The call consists of a two-stage application process (applicable for both the Collaborative and the Solo Track).
Stage 1: Pre-proposal
Applicants in both tracks must submit a pre-proposal as detailed in the “Pre-Proposal” tab below.
The pre-proposals will be evaluated by GIF Scientific Advisory Panels.
Only applicants of a pre-proposals that received highest scientific marks (grades) will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Stage 2: Full proposal
Full proposals can be submitted only upon invitation.
Full proposals will undergo an international peer-review process; then will be re-evaluated and ranked by the Scientific Advisory Panels.
The final funding decisions are made by the members of the Scientific Council of the GIF Board of Governors.
Details on the requirements for a full proposal can be found in the “Full Proposal” tab below.
The Application Procedure
Pre-Proposal
Full Proposal
Forms
Pre-Proposal
Pre-Proposal Guidelines
Pre-proposals should be submitted through the GIF online submission platform, which can be accessed from the GIF website.
To register for the submission portal:
First-time applicants
Click “Portal Registration” at the bottom of this webpage.
Complete the registration form.
Log in to the Applicants’ Portal and begin completing the application.
OR use the “Login”button on the GIF website.
Click “Login” on the GIF website.
Enter your email address.
Select “Forgot your password?”
Enter your email address and submit.
You will receive a verification code by email. Use it to create your password.
After logging in, to enter the Applicants’ Portal, click “Create New Pre-Proposal.”
Former users
To log in to the submission portal:
Click “Login” on the GIF website.
Enter your existing email address.
If you do not remember your password, select “Forgot your password?”
Enter your email address and submit.
You will receive a verification code by email. Use it to create a new password.
After logging in, to enter the Applicants’ Portal, click “Create New Pre-Proposal.”
In the Collaborative Track, all PIs must submit one joint, coherent pre-proposal:
One PI must be designated as the “leader” for technical purposes. The leader is responsible for creating the pre-proposal. As soon as it is created, the Research Authority of the leader’s institution is notified automatically.
The leader must then add the other PI(s) and CI(s) by selecting “Add Applicant” in the upper-right corner of the Applicants’ Portal. When an additional PI is added, the Research Authority of their institution is also notified automatically.
Please note that partner PIs do not receive an email notification when they are added. After the leader has invited them, they can access the joint pre-proposal as follows:
Click “Login” on the GIF website.
Enter your email address.
Select “Forgot your password?”
Enter your email address again and submit.
You will receive a verification code by email. Use it to create your password.
After logging in, enter the Applicants’ Portal to access the joint pre-proposal.
*CIs do not have access to the Applicants’ Portal and are not required to log in.
Please note that at any stage you can view the draft PDF which can be generated by click on the “View PDF” button, you will be able to see how the pre-proposal looks like and make the needed changes.
Should you encounter any technical difficulties or have any questions regarding the program and proposal content, the GIF team will be pleased to assist you at gif.admin@gif.org.il.
Pre-Proposal
Chapter I – General Information
Chapter I is divided into several sub-chapters (Pre-proposal overview, Basics, and uploaded documents).
Please pay attention that in case the applicant/s is/are invited to submit a full proposal, neither the title nor the PIs of the proposal can be changed or modified.
All uploaded documents must be in PDF format. Formatting for uploaded documents: page margins: normal setting (2.54 cm), 11pt. font, 1.5 line spacing, no page numbering.
Here is a list of the required documents in PDF format:
Pre-proposal abstract (1 page total).
Short project description (2 pages total. Please note that the page limit includes figures and references; annexes to the pre-proposal are not accepted):
Objectives and the general concept of the project: scientific background, aims, working hypothesis, and preliminary results.
Work plan, methodology, expertise of the partners, and required ethics approvals may be described briefly. This information will be emphasized at the full proposal stage.
Collaborative track: brief description of the added value of the joint research approach and interdisciplinary nature (when applicable) of the proposed research
Solo track for early career scientists (without a research partner): emphasize how the research tasks are planned to be achieved in the one-year grant duration; describe your plans to visit the partner country.
Brief bio of each PI individually – Academic education and positions, honors and awards, and selected grants (max. 1 page per PI).
Solo Track: Please upload your Doctoral Degree Certificate along with your Bio (total 2 pages).
List of each PI’s publications from the past 5 years only, which are relevant for the pre-proposal (max. 5 pages per PI – no full publications are permitted).
Collaborative Track: joint publications by the PIs should be emphasized in the publication lists.
Pre-Proposal
Chapter II – Budget
For Chapter II, please fill in a separate budget for each PI. The online submission platform will calculate the resulting total requested budget.
The budget for each PI should be presented in accordance with GIF budget codes, stating the annual requested amount for each budget code and then will be added for the total requested budget for the full duration of the potential grant. The list of eligible GIF budget codes for each track (Collaborative or Solo track) can be found below.
All amounts should be presented in euros.
The use of the GIF grant budget is limited to the budget codes listed in the tables below.
Grantees may not receive any salary from the Grant budget.
Research assistants may receive a salary based on the local regulations of each country, or a scholarship according to national tax law.
The total work time of researchers employed part-time on a GIF Grant as well as by their institution may not exceed 100%.
2 Travel 2.1 Foreign 2.2 Domestic
Foreign travel is restricted to travel between Europe and Israel. Grantees (or the students actively involved in the GIF project) are obligated to meet for several days annually, with one meeting taking place at the GIF Grant partner’s institution during the Grant period.
Joint research in other countries as part of the GIF Grant, e.g. CERN, or MPIs located outside of Germany may be approved if justified in the GIF research proposal.
The maximum travel budget is EUR 2,500 per grantee per year. For the avoidance of doubt, this limit applies on a per-PI basis and is not contingent upon travel being undertaken personally by the PI; rather, it may be used for eligible travel by the PI and/or by any member(s) of the PI’s research group or other personnel traveling on the PI’s behalf in connection with the GIF Grant, subject in all cases to these guidelines and GIF approval requirements.
GIF approves travel in economy class only.
Hotel rates and per diem are calculated according to the Grantees’ national and institutional regulations.
Financial reports need to include receipts for all travel expenses (airfare, hotel, etc.).
3 Equipment
Permanent equipment may be purchased up to completion of the first half of the grant period.
Personal computers and laptops (and associative equipment) are eligible items.
The maximum number of computers shall not exceed the number of research staff positions (not necessarily personal names) specifically mentioned in the GIF research proposal.
