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Ukraine-Crisis: Information regarding Funding Programmes

For further Information please contact: refugeeresearchers@uni-frankfurt.de

Goethe University's funding opportunities 

Goethe-Ukraine-Fund: Refugee Fellowships

Goethe University Frankfurt strongly condemns Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine, Ukrainians all over the world, as well as anyone who chooses to demand peace and freedom in Russia or worldwide is of great concern to us.

To support post-docoral scientists who had to interrupt their research in Ukraine and are now fleeing the consequences of war, Goethe University offers 10 Goethe Refugee Fellowships within the framework of the Goethe-Ukraine-Fund. This also intends to strengthen future academic cooperation between Goethe University and Ukrainian research institutions.

Target group

  • Post-doctoral scientist who have fled Ukraine due to the war and wish to continue their research as visiting scholars at Goethe University. 
  • Scientists from countries also affected by the war, who cannot return home, are eligible as well.

Type of support

  • 10 fellowships of €1,000 per month for a period of up to 6 months (with a contract as visiting scholar).
  • Visiting scholars may also use services offered by the “Academic Welcome Program" and the “Goethe Welcome Center".
  • The Graduate Academy GRADE provides programmes for refugee scientists from Ukraine, thus ensuring integration and networking with colleagues of the same career level.
  • Advice on how to acquire research funding from relevant third-party bodies.

Requirements

  • researchers must be located in Germany starting their contract and for the entire duration of it
  • scientific compatibility with one of the Goethe University's 16 faculties
  • admission to a research group / institute of Goethe University

Application procedure

Please contact the Research Support with the required documents, in either German or English, via the contact address: refugeeresearchers@uni-frankfurt.de

  • scientific curriculum vitae (CV)
  • if possible: certificates of academic training
  • brief description of the research project (max. 3 pages)
  • letter of commitment from the respective research group leader or head of department at Goethe University. Please send an e-mail if you need assistance in connecting with an institute or department.

Applications can be submitted at any time.

The selection process will take place in a timely manner and will end once the maximum number of fellowships has been awarded.

Johanna Quandt Young Academy: International Visiting Fellowships 2022

JQYA is offering Fellowships for advanced Post-Docs in collaboration with Goethe University and all Ukranian researchers can apply.

  • You can find further information here.

Funding programmes for the Integration of Ukrainian Scientists by German Research Funding Organisations

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

The Humboldt Foundation offers its sponsorship recipients from Ukraine special arrangements for alumni stays and fellowship extensions. These instruments are also intended to enable sponsorship recipients from Russia who are at risk (e.g. because of their critical stance towards the war) to stay in Germany.

  • Further information can be found here.

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

Refugee researchers can apply for a Walter Benjamin Fellowship at any career stage after their PhD. Earlier restrictions to postdocs no longer apply. In urgent emergencies, proof of risk is not required. Applications can be submitted at any time.

  • General information on the Walter Benjamin Fellowship can be found here.
  • Applications documents are available here.

Furthermore, there is the possibility for project leaders and HEIs to integrate qualified refugee researchers into already funded DFG projects. Applications can be submitted informally at any time.

  • Further information can be found here.

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG):  Additional funding for researchers (September)

Since December 2015, the DFG provides funding for refugee researchers. Due to the local needs in Ukraine, applications for new funding are now open. Ukrainian researchers (esp. Principal Investigators) who are in Ukraine and continue doing research from there may now receive additional support in the DFG programme for joint research projects with developing countries. Principal Investigators can apply for additional funding within existing or new research grants, research groups, and priority programmes. Funds are available for project and living expenses (max. 1,000 Euro per month per PI).
Projects with a smaller financial framework are eligible.
Applications outside of DFG-funded projects are not possible.
All German or German-Ukrainian projects are eligible for additional funding and applications may be submitted at any time until 15. September 2024. 
More information in German is available here.

Gerda Henkel Foundation 

The Gerda Henkel Foundation provides funding of 2 million euros for Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian scientists. The funding will be spread across three pillars:

  • Philipp Schwartz Initiative: Support for scientists researchers threatened by war or persecution in their home countries, enabling them to continue their work at German universities and research establishments.
  • MitOSt e.V.: Up to 500,000 euros will be allocated to the non-profit organization MitOst e.V., which is busy coordinating humanitarian assistance measures in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries.
  • The Gerda Henkel Foundation is now more strongly reaching out to past and current grant holder as regards individual scholarships for scholars who are at risk or who had been forced to flee. They can themselves get assistance or can recommend support for other persons employed at Ukrainian universities.

Further information can be found here.

EU: MSCA4Ukraine

MSCA4Ukraine is funded by Horizon Europe as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). 

The new fellowship program aims to support refugee and vulnerable researchers from Ukraine in continuing their work in EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, together with its partners Scholars at Risk Europe and the European University Association (EUA), has been selected by the European Commission to implement the program. The EU is funding the program with 25 million euros. 

A first call opens on October 24, 2022, with individual funding periods ranging from six months to two years.

Application will be possible via the EU's Funding & Tenders Portal.

NEW: Since October 2022, Scholars at Risk provides matchmaking services between researchers and host institutions. 

  • Scientists from Ukraine who are looking for a host institution can search a list of institutions that host researchers. If there are no suitable host organisations, and if you would like assistance in your search, please complete the form here. 
  • Institutions that would like to host Ukrainian scientists can also use the matchmaking service by filling out a form here. 

Information from Research Funding Organisations on ongoing projects with Russian partners

DAAD

The DAAD is stopping applications for Russia scholarships and cancelling the selection for DAAD scholarships to Russia. Even German scholarship holders who have already been selected cannot currently receive financial support for a planned stay in Russia. The DAAD expects German universities to suspend all DAAD-funded project activities with partner institutions in Russia and Belarus.

The DAAD's press release can be found here.

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

  • Information on German-Russian applications and cooperation projects can be found here. 
  • Since there is currently only a German version available, please find the English summary here.

EU-Förderung

On 1 March 2022, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, in which the EP called for funding for all research and innovation cooperation programs with Russia supported with EU funds to be immediately blocked or withdrawn and for interregional programmes to be suspended, including Horizon Europe. 

  • The resolution can be found here.

The EU Commission decided on 3 March 2022 to freeze research funding under Horizon Europe.

This is an excerpt from the statement by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel:

"First, we have decided not to engage into further cooperation projects with Russian entities. I have therefore decided to suspend the preparations of grant agreement for four projects under Horizon Europe programme that involve five Russian research organisations. Signing of any new contracts will be put on hold until further notice.

Second, I have asked my services to suspend any payment to Russian entities under existing contracts.

Third, Ukrainian scientists and researchers are key participants in our EU Framework programmes for R&I and have demonstrated excellence and innovation leadership across many fields."