At its meeting on July 10, the Joint Science Conference (GWK) adopted a new federal-state agreement (BLV) for the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). This agreement defines the funding and future structure of NFDI starting in 2029. The federal and state governments intend to continue funding NFDI with up to 98.7 million euros per year from 2029 to 2038.
Dorothee Bär, Chair of the GWK and Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space, describes NFDI in the GWK’s press release as an enabler of “technological innovations, industrial value creation, and our country’s competitiveness,” which makes a key contribution to data sovereignty in Germany and Europe. Falko Mohrs, Vice Chair of the GWK and Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science and Culture, also emphasises the importance of NFDI. He notes that NFDI will continue to contribute to “making research data more accessible across disciplinary and institutional boundaries, supporting the digital transformation of the scientific system, and strengthening Germany’s scientific performance.”
With this continued funding, NFDI can evolve its role as a central point of contact in the field of research data management, further develop services, and support the data-driven use and maturation of artificial intelligence (AI).
NFDI warmly welcomes the GWK’s decision and looks forward to continuing to advance research data management in Germany—and thus the research system as a whole—beyond 2028. Funding will be provided jointly by the federal and state governments in a 90:10 ratio. This renewed 10-year funding commitment provides NFDI with a prospect that seamlessly builds on the work accomplished. The German Research Foundation (DFG), which currently organises the review and evaluation process for the NFDI consortia, will be responsible for an innovation program.
“We are very pleased that the federal and state governments recognise NFDI’s achievements and are enabling its further development through continued funding,” says Prof. Dr. York Sure-Vetter, Director of the NFDI Association. “The renewal of funding for ten years is very positive news and we look forward to tackling future challenges. Especially when it comes to AI, effective research data management opens up enormous opportunities that we intend to capitalise on.”
“The continuation of our funding sends an important signal for the future of NFDI. It will enable us to build on the momentum created in recent years, open up new perspectives, and further strengthen scientific collaboration,” says Susanne Walter-Augustin, Administrative Director of the NFDI Association.
Both directors emphasise that collaboration among various stakeholders is the foundation of NFDI’s success: “We would like to extend our special thanks to the many people at the NFDI office, our partners, and especially our association’s departments and governing bodies, who have built up NFDI with great dedication over the past few years. We also thank the federal and state governments for their support and their clear commitment to continuing NFDI. Building on this foundation, we can responsibly shape the next steps together.”
Background
The currently applicable BLV of November 26, 2018, already provided for a structural evaluation of NFDI by the German Science and Humanities Council (WR). In a letter dated November 7, 2022, the Joint Science Conference (GWK) requested the WR to conduct the structural evaluation. At its meeting on July 11, 2025, the WR adopted its “Bericht zur Strukturevaluation der Nationalen Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI)”, which provided the basis for decisions regarding the future structure of the NFDI. Based on this report and following extensive consultations, the GWK adopted a resolution on the future funding of the NFDI starting in 2029 under a new federal-state agreement (BLV).
About NFDI
Data as a common good for excellent research, organised by the scientific community in Germany. That is the vision of the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). Research data is a valuable treasure for our society. It can be used to gain new insights that enable innovation and strengthen Germany as a hub of knowledge. Often, research data is neither findable nor interoperable, and thus cannot be reused or further utilised. The German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) aims to change this and unlock new potential for knowledge generation and interdisciplinary connections.
Contact person:
Nathalie Rathgeb, Scientific Officer PR/Communication
Tel. +49 721 988 994 20
Mail: nathalie.rathgeb(at)nfdi.de
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