Financial reports need to include receipts for equipment.
4 Supplies, Materials
Disposable materials and equipment.
Optical and electronic supplies.
Purchase of animals and plants.
In financial reports, an explanation is to be included for disposable equipment purchased above EUR 1,000 (per single article).
5 Internal Services
Animals and maintenance.
Machine shops and Repair facilities.
Internal IT, lab services, translations.
Internal maintenance for non-expendable equipment.
6 External Services
Services provided by external sub-contractors.
Financial reports need to include receipts for all external services.
7 Conferences/Workshops 7.1 Conferences/Workshops organized by the Grantees (Israel/Germany) 7.2 Participation in conferences by organizers other than the Grantees (Israel/Europe)
The topic of conferences/workshops organized or attended by Grantees must be directly related to the GIF Grant.
Recreation expenses (sightseeing tours etc.) will not be covered by GIF.
7.1 Conferences/workshops organized by the Grantees:
The event must take place in Israel or Germany.
Expenditures are reimbursed only for participants from Israel/ Germany.
GIF approves travel in economy class only.
Hotel rates and per diem are calculated according to the Grantee’s national and institutional regulations.
GIF will reimburse only expenses in line with GIF guidelines.
7.2 Conferences/workshops not organized by the Grantees:
The conference/workshop must take place in Europe or Israel.
A presentation must be given by at least one of the Grantees.
For calculation and reporting requirements of travel expenses, see budget code 2 Travel.
The Conferences/Workshops budget under code 07 is separate from the code 02 travel limit, and it may include costs relating to multiple participants.
8 Literature and Publications
Purchase of professional literature.
Fees for publications resulting from the GIF Grant.
9 Miscellaneous
Expenditures which are Grant related direct expenses but outside the other GIF budget categories.
Max. 5% total of the Grant budget.
Budget for Miscellaneous expenses exceeding 5% requires approval by GIF in advance.
10 Overhead
The GIF system will automatically add 10% of the total research costs as overhead.
The Grant total budget of direct research costs plus overhead may not exceed EUR 100,000 per year for all Grantees together.
The budget for overhead is distributed between all Grantees proportionately to their share in the overall budget.
GIF does NOT reimburse
Membership fees for any kind of professional association.
Registration fees for conferences/workshops.
Fees for invited speakers outside of Israel and Europe.
Grantees may not receive any salary from the Grant budget.
Research assistants may receive a salary based on the local regulations of each country, or a scholarship according to national tax law.
The total work time of researchers employed part-time on a GIF Grant as well as by their institution may not exceed 100%.
2 Travel 2.1 Foreign 2.2 Domestic
Foreign travel is restricted to travel to the partner country.
A minimum duration of 7 days is required. An extended visit of 2 weeks is recommended.
The travel budget is intended for use by the Grantee only.
The maximum travel budget is EUR 2,500. The travel budget is intended for use by the grantee, in person, only. For the avoidance of doubt, under the individual track (as opposed to the Collaborative Track), the travel budget is intended for use to cover the travel expenses.
GIF approves travel in economy class only.
Hotel rates and per diem are calculated according to the Grantees’ national and institutional regulations.
Financial reports need to include receipts for all travel expenses (airfare, hotel, etc.).
3 Equipment
Permanent equipment may be purchased within the first 6 months.
The total budget for equipment is limited to EUR 5,000.
Personal Computers and laptops (and associative equipment) are eligible items.
The maximum number of computers shall not exceed the number of research staff positions (not necessarily personal names) specifically mentioned in the GIF research proposal.
Financial reports need to include receipts for equipment.
4 Supplies, Materials
Disposable materials and equipment.
Optical and electronic supplies.
Purchase of animals and plants.
In financial reports, an explanation is to be included for disposable equipment purchased above EUR 1,000 (per single article).
5 Internal Services
Animals and maintenance.
Machine shops and Repair facilities.
Internal IT, lab services, translations.
Internal maintenance for non-expendable equipment.
6 External Services
Services provided by external sub-contractors.
Financial reports need to include receipts for all external services.
7 Conferences/Workshops 7.1 Conferences/Workshops organized by the Grantee 7.2 Participation in conferences by organizers other than the Grantee
The topic of conferences/workshops organized or attended by Grantee must be directly related to the GIF Grant.
Conferences/workshops organized or attended by the Grantee must take place in Israel or Germany.
Recreation expenses (sightseeing tours etc.) will not be covered by GIF.
7.1 Conferences/workshops organized by the Grantees:
The event must take place in Israel or Germany.
Expenditures are reimbursed only for participants from Israel/ Germany.
GIF approves travel in economy class only.
Hotel rates and per diem are calculated according to the Grantee’s national and institutional regulations.
GIF will reimburse only expenses in line with GIF guidelines.
7.2 Conferences/workshops not organized by the Grantees:
The conference/workshop must take place in Europe or Israel.
A presentation must be given by the Grantee.
For calculation and reporting requirements of travel expenses, see budget code 2 Travel.
8 Literature and Publications
Purchase of professional literature.
Fees for publications resulting from the GIF Grant.
9 Miscellaneous
Expenditures which are Grant related direct expenses but outside the other GIF budget categories.
Max. 5% total of the Grant budget.
Budget for Miscellaneous expenses exceeding 5% requires approval by GIF in advance.
10 Overhead
The GIF system will automatically add 10% of the total research costs as overhead.
The Grant total budget of direct research costs plus overhead may not exceed EUR 25,000.
GIF does NOT reimburse
Membership fees for any kind of professional association.
Registration fees for conferences/workshops.
Fees for invited speakers outside of Israel and Europe.
Research group social activities.
Recreation expenses (sightseeing tours etc.).
Pre-Proposal
Chapter III – Submit Pre-Proposal and Administrative Approvals
The online submission wizard will check if all parts of the pre-proposal are completed. Missing parts will be indicated in the “Submit” tab.
The application cannot be submitted unless RA approval is received (see below).
During the pre-proposal submission process, administrative approval is needed:
Israeli PIs:
Once an application is created, the Research Authorities (RA) or the authorized administrative contact of each of the PIs’ institutions will be notified by email that a researcher from their institution has opened a pre-proposal or was added to one (each PI must be “approved’ by the relevant RA or personnel of their Institutions). The RA will then actively confirm that the PI is approved as an eligible researcher and can continue filling in the pre-proposal. If such an approval was not received, a notification indicating “Missing Research Authority Approval” will be displayed under the “Submit” tab.
