Funding Opps & Info SessionsJune 2026 | Issue 18 |
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Dear Reader, This month’s funding update highlights calls & info sessions for PIs, Postdocs, consortia, & SMEs. The fastest way to fund your research: 1. Screen the calls below to find opportunities that might fit. 2. Make a list of your top candidates. 3. Reach out to me with your list to discuss whether they are worth pursuing. Another way to find more funding calls is to use our funding calendar. Check deadlines, & save relevant dates directly to your personal calendar. If you find some opportunities that are relevant to your work, send me the call name(s) & a few suitable times to meet, and I would be happy to help. Reach out here to get started. Happy grant hunting! Matt |
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Early-career researchers with Black, Bangladeshi & Pakistani heritage
Up to £200K Wellcome
Wellcome Accelerator Awards support researchers of Black, Bangladeshi & Pakistani heritage in the UK to undertake research or research-adjacent activities (e.g., training, secondments... Eligible: Early- or mid-career researchers who self-identify as being from Black... |
Well-established PIs
Up to €2.5 M for 5 years European Research Council
ERC Advanced Grant supports established, leading PIs with long-term funding for ground-breaking, ambitious projects. Applications are bottom-up & eligible in any field... Eligible: Established PIs applying for ERC Advanced Grants... |
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Postdocs & profs at German Unis & R&D institutes Up to €1.3 M for Pioneering Research Volkswagen Foundation
The Volkswagen Foundation invites postdocs & profs at German Unis & R&D institutes to apply for pioneering, risky basic research that explores the 'unknown unknown'... Eligible: Postdocs & profs at German Unis & R&D institutes... |
Researchers at Unis/HAWs/FHs & Fraunhofer Institutes
€3 M to work with industry partners German Research Foundation
The German Research Foundation (DFG) & Fraunhofer jointly call for trilateral transfer projects with Uni/HAW/FH, Fraunhofer & an application partner (industry)... Eligible: Researchers at Unis/HAWs/FHs & Fraunhofer institutes together with... |
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Postdocs worldwide Research fellowships Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
The MSCA Postdoc Fellowships call supports postdocs worldwide to undertake international research stays & develop their careers... Eligible: Researchers who hold a PhD (or have successfully defended their thesis... |
SMEs, Unis, R&D orgs & industry researchers
Funding for collaborative projects EUREKA
Eurostars Call 11 funds international collaborative projects led by SMEs. Organisations across participating countries can apply for public funding... Eligible: Innovative SMEs, large companies, Unis, R&D orgs, other organisations... |
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Group leaders & postdocs
Exploration Grants up to €210,000 Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation
The Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation Exploration Grants support Jr. independent group leaders to initiate a new research direction in biology, chemistry, & medicine... Eligible: Scientists awarded a PhD less than 10 years before the application deadline... |
First-time W2 profs at German Unis
Up to €600,000 for up to 3 years Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation
Rise up! funds first-time associate (W2) profs at German Unis with up to €600,000 over 3 years to pursue bold, innovative basic research in biology, chemistry, & medicine... Eligible: First-time associate (W2) profs at German Unis (the applicant/PI) |
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SMEs, start-ups, R&D orgs & Unis
Up to €2.5 M European Innovation Council & SMEs Executive Agency
EIC Transition Open supports SMEs, start-ups & R&D orgs to mature & validate novel technologies beyond lab proof of principle... Eligible: Single applicants: start-ups, SMEs, spin-offs, R&D-performing orgs such as Unis/research... |
Industrial researchers & stakeholders
Various types of actions Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking
CBE JU's 2026 call for project proposals (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026) closes 22 Sep 2026 with a total budget of Total budget: €170.7 M... Eligible: Interested applicants from eligible countries can use the pre-check service offered by the NCP_WIDERA.NET... |
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SMEs, startups, R&D institutions & Unis
biotech project funding Eureka
Eureka's Biotech Call for Network Projects invites consortia of at least two independent legal entities from a minimum of two participating countries to develop biotech R&D with commercialisation potential... Eligible: SMEs, start-ups, R&D institutions, Unis & organisations from... |
Mid‑career STEM researchers
Up to £8 M over 10 years Royal Society
The Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowships fund outstanding mid‑career STEM researchers with awards of up to £8 M over 10 years (typically £6 M core + £2 M extra) to build world-leading research groups in the... Eligible: Mid-career researchers, PIs, recognised research leaders... |
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Postdocs, Jr. profs & heads of Jr. research groups
€50,000 Daimler & Benz Foundation
The Daimler & Benz Foundation awards twelve postdoc scholarships annually—€50,000 each over two years—to postdocs... Eligible: Postdocs, Jr. profs, heads of Jr. research groups |
Established PIs
DKK 30–75 M Novo Nordisk Foundation
The Challenge Programme 2027 funds 6-year grants (DKK 30–75 M) for research to advance rapid AMR diagnostics for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs)... Eligible: Consortia of 2–4 research groups (main applicant plus 1–3 co-applicants)... |
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Established PIs
DKK 30–75 M Novo Nordisk Foundation
CHALLENGE PROGRAMME 2027 funds 6-year consortium projects (2–4 groups) on “Heat & Hypertension—understanding the mechanisms of interaction,”... Eligible: Consortia of 2–4 research groups (main applicant plus 1–3 co-applicants)... |
Research consortia
DKK 30–75 M Novo Nordisk Foundation
Challenge Programme 2027 funds 6-year consortium projects (2–4 groups) to unravel electron transfer mechanisms in hybrid bio-electrocatalysis... Eligible: Consortia of 2–4 research groups (main applicant plus 1–3 co-applicants)... |
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Established PIs DKK 30–75 M Novo Nordisk Foundation
