Research Units

The DFG offers the program "Research Groups" in the variants "Forschungsgruppe" (FOR) "Klinische Forschungsgruppe" (KFO) and "Kolleg Forschungsgruppe" (KFG). Those are medium-term, up to eight-year, close collaborations of outstanding scientists to work on a special research task that goes beyond the possibilities of individual funding in terms of its thematic, temporal and financial scope. Research groups often help to establish new research priorities and can serve as a springboard for even larger projects such as collaborative research centers.

In the case of a FOR, up to nine sub-projects can be applied for in addition to a cooperation project. KFOs are intended to promote research alliances in clinical research and to implement scientific working groups in clinical institutions on a permanent basis. Our colleague in the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Simona Walker, offers advice on KFOs. KFGs are specifically tailored to research in the humanities and social sciences and usually consist of two to three scientists.

Please contact us as early as possible in the application process so that we can give you the best possible advice. The FOR planner will support you in preparing the application phase.

Further information on research groups can be found on the relevant pages of the German Research Foundation.

Please approach us as early as possible. We look forward to your request via for-beratung@verw.uni-koeln.de.