German PIs:
GIF verifies the eligibility of German PIs directly and activates their institutional approval in the application portal. German PIs do not upload this approval through the portal.
Each German PI must send GIF an official confirmation from their institution addressing all of the following:
The PI will be employed by, or formally affiliated with, the institution for the full duration of the requested GIF grant.
The PI is authorized to apply for and receive external research funding.
The PI is authorized to lead the proposed research independently and manage its budget.
The confirmation should be issued on institutional letterhead and signed by an authorized representative.
*If the PI’s current contract does not cover the entire potential grant period, the institution must provide a clear commitment that the PI’s employment or formal affiliation, together with the required research and budgetary authority, will continue for the full grant duration if the proposal is funded.
Pre-Proposal Preparation Workbooks
Applicants may use the following optional workbooks to prepare and coordinate the information required in the Applicants’ Portal before beginning their online submission:
The workbooks reflect the fields and documents required in the Applicants’ Portal and are intended for preparation purposes only. They do not replace the online application and should not be submitted to GIF.
Please ensure that all information is entered and all required documents are uploaded directly through the Applicants’ Portal.
Submitting your Pre-Proposal
To submit your Pre-Proposal, click on:
“Portal Registration” if you are a first-time applicant
“Portal Login” if you have already applied to GIF or have been added to a collaborative pre-proposal by the “leader” PI
Full Proposal
Full Proposal Guidelines
A full proposal can be submitted only upon invitation, after having passed the pre-proposal stage successfully. The full proposals are also submitted at the online submission platform, using the same login credentials which were used for the pre-proposal stage.
The proposal title and the participating PIs/CIs are imported automatically from the pre-proposal and are not editable in the full proposal stage.
In the collaborative track proposals, only the ”leader” PI, has access to editing all parts of the proposal and needs to click “Submit” once editing is completed.
Full Proposal
Information and documents required for a full proposal
All uploaded documents must be in PDF format. Formatting for uploaded documents: page margins: normal setting (2.54 cm), 11pt. font, 1.5 line spacing, no page numbering.
During the full proposal stage, the cover page should be signed and stamped by all PIs and their authorized personnel. This indicates the agreement of all parties with the full proposal content. Please email this cover page to gif.admin@gif.org.il
Collaborative Track
Solo Track
A) Information to be provided individually for each PI
CV of each PI (online forms)
Please fill in the 2 online forms
Academic background
Previous employment
If CIs are included in the proposal, their CV can be uploaded by the assigned leader PI as a PDF file under the Miscellaneous upload tab.
CV of the PI (online forms)
Please fill in the 2 online forms
Academic background
Previous employment
List of each PI’s relevant publications of the past 5 years (PDF upload)
Please do not upload any full publications.
A list of joint publications by the PIs can be uploaded under Upload Docs/Joint Publications.
List of the PI’s relevant publications of the past 5 years (PDF upload)
Please do not upload any full publications.
Information regarding parallel funding (online form)
Information regarding parallel funding (online form)
Detailed budget per PI according to GIF budget codes (online form)
The GIF online submission platform will automatically add 10% of the total direct research costs as overhead, distributed between all PIs proportionately to their share in the overall budget. The total budget of direct research costs plus overhead may not exceed EUR 100,000 per year for all PIs together.
Please note that if any significant changes have been made to the budget from the pre-proposal stage, it is necessary to inform us via email to finance@gif.org.il
Detailed budget according to GIF budget codes (online form)
The GIF online submission platform will automatically add 10% of the total direct research costs as overhead. The total budget of direct research costs plus overhead may not exceed EUR 25,000.
Please note that if any significant changes have been made to the budget from the pre-proposal stage, it is necessary to inform us via email to finance@gif.org.il
B) Information / Documents to be provided jointly for all PIs in the proposal, to be uploaded by the “leader” PI
Abstract (PDF upload)
Same file as in the pre-proposal or updated version.
Abstract (PDF upload)
Same file as in the pre-proposal or updated version.
Full project description (PDF upload)
Please use the following outline:
Page limit: Up to 10 pages for Sections 1–5 (see below), plus up to 3 additional pages of supplementary material (e.g., graphs, figures, tables, etc.). Supplementary material may be incorporated within Sections 1–5 or placed at the end of the document.
Background and preliminary results
Objectives and merits of the proposed research
Detailed description of the joint research (including work plan and methods) If a proof of concept is required, it should be explicitly described in the project description. If the proposal is approved for funding, a positive proof of concept will be a prerequisite for the continuation of the grant.
Qualifications of the investigators and the facilities at their disposal
Mode of cooperation
Full project description (PDF upload)
Please use the following outline:
Page limit: Up to 5 pages for Sections 1–6 (see below), plus up to 3 additional pages of supplementary material (e.g., graphs, figures, tables, etc.). Supplementary material may be incorporated within Sections 1–6 or placed at the end of the document.
Background and preliminary results
Objectives and merits of the proposed research
Work plan
Methods
Expected outcomes
Description of the planned travel to the other country A minimum duration of 7 days is required. An extended visit of 2 weeks is recommended
Bibliography (up to 3 pages in PDF upload)
Bibliography (up to 3 pages in PDF upload)
Project time schedule (online form)
N/A
Joint publications (PDF upload) – if applicable
N/A
Additional material (PDF upload) – optional
For uploads of relevant material not included elsewhere in the proposal, e.g., CVs of Cooperating Investigators (CIs)
Please do not upload any full publications or manuscripts to the proposal
Additional material (PDF upload) – optional
For uploads of relevant material not included elsewhere in the proposal
Please do not upload any full publications or manuscripts to the proposal
Reviewers* (online form)
Applicants have the option to
recommend up to 5 suitable reviewers for the proposal.
exclude up to 5 reviewers from receiving the proposal for evaluation
Reviewers* (online form)
Applicants have the option to
recommend up to 5 suitable reviewers for the proposal.
exclude up to 5 reviewers from receiving the proposal for evaluation
Info on relevant ethics approvals (online form) – if applicable
Please indicate which ethics approvals will be required for your project. If the proposal is approved for funding, all required ethics approvals must be submitted to GIF before the start of any project activity requiring such approval. Failure to submit the required approvals by the relevant date may result in suspension of the grant.
