In September 2024, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) extended the Infrastructure Priority Programme “International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)” (SPP 1006) for a further six years from 2025 to 2030. Since 2024, proposals can be submitted annually for a funding period of up to three years. The present call invites proposals for the third funding period of this annually open programme, beginning in 2027. 

Drilling is an indispensable tool for modern geosciences, addressing a large variety of topics from deep-time Earth processes and their interaction with an early atmosphere, to understanding the entire chain from geohazards to the processes shaping the Earth’s present condition. The benefit of continental scientific drilling in helping us understand these processes is well documented by the long-running International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). The main research questions driving SPP 1006 are shaped by the key themes summarised in the ICDP Science Plan 2020–2030 that include 

• geodynamic processes,
• geohazards,
• georesources and
• environmental change. 

Another important future development is the realisation of land-to-sea (L2S) drilling campaigns that include, for example, the holistic assessment of natural hazards, the interplay between fresh and sea water along coastlines, the transition between continental and oceanic crust, ice-sheet dynamics or the formation of sustainable georesources.

SPP 1006 provides opportunities for cutting-edge research on ICDP drilling data and samples, basic research on core material, development and preparation of scientific drilling projects, pre-site surveys, development and use of ground-breaking drilling devices and logging tools, and innovative experiment techniques for long-term measurements. Proposals submitted under SPP 1006 must have a very clear link to a future, ongoing or past drilling campaign.

Ongoing projects are presented at the annual joint ICDP/IODP colloquium. Networking is the key element of the colloquium. The next colloquium will take place on 13–15 April 2027 at the RWTH Aachen. Further details will be announced on the SPP 1006 website.

Proposals must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 23 September 2026. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the elan portal(externer Link), the DFG’s electronic proposal processing system, in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted. To submit a proposal for a new project within the existing Priority Programme, go to Proposal Submission – New Project/Draft Proposal – Priority Programmes and select “SPP 1006/32 (ICDP)” from the current list of calls. Previous applicants can submit a proposal for the renewal of an existing project under Proposal Submission – Proposal Overview/Renewal Proposal.

When preparing your proposal, please note the Guidelines Priority Programme (DFG form 50.05(interner Link), section B “Individual Projects within Existing Priority Programmes”) and the Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals (DFG form 54.01(interner Link)). These forms are available on the DFG website and through the elan portal.

If this is the first time you are submitting a proposal to the DFG, please note that you must register in the elan portal before you can submit your proposal. You must do so by 16 September 2026. During the registration process, select “SPP 1006/32” from the list of calls. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day. Applicants who already have an elan account are requested to check their data in elan. If necessary, you can update your data directly in the portal. It is not necessary to register again.

The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.

According to a resolution of the DFG General Assembly, DFG funding may only be awarded to research institutions that have implemented the guidelines laid down in the Code of Conduct for Safeguarding Good Research Practice(externer Link) in their own regulations. The management of your institution is responsible for implementing the guidelines in a legally binding manner. In order to avoid delays in the disbursement of funding, please verify implementation within your institution in good time. For information regarding the implementation, please refer to the Research Integrity Portal(externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the Research Integrity team(externer Link) at the DFG Head Office. 

More information on the Priority Programme is available under: https://dfg-spp-icdp.de/de(externer Link).

When submitting a proposal, please use the elan portal(externer Link) and refer to the Guidelines Priority Programme (DFG form 50.05(interner Link), section B “Individual Projects within Existing Priority Programmes”), and the Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals (DFG form 54.01(interner Link)). The FAQ about preparing a proposal(interner Link) may also be helpful.

For enquiries about the scientific aims of the Priority Programme, please contact the Priority Programme coordinator

Professor Dr. Sebastian Krastel(externer Link), Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Tel. +49 431 880 3914

Contact Persons at the DFG Head Office

Programme contact: Dr. Iris Sonntag(externer Link), Geosciences, Tel. +49 228 885-2253

Administrative contact: Vanessa Creuzberg(externer Link), Geosciences, Tel. +49 228 885-2320

We, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), take the protection of your personal data and its confidential treatment extremely seriously. Therefore, please refer to the DFG’s Privacy Policy(interner Link). If you intend to transmit personal data of third parties, please make sure to do so only if the necessary legitimation under data protection law exist. Before transmitting data of third parties to the DFG, please forward the DFG’s Data Protection Notice to the individuals affected (data subjects). If there is a legitimate interest not to inform individuals beforehand (e.g. for reasons of secrecy or in case of a nomination or candidate proposal), these individuals should be informed no later than at the time of publication.