STEM: Origin of Structures in the Universe.
GIF invites pre-proposals solely from the field of astrophysics and specifically from the sub-fields of cosmology, planets, and theoretical and observational astronomy.

Social Sciences/Humanities: Contestations over Memories and Identities.
During the last decades the terms “memory” and “identity” have been used inflationary, not only in academic disciplines, but also in political struggles. These uses have partly been affirmative, partly they have highlighted the constructive character of both concepts. Especially the term “identity” has been criticized for blurring the boundaries between categories of practice and categories of analysis. 

To analyze the political and societal usage of both terms, however, is still of utmost importance. There is a need for empirical research that analyzes the link between references to memory and identity. This seems of specific relevance in face of the recent pluralization of identity claims in the political arena, which include contestations over the importance of specific forms of remembrance and their flipside of oblivion and invisibilization. 

We are looking for applications from Political Science, as well as modern and contemporary history which analyze empirically and in different social arenas:

• The relation between identity claims or ascriptions and references to memory;
• the agents, discourses or narratives that are involved;
• as well as the social and political effects of these processes.

The upcoming focal topics in STEM and Social Sciences/Humanities are as follows (subject to change):

2025:

• STEM: Quantum computing
• Social Sciences/Humanities: The future of democracy and social inequities

Collaborative track:

• A team combined of at least two principal investigators (PIs) one from each country (Israel and Germany).
• Maximum project duration: 2 years.
• Maximum budget: EUR 150,000 total for all PIs per year (i.e., the maximum grant budget is EUR 300,000 for 2 years).
• A CI (Cooperating Investigator) acts as a special advisor to the PI and has no legal ties with GIF. If any payments are required to be transferred to the CI, it should be handled directly by the PI; GIF will not be involved in the process.
• CIs do not have access to the submission portal, as they are not required to upload their CV and publications list. However, at the pre-proposal stage, the PIS can include information about the CI and their contribution to the research in the short project description chapter. At the full proposal stage, it is possible to upload CVs of the CIs under the additional material tab.
• Eligible budget codes: see budget chapter (which appears under “Applicants” section).
• Mandatory mutual visits / meetings: Grantees (or the students actively involved in 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.

Solo track for early career scientists:

• The Principal investigator (PI), should be up to maximum 8 years after obtaining the doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DVM or equivalent) at grant starting date**
• The PI has no prior scientific collaborations/ties with researchers from the other country (that includes: academic studies, post-doc period and joint publications etc).
• Maximum project duration: 1 year.
• Maximum budget: EUR 25,000.
• Eligible budget codes: see budget chapters (which appears under “Applicants” section).
• Mandatory visit of the PI to the partner country for a minimum of 7 days during the grant period to present their research and establish initial contacts with prospective partners.

**Additional allowance is possible for documented leave of absence after the doctoral degree due to parental leave, national service, clinical training after the first medical degree (up to a maximum of 4 years), long-term illness (longer than 90 days), or caregiving for family members. Periods of leave of absence should be documented in the applicant’s CV, submitted as part of the research proposal.

Researchers:

• Applicants must hold at least a PhD diploma and be affiliated to a GIF-eligible institution and hold a permanent position, or be on a tenure track, or have a contract at their institution for the full duration of the GIF Grant they are applying for.
• The eligibility criteria for the different GIF programs are specified in the respective chapters.
• Each applicant can be a Principal Investigator (PI) in only one proposal at a specific submission cycle.
• Prior to the start of a new GIF grant, all PIs must fulfill all obligations of a former GIF grant.
• The decision on the eligibility of any given researcher rests with GIF.

Institutions:

• Only researchers affiliated to non-profit scientific institution in Israel and Germany, as detailed in the table below, are eligible to submit research proposals to GIF.
• The decision on the eligibility of any given institution rests with GIF. GIF is entitled to request written proof that an institution is a recognized non-profit research entity (private or public).

• ** Please note: According to the GIF Founding Agreement of 1986 signed by the Ministers of Science of the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Israel, “Projects sponsored by the Foundation in Israel shall be conducted only within the geographic areas which were under the jurisdiction of the State of Israel prior to June 5, 1967.”
• Industrial enterprises (or other research institutions) registered in Israel or Germany can indirectly participate in GIF grants as subcontractors, with a budget agreed upon and signed by all parties, prior to GIF support.