Info on relevant ethics approvals (online form) – if applicable
Please indicate which ethics approvals will be required for your project. If the proposal is approved for funding, all required ethics approvals must be submitted to GIF before the start of any project activity requiring such approval. Failure to submit the required approvals by the relevant date may result in suspension of the grant.
* GIF policy for recommending reviewers should follow the list below:
The reviewer is NOT from the same institute as one of the applicants.
The reviewer was NOT the PhD advisor/mentor of one of the applicants.
The reviewer was NOT one of the applicant’s Postdoc host.
The reviewer did NOT work and publish together with one of the applicants in the past 7 years.
While GIF respects the applicants’ requests to exclude specified reviewers, we cannot guarantee that all reviewers suggested by the applicants will be approached.
Full Proposal
Budget Codes
The budget can remain the same as in the pre-proposal or be updated.
Please note that if any significant changes have been made to the budget from the pre-proposal stage, it is necessary to inform us via email to finance@gif.org.il
The budget for each PI should be presented in accordance with GIF budget codes, stating the annual requested amount for each budget code and then will be added for the total requested budget for the full duration of the potential grant. The list of eligible GIF budget codes for each track (Collaborative or Solo track) can be found below.
All amounts should be presented in Euro.
The use of GIF grant budget is limited to the budget codes listed in the tables below.
Grantees may not receive any salary from the Grant budget.
Research assistants may receive a salary based on the local regulations of each country, or a scholarship according to national tax law.
The total work time of researchers employed part-time on a GIF Grant, as well as by their institution, may not exceed 100%.
2 Travel 2.1 Foreign 2.2 Domestic
Foreign travel is restricted to travel between Europe and Israel. Grantees (or the students actively involved in the GIF project) are obligated to meet for several days annually, with one meeting taking place at the GIF Grant partner’s institution during the Grant period.
Joint research in other countries as part of the GIF Grant, e.g. CERN, or MPIs located outside of Germany may be approved if justified in the GIF research proposal.
The maximum travel budget is EUR 2,500 per grantee per year. For the avoidance of doubt, this limit applies on a per-PI basis and is not contingent upon travel being undertaken personally by the PI; rather, it may be used for eligible travel by the PI and/or by any member(s) of the PI’s research group or other personnel traveling on the PI’s behalf in connection with the GIF Grant, subject in all cases to these guidelines and GIF approval requirements.
GIF approves travel in economy class only.
Hotel rates and per diem are calculated according to the Grantees’ national and institutional regulations.
Financial reports need to include receipts for all travel expenses (airfare, hotel, etc.).
3 Equipment
Permanent equipment may be purchased up to completion of the first half of the grant period.
Personal computers and laptops (and associative equipment) are eligible items.
The maximum number of computers shall not exceed the number of research staff positions (not necessarily personal names) specifically mentioned in the GIF research proposal.
Financial reports need to include receipts for equipment.
4 Supplies, Materials
Disposable materials and equipment.
Optical and electronic supplies.
Purchase of animals and plants.
In financial reports, an explanation is to be included for disposable equipment purchased above EUR 1,000 (per single article).
5 Internal Services
Animals and maintenance.
Machine shops and Repair facilities.
Internal IT, lab services, translations.
Internal maintenance for non-expendable equipment.
6 External Services
Services provided by external sub-contractors.
Financial reports need to include receipts for all external services.
7 Conferences/Workshops 7.1 Conferences/Workshops organized by the Grantees (Israel/Germany) 7.2 Participation in conferences by organizers other than the Grantees (Israel/Europe)
The topic of conferences/workshops organized or attended by Grantees must be directly related to the GIF Grant.
Recreation expenses (sightseeing tours etc.) will not be covered by GIF.
7.1 Conferences/workshops organized by the Grantees:
The event must take place in Israel or Germany.
Expenditures are reimbursed only for participants from Israel/ Germany.
GIF approves travel in economy class only.
Hotel rates and per diem are calculated according to the Grantee’s national and institutional regulations.
GIF will reimburse only expenses in line with GIF guidelines.
7.2 Conferences/workshops not organized by the Grantees:
The conference/workshop must take place in Europe or Israel.
A presentation must be given by at least one of the Grantees.
For calculation and reporting requirements of travel expenses, see budget code 2 Travel.
The Conferences/Workshops budget under code 07 is separate from the code 02 travel limit, and it may include costs relating to multiple participants.
8 Literature and Publications
Purchase of professional literature.
Fees for publications resulting from the GIF Grant.
9 Miscellaneous
Expenditures which are Grant related direct expenses but outside the other GIF budget categories.
Max. 5% total of the Grant budget.
Budget for Miscellaneous expenses exceeding 5% requires approval by GIF in advance.
10 Overhead
The GIF system will automatically add 10% of the total research costs as overhead.
The Grant total budget of direct research costs plus overhead may not exceed EUR 100,000 per year for all Grantees together.
The budget for overhead is distributed between all Grantees proportionately to their share in the overall budget.
GIF does NOT reimburse
Membership fees for any kind of professional association.
Registration fees for conferences/workshops.
Fees for invited speakers outside of Israel and Europe.
Grantees may not receive any salary from the Grant budget.
Research assistants may receive a salary based on the local regulations of each country, or a scholarship according to national tax law.
The total work time of researchers employed part-time on a GIF Grant as well as by their institution may not exceed 100%.
2 Travel 2.1 Foreign 2.2 Domestic
Foreign travel is restricted to travel to the partner country.
A minimum duration of 7 days is required. An extended visit of 2 weeks is recommended.
The travel budget is intended for use by the Grantee only.
The maximum travel budget is EUR 2,500. The travel budget is intended for use by the grantee, in person, only. For the avoidance of doubt, under the individual track (as opposed to the Collaborative Track), the travel budget is intended for use to cover the travel expenses.
GIF approves travel in economy class only.
Hotel rates and per diem are calculated according to the Grantees’ national and institutional regulations.
Financial reports need to include receipts for all travel expenses (airfare, hotel, etc.).
3 Equipment
Permanent equipment may be purchased within the first 6 months.
The total budget for equipment is limited to EUR 5,000.
Personal Computers and laptops (and associative equipment) are eligible items.
The maximum number of computers shall not exceed the number of research staff positions (not necessarily personal names) specifically mentioned in the GIF research proposal.
Financial reports need to include receipts for equipment.
4 Supplies, Materials
Disposable materials and equipment.
Optical and electronic supplies.
Purchase of animals and plants.
