Call for Proposals

 
The Foundation for German-American Academic Relations (SDAW), established by the late Professor Helga Haftendorn, invites proposals for research projects that address transatlantic relations or topics of significance on both sides of the Atlantic. The foundation is dedicated to strengthening ties between scholars in Germany and the United States, firmly believing that such collaboration is vital for both academic progress and the reinforcement of transatlantic relations.
 

Purpose and Background
SDAW supports innovative research projects that focus on all political, economic, or societal aspects of transatlantic relations. For 2025, the foundation particularly welcomes project ideas that address current and future transatlantic security relations.

Collaboration Requirement
All proposals must involve genuine collaboration between researchers based in Germany and the United States. Projects must be jointly developed and carried out by teams including scholars from both countries. Researchers from other European countries may participate as part of the team, provided the core collaboration is between Germany and the USA.

Eligible Disciplines
●  Social Sciences (especially Political Science, International Relations, Sociology)
●  Law
●  History
Related disciplines productively contributing to project themes are also invited.

Team Composition
Teams should consist either exclusively of early-career researchers (including doctoral candidates, postdocs, and pre-tenure faculty) or a mix of junior and senior scholars. The active involvement of early-career researchers from both Germany and the United States is strongly encouraged.

Possible Funding Formats
●  Initiation or implementation of collaborative research projects
●  Organization of workshops or conferences to prepare academic publications
●  Book incubators supporting early-career scholars’ first books, involving experts from both Germany and the United States for manuscript feedback
●  Other innovative formats that foster German-American cooperation and include young researchers from both countries

Funding Amounts
●  Typically between EUR 5,000 and 10,000 (seed funding)
I●  n exceptional cases, up to EUR 20,000
●  Co-funding from other foundations is encouraged; please specify such plans in your proposal.

The closing date for the receipt of proposals is August 29th, 2025.
Decisions on proposals will be made in November 2025.