Eligibility

Researchers working at publicly funded research institutions in Germany (universities, institutions of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers, Leibniz Association institutes, Max Planck Society institutes and federal authorities subordinate to a ministry) may submit cruise proposals for the research vessels(interner Link) POLARSTERN, METEOR, SONNE, MARIA S. MERIAN, ALKOR, HEINCKE and ELISABETH MANN BORGESE via the DFG’s elan portal(externer Link). Researchers based outside Germany may also submit regular cruise proposals (without funding) for secondary use of the POLARSTERN. 

Instructions and Templates

Here you can download the current versions of the instructions and templates for preparing cruise proposals. There are also links to these documents on the elan portal(externer Link).

When applying for funding to use large-scale seagoing research equipment, please observe the flat-rate charges(Download) agreed with the operators.

Nagoya Protocol

If you plan to work with biological material drawn from the exclusive economic zones of other states, please take account of the regulations of the Nagoya Protocol during the early planning stages of your project and contact the relevant National Focal Point or Competent National Authority. For further information and links, see the (Cruise Proposal Preparation Instructions(Download)).

Instructions on How to Submit Proposals on the elan Portal

If you have not yet registered on elan, please note that activation of the one-off registration usually takes effect by the next working day. So rather than registering shortly before a submission deadline you should allow at least two working days. 

Always be sure to use the most up-to-date templates and instructions as provided on elan and on the Research Vessels portal.

Please ensure that all proposal documents and all entries in the elan form are written exclusively in English – even if you choose the German-language user interface. 

The information entered in elan generates a cover sheet with the key data on the cruise as an overview for both reviewers and vessel operators. For this reason, please ensure that the details entered in elan correspond to the information contained in the cruise proposal, particularly with regard to the dates of departure and arrival in the operating area and the days of work at sea. 
 

Regular Cruise Proposals and SPP 2520 Corresponding Core Cruise Proposals must be submitted on elan under: Proposal Submission – New Project / Draft Proposal – Cruise Proposals for Research Vessels (GPF Procedure). SPP 2520 Grant Proposals must be submitted under: Proposal Submission – New Project / Draft Proposal – Priority Programmes – SPP 2520 Infrastructure Area – Research Vessels. 

Data Protection Notice

The data required to process your cruise proposal is electronically stored and processed by the GPF Office, which is operated jointly by the DFG and the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. When you register on elan, you will be asked to provide various items of personal data. Without this information it is not possible to process your cruise proposal. The data is stored on our systems and used exclusively to deliver the service you request. This also includes transmitting your data to external reviewers, to the Review Panel German Research Vessels (GPF) and to the institutions that operate the vessels. It may also involve transferring data to countries outside the EU. By submitting the cruise proposal, you consent to the storage and further processing of your data.

You may withdraw this consent at any time with effect for the future. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of data processing carried out prior to the withdrawal.

Further information about the DFG Privacy Policy(externer Link).