In financial reports, an explanation is to be included for disposable equipment purchased above EUR 1,000 (per single article).
5 Internal Services
Animals and maintenance.
Machine shops and Repair facilities.
Internal IT, lab services, translations.
Internal maintenance for non-expendable equipment.
6 External Services
Services provided by external sub-contractors.
Financial reports need to include receipts for all external services.
7 Conferences/Workshops 7.1 Conferences/Workshops organized by the Grantee 7.2 Participation in conferences by organizers other than the Grantee
The topic of conferences/workshops organized or attended by Grantee must be directly related to the GIF Grant.
Conferences/workshops organized or attended by the Grantee must take place in Israel or Germany.
Recreation expenses (sightseeing tours etc.) will not be covered by GIF.
7.1 Conferences/workshops organized by the Grantees:
The event must take place in Israel or Germany.
Expenditures are reimbursed only for participants from Israel/ Germany.
GIF approves travel in economy class only.
Hotel rates and per diem are calculated according to the Grantee’s national and institutional regulations.
GIF will reimburse only expenses in line with GIF guidelines.
7.2 Conferences/workshops not organized by the Grantees:
The conference/workshop must take place in Europe or Israel.
A presentation must be given by the Grantee.
For calculation and reporting requirements of travel expenses, see budget code 2 Travel.
8 Literature and Publications
Purchase of professional literature.
Fees for publications resulting from the GIF Grant.
9 Miscellaneous
Expenditures which are Grant related direct expenses but outside the other GIF budget categories.
Max. 5% total of the Grant budget.
Budget for Miscellaneous expenses exceeding 5% requires approval by GIF in advance.
10 Overhead
The GIF system will automatically add 10% of the total research costs as overhead.
The Grant total budget of direct research costs plus overhead may not exceed EUR 25,000.
GIF does NOT reimburse
Membership fees for any kind of professional association.
Registration fees for conferences/workshops.
Fees for invited speakers outside of Israel and Europe.
Research group social activities.
Recreation expenses (sightseeing tours etc.).
Full Proposal
Administrative approval
The approval procedure needs to be completed before the submission deadline, as the online submission of the proposal can be completed only if the confirmation of the institutional approval is activated in the GIF online submission platform.
Signed and Stamped Cover Page: Once all PIs have completed filling in the full proposal details, prior to submitting it, the cover page(which can be generated in the online submission platform at any time during the editing process) should be signed and stamped by all PIs and their authorized personnel. This indicates the agreement of all parties with the full proposal content. Please email this cover page to gif.admin@gif.org.il
Online administrative approval: Israeli PIs: The Research Authorities will actively confirm through the portal that the full proposal, including the work plan and budget, is approved and can continue for submission. If such an approval was not received, a notification indicating “Missing Research Authority Approval” will be displayed under the “Submit” tab. German PIs: This Process will be managed by the GIF Liaison Office. No further action is required from you.
Full Proposal
Ethical approval
GIF-Grants must be conducted in accordance with the highest ethical standards and all applicable laws and regulations, in a manner that minimizes detrimental effects on humans, animals, plants, and the environment.
It is the primary responsibility of the researchers to assure compliance with restrictions in Israel and Germany and to obtain all necessary permits prior to the start of the GIF grant. All ethical approvals must be submitted to GIF prior to the starting date of the task for which the approval is required (as stated in the updated GIF Grant schedule). GIF will not be held responsible or legally liable in the event of non-compliance and/or negligence and/or any kind of violation of such regulations.
All research proposals must fully comply with the Helsinki Committee standards and/or all rules, regulations, and ethical codes that have been enacted by the governments and/or empowered authorities in Germany and Israel. The proposal must also abide by GDPR regulations.
PIs whose projects involve research on human stem cells will have to ensure that all project partners comply with the regulations in force in both countries.
For experiments using animals, the agreement of the relevant institution’s official commission on animal experimentation, pertinent to the proposal, must be submitted.
Applicants who are planning to conduct clinical trials of any kind must describe these experiments in detail and include the appropriate permits in the proposal.
In case the proposal is approved, the required ethics approvals must be submitted before the grant starts. The up to date approval/s must be provided in English, on the stationery of the relevant authorities by these dates.
Full Proposal Preparation Workbooks
Applicants may use the following optional workbooks to prepare and coordinate the information required in the Applicants’ Portal before beginning their online submission:
The workbooks reflect the fields and documents required in the Applicants’ Portal and are intended for preparation purposes only. They do not replace the online application and should not be submitted to GIF.
Please ensure that all information is entered and all required documents are uploaded directly through the Applicants’ Portal.
Submitting your Full Proposal
In order to submit your Full Proposal, please log into our portal upon invitation.
Forms
Guidelines for Applicants – Forms
The complete and official application instructions are available on the GIF Applicants webpages. These documents are intended as a practical guide to assist applicants in preparing their proposals. They are provided for convenience only and do not replace the information published on the GIF Applicants webpages.
Emma joined the German Israeli Foundation (GIF) team in 2014. She is the Grants Manager and is responsible for the life cycle of our grants, working with grantees from pre-grant to closing.
Prior to joining GIF, Emma worked in resource development for non-profit organizations in Israel. She was responsible for grant writing, and designed campaigns and events for worthy causes.
Emma completed her studies at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. She worked in graduate recruitment and human resources before moving to Israel with her family in 2000.
Emma is committed to the goals of GIF and takes pride in the research collaborations and friendships created between scientists in Israel and Germany.
Professor Michael Rosenbluh
Bar-Ilan University
ISRAEL
GOVERNOR
Michael Rosenbluh obtained his Ph. D. in physics from MIT in 1978. His research was in experimental laser spectroscopy, in particular the exploration of the effects of very high magnetic fields on the spectroscopy of atomic He. After receiving his Ph. D., he continued as a staff member of the MIT Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory. In 1980 he joined the Physics Faculty of Bar-Ilan University as Senior Lecturer and established a laser laboratory and research group. He also continued as a part time staff member at MIT, at first at the Magnet Laboratory and then at Lincoln Laboratory until 1988. He became Full Professor at Bar-Ilan in 1992 and was Chairman of the Physics Department from 2011 to 2017. While at Bar-Ilan he was instrumental in establishing the Electrical Engineering Faculty and the Department of Optometry, which he chaired for nine years. He was at IBM Almaden Research Lab for a Sabbatical and has spent a number of short Sabbaticals as Visiting Professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado and at NIST in Boulder, Colorado.