Challenge Programme 2027 funds 6-year grants (DKK 30–75 M) for consortia of 2–4 research groups to develop novel Earth-abundant materials for sustainable technologies (TRL 1–3)... Eligible: Independent tenured or tenure-track researchers leading their own research groups... |
Consortia of companies, R&D orgs & Unis
Lightweighting funding Eureka
Eureka’s Transnational Lightweighting Call 2026 funds application-oriented R&D projects that advance lightweight design, novel materials, manufacturing, & digital solutions for circularity... Eligible: Consortia of at least two independent legal entities from a minimum of two Eureka participating countries... |
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PIs of ERC-funded projects €150,000 for 18 months European Research Council
The ERC Proof of Concept Grant offers a €150,000 grant (18 months) to PIs of ERC frontier research grants to explore the commercial or societal potential of their ERC-funded research... Eligible: PIs of ERC frontier research main grants (Starting, Consolidator... |
R&D teams, consortia & single applicants
Grants up to €4 M European Innovation Council
The EIC Pathfinder funds early-stage deep‑tech research (TRL 1–4) with grants up to €4 M & booster grants of €50k. It supports consortia &, for Challenges, single applicants... Eligible: R&D teams, consortia of at least 3 different independent legal entities... |
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Profs in the humanities & social sciences
Up to €220,000 Volkswagen Foundation
Opus Magnum finances substitute professorships so established profs in the humanities, cultural studies & social sciences can write an extensive scholarly treatise... Eligible: Profs (permanent position at a German Uni) |
Unis, R&D institutes & industry partners
Set up doctoral networks Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MSCA Doctoral Networks fund international consortia to create doctoral programmes (Standard, Industrial, Joint) that train PhD candidates across disciplines, promote... Eligible: Consortia of higher education institutions... |
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Startups, SMEs & investors €10–30 M investments European Innovation Council
The EIC STEP Scale Up scheme offers equity investments of €10–30 M to scale strategic digital, deep-tech, clean-tech & biotech companies... Eligible: Start-ups, SMEs, small mid-caps, investors,... |
Unis, R&D institutes & industry
Collaborative R&D projects German Research Foundation
The DFG announces a Weave Lead Agency collaboration with the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) to support bi‑ to trilateral collaborative research... Eligible: Researchers from 2–3 European countries or regions... |
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Unis, R&D orgs & industry for support to recruit at least 3 researchers for up to 5 years Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MSCA's Choose Europe for Science pilot supports organisations recruiting postdocs into longer-term positions... Eligible: A single legal entity in an EU Member State or a HE Associated... |
Postdocs & experienced researchers from Germany
the Feodor Lynen Research Fellowships Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship funds postdocs from Germany for research stays abroad (6–24 months for postdocs... Eligible: Postdocs with above-average qualifications from Germany... |
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Dual-career scientists who will lead a research groups
Up to €1,500,000 for up to 5 years Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation
CoMove supports outstanding dual-career scientists relocating to Germany or Austria with up to €1.5 M over 5 years to establish or relocate a R&D group... Eligible: Accompanying partners leading an R3-level research group |
British & German R&D teams
Funding for joint British–German projects German Research Foundation
DFG & UKRI-EPSRC invite joint British–German basic research proposals in engineering & physical sciences under a Lead Agency Procedure... Eligible: Researchers based in Germany or the UK, PIs... |
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Researchers who completing the habilitation or an equivalent
The Heisenberg Programme German Research Foundation
The DFG Heisenberg Programme supports outstanding researchers who meet the requirements for appointment to a long-term professorship... Eligible: Researchers who have qualified for a professorship (habilitation or equivalent)... |
Postdocs & early-career researchers The Emmy Noether Programme German Research Foundation
DFG’s Emmy Noether Programme funds exceptionally qualified early career researchers to lead independent Jr. research groups for up to six years... Eligible: Postdocs, Jr. profs with temporary contracts (normally up to 4 years after... |
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PIs in chemistry, process engineering, fluid mechanics
joint research funding German Research Foundation
The NSF & DFG have launched a Lead Agency Procedure for collaborative research in chemistry, process engineering, fluid mechanics, &... Eligible: PIs at US & German R&D institutions |
US & German researchers from production & materials engineering
joint research funding German Research Foundation
DFG & NSF invite joint US–German proposals in Advanced Manufacturing. Submit via NSF’s Advanced Manufacturing programme... Eligible: PIs at US & German R&D institutions |
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US-German PI teams in physics
joint research funding German Research Foundation
The NSF & DFG run a joint lead-agency funding opportunity for collaborations in Physics: teams choose a lead agency (NSF or DFG... Eligible: US-German teams in physics |
US & German PIs in molecular & cellular biology
joint research funding German Research Foundation
DFG & NSF announce a Lead Agency opportunity for joint US–German proposals in basic molecular & cellular biology... Eligible: PIs from US & Germany |
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© 2025–2026 Matthew Brian Plutschack. All rights reserved. Bergmannstr. 97, 10961 Berlin, Germany VAT-ID (USt-IdNr.): DE370042164 Not a subscriber yet? subscribe here. The newsletter provides regular information on new calls for proposals & research funding programs. The information published is carefully compiled, but does not claim to be up-to-date, factually correct or complete; no guarantee is given in this respect. Furthermore, MBP R&C is not responsible for the content of external sites that can be accessed via a link. The provider of the linked website is solely liable for illegal, incorrect or incomplete content & for damages resulting from the use or non-use of the information. |
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