and/or DFG/ING 1) before making final recommendations.
Topics: us-germany collaboration · chemistry research · chemical engineering · transport systems · international partnership · nsf dfg
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.