His research has focused on the interaction of light with matter. He has performed extensive research in building and using lasers with which he has investigated laser spectroscopy in atomic systems, applications to medical systems, optical communications, cryptography, defense systems and quantum sensing. Special emphasis has been placed on precision spectroscopy and applied to Cs and Rb atomic clocks and magnetometers. An experimental program to study scattered light from random systems was started in the laboratory in the late 80’s and has resulted in many advances in this field. In particular, speckle correlation techniques and image reconstruction from speckle patterns has been an active field in the laboratory. In 1990, during a Sabbatical year at IBM Almaden Research Lab he performed a squeezed soliton experiment in a single mode fiber at a wavelength of 1.5 to 1.6 mm. With these experiments he entered the field of ultrafast and quantum optics and broadband sources and has continued experiments at Bar Ilan in this field.
Professor Rosenbluh has been collaborating with leading researchers in quantum optics both in Israel, Germany, France, Australia and the USA and a number of other countries. He has published more than 260 refereed scientific papers in books and journals, holds a number of patents and has given many invited talks at international conferences. He has directed more than 40 Ph. D. students and over 30 M. Sc. students while at MIT and Bar-Ilan.
Professor Dan Meyerstein
Ariel University
ISRAEL
GOVERNOR
Dan Meyerstein, born in 1938 in Jerusalem, Israel, earned his M.Sc. in Physical Chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem between 1956 and 1961. He then worked at the Soreq Nuclear Research Center from 1961 to 1965, during which he pursued his Ph.D. studies at the Hebrew University under the supervision of Prof. M. Anbar. After completing his studies, Meyerstein spent a year as a Research Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory in the U.S. He began his long academic career in 1968 at the Chemistry Department of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where he served until 2004, including a joint appointment with the Nuclear Research Centre Negev from 1968 to 1983. He later became Professor Emeritus at Ben-Gurion University in 2004 and has held a position at Ariel University since 2012.
Throughout his career, Meyerstein has made significant contributions to the scientific community, serving as President of both the Israel Chemical Society (1988-91) and the Ariel University (1995-2012). He also chaired the Israel Society for Oxygen and Free Radical Research from 1998 to 2000. Meyerstein’s achievements have been recognized by numerous honors, including the Meitner-Humboldt Research Prize in 1997, the Kolthoff Prize in 1998, and election to the Academia Europaea in 2011. His accolades also include the Israel Chemical Society Prize of Excellence in 2017, a special issue of the Journal of Coordination Chemistry in 2018, and a Dr. Honoris Causa from the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2019. In 2024, he will be honored with both a symposium at the ACS Spring Meeting and the Dionysiou Advanced Oxidation Technologies Award.
Professor Sarit Kraus
Bar-Ilan University
ISRAEL
GOVERNOR
Sarit Kraus (Ph.D. Computer Science, Hebrew University, 1989) is a Professor of Computer Science and Dean of the Faculty of Exact Sciences at Bar-Ilan University. Her research is focused on intelligent agents and multi-agent systems integrating machine-learning techniques with optimization, logic and game theory methods. In particular, she studies the development of intelligent agents that can interact proficiently with people and with robots. She has also contributed to the research on machine learning, XAI, agent optimization, decision support systems, robustness, automated negotiations, autonomous vehicles, homeland security, adversarial patrolling, social networks and nonmonotonic reasoning.
For her work, she received many prestigious awards. She was awarded the IJCAI Computers and Thought Award, the IJCAI Research Excellent Award, the ACM SIGART Agents Research Award, the ACM Athena Lecturer, the EMET prize, and was twice the winner of the IFAAMAS influential paper award. She is an ACM, AAAI and EurAI fellow and a recipient of the advanced ERC grant. She also received a special commendation from the city of Los Angeles, together with Prof. Tambe, Prof. Ordonez and their USC students, for the creation of the ARMOR security scheduling system. She has published over 400 papers in leading journals and major conferences, co-authored five books and was IJCAI-2019 program chair and was elected as IJCAI-2027 conference chair. She is an elected member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
Professor Yoram Weiss
Hadassa Medical Organization
ISRAEL
GOVERNOR
Dr. Yoram Weiss was appointed Director General of Hadassah Medical Organization, following his tenure as Director of Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem (2014 – 2021). He previously held the position of Medical Director of Hadassah Ein Kerem (2013 – 2014), Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology (2009-2014) and Director of the Center for Surgical Critical Care Medicine (2006-2009).
Dr. Weiss received his MD degree from the Israel Institute of Technology – Technion, Haifa, Israel in 1990, following which he trained in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Hadassah and the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Weiss has more than 20-years’ experience treating patients undergoing major surgical operations and patients suffering from complex multi-organ failure in the ICU. He has extensive experience in both basic and clinical research including the design and execution of large-scale clinical trials.
In recent years, Dr. Weiss has served on the Board of Directors of several biotech companies. Dr. Weiss twice won the prestigious research grant of the National Science Foundation and the European Critical Care Research Network Basic Science Award from the European Association for Intensive Care Medicine.
Dr. Elke-Vera Kotowski
Moses Mendelssohn Foundation
GERMANY
GOVERNOR
Dr. Elke-Vera Kotowski studied political science, literature, philosophy and cultural studies in Duisburg and Berlin.
She has been researching and teaching at the University of Potsdam since 1994 and was involved in the establishment of the “Jewish Studies” course at the University of Potsdam.
Her research areas are European-Jewish literary, cultural, and social history with a focus on the history of identity and mentality of German-speaking Jewry in the 19th and 20th century.
A special area of research that Ms. Kotowski has been conducting since 2012, in cooperation with the German Foreign Office and German embassies, among others, is the cultural heritage of Jewish emigrants worldwide.
From 2009-2016, she was the academic coordinator of the Walther Rathenau Graduate School in the network of Berlin and Brandenburg universities.
She has been a member of the Selma Stern Center for Jewish Studies Berlin Brandenburg since its founding (2011). She has also been chief curator of the Moses Mendelssohn Foundation and executive director of the Moses Mendelssohn Institute since 2020.
She is currently developing a documentation center on the history of the Berlin deportation site “Platform 17” as well as a student living and working campus for the development of new concepts of commemoration and remembrance in the German-Jewish context (www.else-ury-campus.de).
