Strengthening digitalization in basic research

16.10.2025

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding new collaborative research projects on software, data management and digital infrastructures as part of the "Exploring the Universe and Matter (ErUM)" program. The aim is to exploit the opportunities offered by digitalization for basic research in the natural sciences and to strengthen Germany as a research location.

Funding objectives

Funding is provided for projects that:

• Use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to analyze large amounts of data,
• develop new approaches to research data management,
• build federated digital infrastructures for the networked use of data.

The aim is to transfer big data methods into smart data solutions, expand digital skills and strengthen transfer processes between science and industry. There is a particular focus on sustainability, open science and interdisciplinarity.

Funding framework

• Target group: Universities, non-university research institutions and companies (including SMEs)
• Funding type: non-repayable grant for collaborative projects
• Duration: usually three years (start from October 1, 2025)
• Submission deadline: January 15, 2025
• Project management organization: DESY, Hamburg

Subject areas

1. Software & algorithms - development of AI-based methods for data analysis, pattern recognition and visualization
2. Research data management - sustainable use, storage and access models
3. Federated digital infrastructures - scalable systems for data processing, cloud and long-term archiving

The projects are intended to create synergies between different ErUM areas ("Particles", "Matter", "Universe") and involve national and international collaborations - for example with NFDI, EOSC or WLCG.

Further information