The aim of this funding guideline is to enable researchers from academia and industry to carry out high-risk research and development (R&D) projects on the use of AI in drug development, either alone or in collaboration with others, and to advance them beyond the state of the art.

Funding will be provided for interdisciplinary research projects that are application-oriented, address a high unmet medical need and involve a high scientific and technical risk. The focus of the projects should be on drug research using AI and the related validation of AI methods. The aim is not to develop completely new AI solutions, but rather to apply existing AI methods to drug research, enabling the adaptation of the available methods.

German state and state-recognized universities as well as non-university research institutions are eligible to apply. Commercial companies (small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or large companies) with research and development capacity are only eligible to apply in the context of collaborations with academic partners.

In the first stage of the procedure, project outlines must be submitted in electronic form and in German to the commissioned project management organization of the BMBF via the electronic application system “easy-Online” by April 30, 2025 at the latest.

Further information:
https://www.bmbf.de/