The Eligibility Policy of the Foundation has been determined by its Board of Governors, based on the agreement signed between the two parties, and on further discussions during Board meetings.
Only Israeli and German scientists from non-profit scientific organizations in the two countries are eligible to submit research proposals to the GIF.
Special note for Israeli applicants: GIF can support only projects conducted within the geographic areas under the jurisdiction of the State of Israel prior to June 5, 1967.
GIF eligible institutions in both countries are limited to the following:
1. Institutions of Higher Learning:
In Israel:
- All universities and academic colleges accredited by the Planning Budgeting Committee within The Council For Higher Education (VATAT) as institutions of higher learning.
In Germany:
- All universities and "Fachhochschulen" who are regular members of the "Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK)".
2. Government Research Institutions and Research Corporations
In Israel:
- All government-owned research institutions and research institutions affiliated to one of the Government's Chief Scientists' offices.
In Germany:
- All government-owned research institutions
- All research centers who are members of the HGF (Hermann von Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren).
- All members of the WGL (Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft W.G. Leibniz).
3. Public Research Institutions and Research Corporations
In Israel:
- All public research institutions which receive a regular subsidy from the government, which constitutes an integral part of their annual budget. This subsidy must appear in the annually published national budget of the State of Israel.
In Germany:
- All Max-Planck and all Fraunhofer Institutes.
- Research institutes fully owned by one or several German "Laender".
- Consortia involving several of the institutions mentioned under paragraph 1-3 above, which can yet be defined as non-profit research organizations.
4. Public Hospitals
In Israel:
- All government or publically owned hospitals. The definition of "public" being that public money is being budgeted to the hospital on an annual basis, and that representatives of the public are on its board of directors.
In Germany:
- All public hospitals recognized as non-profit organizations.
5. EMBL, Heidelberg
- Both German and Israeli scientists temporarily employed at the EMBL may apply to GIF together with a partner from the opposite country. Since EMBL is a European Institution, the citizenship of the applicants is the decisive factor in this case. They may NOT be both employed at the EMBL at the same time!
NOTE: The final decision on the eligibility of any given institution rests with GIF (Contact). In cases of doubt, GIF will be entitled to request written proof that an institution is a recognized non-profit research entity
Industrial enterprises or other research institutions registered either in Israel or Germany can indirectly participate in GIF sponsored grants, by being a subcontractor to a non-profit organization, with a separate budget agreed upon and signed by the parties prior to GIF support.