The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany’s premier research funding organization, is set to convene its highly anticipated 2025 annual meeting in Hamburg from June 30 to July 2. Representing the backbone of the German research ecosystem, the DFG commands an impressive operational budget exceeding €3.9 billion and oversees more than 31,000 funded research projects spanning the full spectrum of scientific disciplines. As a central and self-governing institution within Germany’s academic landscape, the DFG is tasked with stewarding research quality, setting funding priorities, and fostering innovative scientific collaborations. This year’s meeting will be graciously hosted by the University of Hamburg, itself a longstanding member of the DFG’s network of 99 affiliated scientific institutions.
The three-day event will bring into session all of the DFG’s core statutory bodies, including the Executive Committee, Senate, and Joint Committee, culminating with the General Assembly on the final day. These entities function as pillars of organizational governance, responsible for critical strategic decisions, policy formulation, and oversight of the DFG’s broad portfolio of funding initiatives. Additionally, liaison officers representing member universities and research institutions will gather to discuss collaborative approaches and shared objectives for advancing Germany’s research capabilities within an increasingly competitive global environment.
The agenda promises a diverse and weighty roster of topics, addressing both scientifically technical and policy-oriented matters. Among the foremost issues slated for rigorous discussion is the phenomenon of curtailed academic freedom previously observed in the United States under the Trump administration, underscoring the vital importance of safeguarding scientific inquiry against political interference. Parallel to this, participants will evaluate evolving science policy frameworks emerging both within Germany and across the European Union, reflecting shifting priorities toward innovation, sustainability, and international cooperation. Holders of the meeting will also review pending funding applications and consider the establishment of new dedicated Research Units designed to catalyze breakthroughs in critical domains.
During the General Assembly convened on July 2, DFG President Professor Dr. Katja Becker, alongside Secretary General Dr. Heide Ahrens, will present a comprehensive report detailing the foundation’s funding strategies and programmatic achievements since the prior annual assembly held in Potsdam in 2024. This report will encapsulate statistical data, financial analyses, and qualitative assessments of the impact delivered by DFG-supported research, offering transparency into resource allocation and highlighting emergent trends in research funding. Elections will be conducted to fill vacancies within the Executive Committee and Senate, ensuring the renewal and continued effectiveness of the governance apparatus.
A major highlight of the event is the formal ceremony scheduled for the evening of July 1, set against the historic backdrop of Hamburg’s Altonaer Fischauktionshalle. This gathering will feature addresses from prominent figures including Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär and Hamburg’s Senator for Science, Maryam Blumenthal. In her keynote speech, DFG President Becker is expected to deliver a focused discourse on the escalating global challenges that threaten the autonomy and freedom of scientific research. Such rhetoric resonates globally, as academic institutions face increasing pressures from politicization, misinformation, and restricted access to open inquiry.
Additionally, the meeting spotlights the presentation of the prestigious Communicator Award on the evening of June 30, held at the Opernloft in Hamburg’s historic Altes Fährterminal Altona. This accolade, jointly bestowed by the DFG and the Stifterverband, celebrates exemplary contributions to science communication, specifically honoring those who excel in bridging the gap between complex scientific knowledge and public understanding. This year’s recipient, Professor Dr. Petra Anders of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, is lauded for her impactful public engagement geared toward enhancing literacy and language competencies among primary school pupils—a crucial endeavor in empowering the next generation with essential skills for scientific literacy.
The Communicator Award ceremony will feature presentations by DFG President Katja Becker and Dr. Volker Meyer-Guckel, Secretary General of Stifterverband, with a laudatory speech delivered by DFG Vice President Professor Dr. Johannes Grave, who presides over the award jury. This occasion not only honors individual achievement but also reinforces the DFG’s commitment to fostering wider societal appreciation and dialogue around science and research.
Throughout the duration of the annual assembly, media relations and communication efforts will be robustly supported, with a series of press releases scheduled for release on July 2 beginning at 2 pm. These communications will provide detailed updates on key decisions, funding allocations, and policy deliberations emerging from the meeting, ensuring timely dissemination of critical information to academic, political, and public stakeholders. A digital press kit will be maintained and updated on the DFG’s official platform to facilitate comprehensive media coverage and public engagement.
The 2024 Annual Report, embargoed until the afternoon of July 2, stands as a foundational document outlining the factual and quantitative underpinnings of the DFG’s activities over the preceding year. Interested parties may request access to this report by contacting the DFG press office. This report not only provides a statistical snapshot but also contextualizes Germany’s research funding landscape within broader international scientific developments, enabling policymakers and researchers alike to strategize around future funding trajectories.
The DFG continues to leverage digital and social media channels extensively, engaging audiences via LinkedIn, Bluesky, Mastodon, and Instagram. These platforms allow the organization to foster community interactions, amplify event highlights, and disseminate key findings and announcements in an accessible, real-time manner. Such digital outreach complements the traditional in-person forums of the annual meeting and exemplifies modern science communication.
Media representatives are cordially invited to attend both the Communicator Award presentation and the formal ceremony, with registration required via email prior to the events. This inclusive outreach underscores the DFG’s dedication to transparency and open communication between research funders, the scientific community, and the broader public.
As Germany’s largest independent research funding body, the DFG’s annual meeting remains a critical convergence point for robust scientific dialogue, governance, and policy development. The outcomes from the 2025 assembly are anticipated to shape the trajectory of research funding and science policy in Germany and beyond, reinforcing the nation’s role as a global leader in scientific innovation and academic freedom.
Subject of Research: Science funding policies, academic freedom, research communication
Article Title: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft’s 2025 Annual Meeting: Shaping the Future of German Science
News Publication Date: June 2025
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Keywords: Science communication, scientific organizations, academic freedom, research funding, DFG annual meeting