Gila Gamliel
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
ISRAEL
CO-CHAIRPERSON
Gila Gamliel is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for the Likud party, and as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Gamliel is the first woman to serve as the chairperson of The Israeli Student Union, and served as a member of the World Economic Forum.
During her first term in the Knesset starting in 2003, she chaired the committee of the Status of Women, and in March 2005 was appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
In April 2009, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Gamliel as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, with the portfolio of the Advancement of Young People, Students, and Women.
In 2013, Gamliel was appointed as the Coalition Coordinator in the Finance Committee and was one of the leaders of The Centralization Law.
After the 2015 elections, Gamliel was appointed Minister for Senior Citizens in the new government. Her ministry was then reconstituted as the Ministry for Social Equality in August 2015.
In May 2020, Gamliel was appointed as Minister for Environmental Protection, and led significant programs in dealing with the climate changes.
In 2023 Gamliel served as the Minister of Intelligence, the first female in the position and a participant in the Security Cabinet of the government.
In March 2024, Gamliel was appointed as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Gamliel is married, with two daughters, and lives in Tel Aviv.
Prof. Avi Rivkind
Hadassah Medical Center
ISRAEL
GOVERNOR
Professor Avraham Rivkind, M.D., F.A.C.S. Professor of Surgery, former Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine and Head of the Shock Trauma Unit in the Department of the General Surgery at Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem. He received his Doctorate in Medicine from the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School in 1980. Personal physician to the late President of the State of Israel, Mr. Ezer Weizman, as well as advisor to the Surgeon General of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on general surgery, trauma and ethics. Professor Rivkind completed a Fellowship in traumatology and critical care at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System (MIEMSS), Baltimore, Maryland, and was a visiting Associate Professor in Trauma and Fore-gut surgery at the University of Southern California. He is Chairperson of the Israel Committee on Trauma, and Director of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Program, Jerusalem, Israel. Professor Rivkind was awarded the Karl Stoll Chair in Surgical Trauma and was recently honored by the State of Israel as a torchbearer for Israel’s 75th Independence Day ceremony. Professor Rivkind is a widely recognized expert in natural disaster management, motor vehicle accidents, and identifying and treating blast injury as a result of shock waves. His research interests include hemorrhagic shock, fluid re-suscitation and all aspects of trauma care; primary interests in fore-gut surgery, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophageal and stomach diseases and cancer.
Sitara Staiger
Germany Liaison and Program Manager
ISRAEL
GIF STAFF
Sitara joined the German Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development (GIF) as Germany Liaison and Program Manager in October 2025.
Prior to joining GIF, Sitara worked with the European Leadership Network (ELNET) in Tel Aviv and Berlin, where she managed communications and supported initiatives promoting Europe-Israel relations. She also gained cross-cultural experience at the Council of Europe in Vienna and at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Sitara holds a Master’s degree in Security and Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminology from the University of Westminster in London. She is passionate about advancing bilateral scientific cooperation and strengthening the partnership between Israel and Germany.
Dr. Mirit Liran
Scientific Manager
ISRAEL
GIF STAFF
Dr. Mirit Liran is the Scientific Manager of the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development (GIF). She holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Tel Aviv University, where she investigated how alcohol addiction influences adaptive myelination in the brain. She also holds a B.Sc. in Life Sciences and Philosophy with a focus on consciousness studies and an M.Sc. in Biotechnology and Neurobiology. Before joining GIF, Mirit gained experience in both academia and industry, serving as a Scientific Marketing Manager at NVision Imaging Technologies in Germany, a Research Development Manager at Medint Medical Intelligence, and a medical data analyst. She has authored peer-reviewed publications, contributed to successful grant proposals, and is a co-inventor on a patent related to insulin-degrading enzyme antibodies. Passionate about advancing scientific excellence and binational collaboration, she brings expertise in research, science communication, and strategy to her role at GIF.
Verena Shifferman
ISRAEL
GIF DIRECTOR
Verena Shifferman has served as Director of the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development (GIF) since February 2025. She brings to this role over two decades of experience in international education, academic diplomacy, and crisis management, with a strong and sustained focus on German-Israeli cooperation.
Prior to joining GIF, Verena Shifferman worked as a Senior Advisor at the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) in Bonn, Germany. From 2021 to 2022, she was the Language and Education Consultant at the Goethe-Institut Boston, where she supported German language programs across New England and advised educational institutions on transatlantic cooperation.
From 2013 to 2021, she headed the DAAD Information Centre in Tel Aviv, establishing and managing the DAAD’s presence in Israel. In this role, she promoted academic exchange and cooperation between Israeli and German universities, advised students and researchers, and organized numerous delegation visits by academic and political leaders.
Earlier in her career, she taught German as a Foreign Language to diplomats and international professionals in Vienna and Tel Aviv and worked in publishing and civil society organizations.
Verena Shifferman holds a Master’s degree in Political Science, Gender Studies, and German Literature from the University of Freiburg. She also studied at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the University of Basel, and the European College of Liberal Arts in Berlin. With professional experience across Germany, Israel, Austria, and the United States, she brings a deeply rooted, cross-cultural perspective to her leadership at GIF.
Prof. Yehuda Skornick
Tel Aviv University
ISRAEL
GOVERNOR
Born in Israel Board certified surgeon since 1978.
Served in IDF as chief surgeon of The Army Frontline Field Hospital.
Basic Research at the Membrane department of the Weitzman Institute of Science (1978-1980).
Visiting Scientist at the Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Health (NIH) Bethesda Maryland, USA 1980-1982, 1988.
Full Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. Served as the head of Surgery Department at the Tel Aviv Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital).
Former President of Magen David Adom (MDA), the Israel Pre-hospital emergency services.
Currently, board member of the friend organization of MDA.
Active in the “Advanced Surgery Group”, Assuta Medical Center, Tel Aviv.
Served as the Chairman of the Committee for the Early Cancer Detection at the Israel Cancer Association.
Served as member in the Research committee of the Israel Cancer Association and at the Research committee of the Israel Ministry of Health.
Member of the American Society of Surgical Oncology.
Member of the Board of Trustees, The Bar-Ilan University Ramat Gan.
Board member of the Israel Opera. Board member of the Israel Culture and Art Council and chairman of its Music Section committee.
Publications: More than 150 original articles published in international professional journals and as chapters in books.
Active participation in more than 400 international scientific conferences.
