Joint projects within the scope of this call can only be funded if both the JSPS and the DFG finance their national parts. Up to ten projects can be funded within this call; the JSPS provides a budget of up to JPY 10,000,000 (approx. €62,000) per year/per project. At the DFG, proposals for this call are to be submitted under the “Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants” funding programme and will be reviewed in competition with all other proposals submitted under this programme. It is important to note that there are no separate funds available for these efforts; proposals must succeed on the strengths of their intellectual merit in competition with all other proposals under the programme. Based on written reviews, a joint panel will select up to ten projects for funding. The funding period for the projects should be three years starting in April 2026.

The principal investigators on each side must be eligible to apply to their respective funding agency. The eligibility for the applicants in Germany to submit a proposal follows the regulations for the DFG “Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants” funding programme (DFG form 50.01). For members of non-university institutions with permanent positions, this includes the duty to cooperate (“Kooperationspflicht”) with a partner at a German university. Applicants in Japan must meet the eligibility requirements of the JSPS International Joint Research Programmes. All prospective Japanese applicants must be eligible to apply for a Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research – KAKENHI, and their affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.