Opportunity Information: Apply for 25 537
The NSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems is a joint funding pathway designed to make it easier for US and German researchers to work together on the same research project. It sits under a broader Memorandum of Understanding between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, the German Research Foundation), which was created to strengthen research cooperation and expand opportunities for collaboration between the two countries. In practical terms, this opportunity is meant to lower administrative and review hurdles that often slow down or complicate international projects, while still letting each funding organization keep control over the portion of funding it provides.
The main feature of the opportunity is the "lead agency" model. Instead of submitting two separate proposals and going through two separate peer review processes, the US and German partners develop one unified collaborative proposal that is reviewed once, by the agency selected as the Lead Agency. Which agency leads depends on where the largest share of the research effort is located or where the majority of the work is concentrated. After that single review is completed, the review outcome is shared with the relevant NSF divisions (CHE and/or CBET) and the relevant DFG divisions (PC and/or ING 1), and each side makes its own final funding decisions for its researchers while relying on the shared review.
The scientific scope covers research areas aligned with NSF's Division of Chemistry (CHE) and Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET), along with DFG's Divisions of Physics and Chemistry (PC) and Engineering Sciences (ING 1). Applicants are expected to propose topics that fit within the program descriptions and research priorities of these participating divisions, rather than treating this as a standalone program with a completely separate scope. A key expectation is that proposals follow the typical budget levels and project durations normally allowed within the specific NSF and DFG programs being targeted. NSF also provides a list of participating NSF programs for this Germany collaboration mechanism, and DFG provides additional guidance to German applicants through its dedicated web page.
A central requirement is that the proposal clearly explains why the work needs to be done as a US-German collaboration rather than as two loosely connected projects. Reviewers will expect a strong rationale describing the unique expertise, capabilities, facilities, or datasets each team contributes, and how combining them creates real synergy. The collaboration should be integral to the research plan, with clear coordination and added value from the international partnership, not just parallel work happening in two countries.
Eligibility on the NSF side is limited to certain types of US-based organizations that can submit proposals. This includes US institutions of higher education (two- and four-year accredited colleges and universities, including community colleges) submitting on behalf of their faculty, as well as non-profit, non-academic organizations in the United States such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar entities that are directly connected to education or research activities. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary research and development funding in science and technology.
There are also specific instructions for situations where a US institution has an international branch campus involved in the project budget. If any NSF funding would support work at an international branch campus (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must explicitly explain why carrying out that portion of the work at the branch campus benefits the project and why the same activities cannot reasonably be performed at the US campus. This is a justification requirement, not merely a disclosure requirement, so applicants should be prepared to tie the branch-campus location to concrete scientific or logistical needs.
From the funding details provided, the opportunity number is 25 537, with CFDA numbers 47.041 and 47.049. The listed award ceiling is $700,000, and the opportunity anticipates around 10 awards. The original closing date shown is 2076-10-06, which effectively indicates the mechanism is intended to remain available over a long period, though applicants should still confirm current submission instructions and any division-specific deadlines or proposal windows through NSF and DFG program guidance.Apply for 25 537
- The U.S. National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-06-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2076-10-06.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems?
It is a joint funding pathway that helps U.S. and German researchers collaborate on the same research project under a broader Memorandum of Understanding between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, the German Research Foundation). The goal is to reduce administrative and review hurdles while allowing each funding organization to retain control over the portion of funding it provides.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The main purpose is to make U.S.-German collaborative research easier to propose and review by enabling a single, unified proposal and a single peer review process, rather than two separate submissions and two separate reviews.
How does the "lead agency" model work?
The U.S. and German partners prepare one unified collaborative proposal. Only one agency acts as the Lead Agency for peer review. After the review is completed, the review outcome is shared with the relevant NSF and DFG divisions, and each agency makes its own final funding decision for its researchers while relying on the shared review.
How is the Lead Agency selected (NSF or DFG)?
The Lead Agency depends on where the largest share of the research effort is located or where the majority of the work is concentrated. The proposal is then reviewed by the selected Lead Agency.
Which NSF divisions participate in this opportunity?
The opportunity covers research aligned with NSF's Division of Chemistry (CHE) and Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET). The review outcome is shared with relevant NSF divisions (CHE and/or CBET), depending on the project.
Which DFG divisions participate in this opportunity?
The opportunity aligns with DFG's Divisions of Physics and Chemistry (PC) and Engineering Sciences (ING 1). The review outcome is shared with relevant DFG divisions (PC and/or ING 1), depending on the project.
Is this treated as a standalone program with its own separate scope?
No. Applicants are expected to propose topics that fit within the program descriptions and research priorities of the participating NSF and DFG divisions, rather than treating this as a standalone program with a completely separate scope.
What research areas are within the scientific scope?
The scientific scope includes research areas aligned with NSF CHE and NSF CBET, as well as DFG PC and DFG ING 1. Projects should match the program descriptions and priorities of the specific participating divisions being targeted.
What is the key collaboration requirement reviewers will look for?
The proposal must clearly explain why the research needs to be conducted as a U.S.-German collaboration rather than as two loosely connected projects. Reviewers will expect a strong rationale describing what each team uniquely contributes (expertise, capabilities, facilities, datasets) and how the combined effort creates real synergy and added value.
Does the collaboration need to be integrated into the research plan?
Yes. The collaboration should be integral to the research plan, with clear coordination and added value from the international partnership, not simply parallel work happening in two countries.
What budget levels and project durations are expected?
Proposals are expected to follow the typical budget levels and project durations normally allowed within the specific NSF and DFG programs being targeted, rather than using special or separate budget and duration rules.
Who is eligible to submit on the NSF (U.S.) side?
Eligibility on the NSF side is limited to certain types of U.S.-based organizations. This includes U.S. institutions of higher education (two- and four-year accredited colleges and universities, including community colleges) submitting on behalf of their faculty, and U.S. non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar entities) that are directly connected to education or research activities.
What kind of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary research and development funding in science and technology.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 47.041 and 47.049.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is 25 537.
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $700,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates around 10 awards.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown is 2076-10-06. This effectively indicates the mechanism is intended to remain available over a long period. Applicants are still expected to confirm current submission instructions and any division-specific deadlines or proposal windows through NSF and DFG program guidance.
Should applicants rely on the far-future closing date as a submission deadline?
No. Even though a far-future closing date is listed, applicants should confirm current submission instructions and any division-specific deadlines or proposal windows through the relevant NSF and DFG program guidance.
Are there special instructions if an international branch campus is included in the U.S. project budget?
Yes. If any NSF funding would support work at an international branch campus (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must explicitly explain why conducting that portion of the work at the branch campus benefits the project and why the same activities cannot reasonably be performed at the U.S. campus.
Is the international branch campus requirement only a disclosure, or does it require justification?
It requires justification. The proposal must tie the branch-campus location to concrete scientific or logistical needs and explain why the work cannot reasonably be performed at the U.S. campus.
Where can applicants find additional program guidance?
NSF provides a list of participating NSF programs for this Germany collaboration mechanism, and DFG provides additional guidance to German applicants through its dedicated web page. Applicants are expected to use those sources to confirm program fit and current submission expectations.
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