Professor Dr. Eva Unger
Humboldt University of Berlin / Helmholtz Centre Berlin (HZB)
GERMANY
GOVERNOR
Prof. Dr. Eva Unger is a leading researcher in the field of hybrid photovoltaics, currently specializing in the development of scalable solution-based processed for Perovskite PV devices. She did her undergraduate education in Chemistry at the University of Marburg and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at Uppsala University.
During her postdoctoral research at Stanford University in 2012-2014, she emerged as an early adopter of Halide Perovskite Photovoltaics. Eva Unger started her independent research group in a dual appointment between Lund University, where she held a tenure track position, and Helmholtz Center Berlin, where she led a young investigator group funded by BMBF.
Since 2022 she is a Professor at Humboldt University Berlin funded by a Helmholtz program supporting excellent female scientists. In 2023 she received the Helmholtz High Impact award together with three other Yound Scientists (Albrecht, Abate & Saliba) and was among the “100 Köpfe der Berliner Wissenschaft” of the Tagesspiegel in 2025.
Professor Monika Wohlrab-Sahr
University of Leipzig
GERMANY
GOVERNOR
Monika Wohlrab-Sahr was born in 1957. She studied Protestant Theology and Sociology from 1976 to 1985.
She holds a doctorate in sociology from Philipps-University Marburg (1991) and a Habilitation from Free University in Berlin (1998). From 1999-2006. Monika Wohlrab-Sahr has been professor of Sociology of Religion at the University of Leipzig, since 2006 she is professor of Cultural Sociology there. She was a research fellow at UC Berkeley, the European University Institute in Florence, the Centre for Advanced Study at JNU in New Delhi and at the University of Montréal. She has done research on conversion to Islam, Islam in Europe and – over many years – on secularity, at first related to the East German secularization process, and then expanding globally and historically. At present she is heading a big research project on “The Contested Legacy of 1989. Appropriations between Politicization, Popularization and Historical-Political Education”, and she is one of the directors (with Christoph Kleine) of the Centre of Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences on “Multiple Secularities: Beyond the West, Beyond Modernities” (funded by the DFG since 2016).
She has been on the Review Board for Social Sciences of the German Research Council (DFG) for 8 years, for 4 years she served as the spokesperson of this board. She also has been the director of the Leibniz-program at the University of Leipzig, and is member of several Scientific Advisory Boards and Editorial Boards.
Susanne Burger
Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
GERMANY
GOVERNOR
Susanne Burger is the former Director General for European and International Cooperation in Education and Research (2018–2021) at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (now the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space). In this capacity, she was responsible for advancing Germany’s international partnerships in education and research, with a strong focus on Europe and Israel.
During her career at the Ministry, she held several senior positions, including Head of Directorate “Europe” (2013–2018), Head of Division “Education and Research” at the Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Union in Brussels (2009–2013), Head of Division “EU Education Programmes and International Cooperation in Education” (2002), and Head of Division “Education Policy Issues” (1998).
Earlier roles include positions at the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) in Brussels and the German Permanent Representation to the EU. She also worked as Personal Assistant to Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Norbert Lammert and as Desk Officer for East Asia at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg.
She studied Law in Nanjing (China) and Tübingen, completing the First State Examination in Law, and holds an M.A. in East Asian Studies.
Dr. Marcus Pleyer
State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
GERMANY
ACTING CHAIRPERSON
Marcus Pleyer studied Law in Heidelberg and Singapore as the recipient of a scholarship from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. After graduating, he completed his practical legal training from 1995–1997 at Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court. From 1997–1998, he completed his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree at the University of Edinburgh, UK, as the holder of a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service. He then moved to the Law Faculty at TU Dresden, where he worked from 1998–2004 as an academic assistant at the Chair of Public Law. Whilst here, he completed his doctoral degree (Dr. jur.) on the subject of federal equality. In 2002, he completed his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) at the University of Wales, in cooperation with the FernUniversität in Hagen.
From 2004–2006, Dr Marcus Pleyer worked as an officer at the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority before moving to the Federal Ministry of Finance in 2006. Following this, he worked as senior adviser at the Federal Chancellery (small and medium-sized enterprises, competition policy, commercial law, stabilization of the financial market, G7, G20) until 2011.
In 2011, he returned to the Federal Ministry of Finance, where he became Head of the Minister’s Office for former Federal Minister Wolfgang Schäuble until 2014. Subsequently, he headed the Division “International Financial Markets” until 2015. From 2015–2025, he was Head of Directorate VII A (combating terrorism and proliferation financing and money laundering, cybersecurity, sanctions, digital financial technologies, KfW and other promotional banks, consumer protection, supervision of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) at the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Since 2015, Dr Pleyer has also performed a number of special roles. He was an advisor to the Ukrainian Finance Minister in Kyiv from 2015–2016 on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Foreign Office. Between 2016 and 2025, Dr Pleyer was a member of the Supervisory Board of the Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank and, as a member of the Board of Trustees, he contributed to the setup and development of the Federal Nuclear Waste Management Fund (holding 24 billion EUR) from 2017 until 2025. From 2019–2020, he held the position of Vice President of the Financial Action Task Force – the international organisation for tackling terrorism financing and money laundering – in Paris before becoming President from 2020–2022, the first presidency under the extended two-year term of the FATF’s revised mandate. Furthermore, from 2022 until 2025, he led a project group on reforming the structures for fighting financial crime in Germany.
In May 2025, Dr Marcus Pleyer became State Secretary (Deputy Minister) at the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
(c) Bundesregierung/ Jesco Denzel.
Dorothee Bär
Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space
GERMANY
CHAIRPERSON
Dorothee Bär was born on 19 April 1978 in the historic cathedral city Bamberg, just a stone’s throw from her home district Haßberge where she grew up in the town of Ebelsbach. At the age of 14, she joined the youth organization of the CDU/CSU, before joining the main CSU party in 1994. She moved to Bavaria’s capital city Munich to study and was very active throughout Bavariaas chair of the regional branch of the German Association of Christian Democrat Students.
She became a member of the CSU executive committee in 2001 before being elected to the German Bundestag in the 2002 general election. From 2009 to 2013, she served as Deputy Secretary-General of the CSU as well as spokesperson for the whole CDU/CSU parliamentary group on matters pertaining to family affairs, senior citizens, women and youth. She was Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure from December 2013 until March 2018. From March 2018 until December 2021, she was a Minister of State at the Federal Chancellery and Federal Commissioner for Digitalization. From 2021 to 2025, she held the position of Deputy Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group for matters pertaining to family affairs and culture.
