How to Apply for Funding

Update Base4NFDI Funding

Due to the limited funding availability: Until further notice, no new proposals can be submitted to Base4NFDI. Projects that, as of April 2026, are funded in their initialisation or integration phases may submit a proposal for the next phase, depending on the successful completion of their current phase. Priority will be given to the progress of current integration projects into their ramp-up phases.

Following the that no new proposals can be submitted under the existing three-phase funding model due to limited funding availability, Base4NFDI is taking a complementary approach. The Service Support Track is designed to be flexible by virtue of not being tied to a fixed schedule to keep the process agile. The Service Support Track does not have a fixed or pre-determined run-time, but rather adjusts to the applicants’ needs.

Where are proposals expected to originate?

Any proposal for a Basic Service must originate from a community process within a NFDI section - and as a result of requirements of the consortia expressed via the sections of the NFDI Association.

Fresh ideas for a service we absolutely need to have? Drum up support in a section and draft a proposal!

Picture of whiteboard with pecil showing the steps to submit a basic service candidate proposal

Need support for your proposal?

1. For general support, or to discuss any aspect of your proposal, contact our Section Liaison Officers via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2. If you are already writing a proposal, contact our Service Stewards via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Who can submit a proposal?

A proposal has to be submitted by one lead insitution and further participating institutions to an NFDI section. All institutions need to be (or have a route to become) members of a DFG-funded NFDI consortium. The NFDI section speakers submit the proposal to Base4NFDI (to the office email). Basic services who do not pass the Consortia vote are not eligible to submit a proposal again for the regular 3-phase model.

light bulb icon with question mark inside

The role of NFDI Consortia

1. After the proposal submission, consortia evaluate and vote on all proposals based on their community's needs (see detailed filter criteria per phase here).
2. The Consortia Assembly votes on whether to fund the service. See dates below.

Graphic with the names of all 26 NFDI Consortia

Next Proposal Timelines

	Submit Proposal	Consortia Voting Deadline	Recommendation by TEC	Decision Consortia Assembly	Begin Funding
Round 10	28 January 2026	2 March 2026	March 2026	17 April 2026	July 2026
Round 11	22 April 2026	25 May 2026	June 2026	3 July 2026	October 2026
Round 12	22 July 2026	31 August 2026	September 2026	9 October 2026	February 2027

What you need to know about Letters of Commitment (LoC)

Please do not provide generic consortia support letters. General support including the approval of the NFDI consortia will be requested in a separate process by the Base4NFDI coordination team.

Letters of commitment are requested ...

... in two cases for the Initialisation phase:

from an NFDI consortium if it dedicates consortium funds for specific contributions to the service,
from other persons or institutions that may not actively participate but contribute to the service in any form.

... in three cases for the Integration phase:

from an NFDI consortium that commits to co-develop the service with consortium funds, where a LoC should detail the specific contributions of this consortium to the service,
from an NFDI consortium that commits to use the service, where a LoC should outline the concrete steps to be taken by this consortium towards this goal,
from other persons or institutions - also external to the NFDI - that do not actively participate but contribute to the service in any form.

LoCs can be submitted until two weeks after the application deadline.