18 new graduation colleges start: DFG invests 130 million euros!

18 new graduation colleges start: DFG invests 130 million euros!

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has taken a significant step: From the spring of 2026, a total of 18 new graduate colleagues will be launched to strengthen the early scientific career. The budget for this amounts to around 130 million euros and is to be distributed over five years. This reports Ärzteblatt .

With a decision of the approval committee in Bonn, this funding is now being implemented in concrete terms. The new graduate colleagues offer doctoral students an excellent opportunity to drive their research in a structured and quality -assured frame. The DFG is currently promoting a total of 214 graduated college, of which 29 international formats are working with partners in the USA, Italy, Canada and France, such as the press release emphasized.

The new colleagues in detail

The topics of the new graduate colleagues are as diverse as it is exciting. Some special highlights include:

• Circular Steel (RWTH Aachen): The focus here is on climate -neutral steel and circular economy, in particular the adaptation of electrical lighting stoves.
• One Health approach for ground-handed helminthen (FU Berlin): The fight against helminth infections in humans and animals is researched here.
• cellular and molecular plasticity in the cardiovascular system (University of Düsseldorf): Focus is on the cell plasticity in the cardiovascular system.
• Activation of cellular antimicrobial effectors (Hannover Medical School): This is about new therapeutic approaches to control infections.
• neuropsychiatric sequelae of infectious diseases (University of Jena): This college examines the connection between infections and neuronal diseases.

This expansion of the graduate collegs not only enables a deeper insight into special research areas, but also intensive care for young scientists. The DFG has clearly set itself the goal of enriching the research landscape in Germany with such innovative programs.

extension of existing colleges

In addition to the new graduation colleges, ten existing colleges are extended. These include topics such as "Gender as Experience" at the University of Bielefeld and "Biostatistical methods" at the TU Dortmund. These measures show the continuous use of the DFG to further support proven research approaches.