1. The DFG - who we are and what we do
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
The DFG - who we are and what we do
Dr. Dietrich Halm
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Bonn / Germany

2. …Who We Are and What We Do
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
…Who We Are and What We Do
central public funding organization for academic research in Germany
promoting academic excellence on a competitive basis
serving science and the arts in all fields
advisory activities in politics
special focus on supporting junior academics
promoting international research co-operation
fostering links between science and industry
Auf dieser Folie eine kurze Vorstellung der DFG; Selbstverwaltung der deutschen Forschung; Zuständigkeit für alle Fachbereiche; Politikberatung etc. hiermöglicherweise Rückgriff auf Infos im Folienarchiv, allerdings ansprechender präsentieren als dort vorhanden, bitte.

3. Self-government of science and the humanities
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
Mission
Self-government of science and the humanities
quality: funding decisions based on the highest standards
rewarding scientists and scholars demonstrating excellence
Promoting scientific excellence in a competitive setting
the DFG as a non-governmental organisation
science-driven funding
peer review

4. Structures of German Research Funding
Federal
Government
Länder
Business
enterprise sector
Intramural
research
laboratories
Federation
of Industrial
Cooperative
Research
Associations
DFG
HGF
MPG
FhG
WGL
Federal institutions
performing R&D
Länder insti-
tuitions per-
forming R&D
Academies
Higher
Education
Sector
Basic funding relations
Federal Government
Länder
Business enterprise sector
Project funding
Federal Government
Business enterprise sector
DFG
Based on: Bundesbericht Forschung 2004

5. DFG Funding Programmes
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
International Co-operation
Membership in Inter-national Organizations
Bilateral collaboration
Project Funding
Sabbatical
Publication Costs
Individual Grants Programme
Mercator-
Visiting Professorships
Promoting Scientific contacts
International Academic Conferences in Germany
Travels to Conferences
Priority Programmes
Research Units
Humanities Research Centres
Collaborative Research Centres / Transfer Centres
DFG-Research Centres
Centres of Excellence
Co-ordinated Programmes
DFG
Funding
Programmes
Infrastructure funding
Gottfried Wilhelm
Leibniz-Programme
Heinz Maier-Leibnitz-Programme
Communicator Prize
Eugen and Ilse Seibold-Prize
Albert Maucher-Prize
Prizes
Research Training Groups
(national & international)
Programme "Independent Position"
Research Fellowships
Emmy Noether Programme
Heisenberg -
Programme
Direct Funding of Young Researchers

7. Funding Programs

8. Example: The Individual Grants
Scope
to carry out a well defined individual research project within a limited time period
open to researchers (holding a PhD) from all disciplines working at German research institutions, especially universities
Applications with two and more partners also
possible
Project requirements
clearly defined research project of high scientific quality and originality, carried out at an internationally competitive level
Funding duration
is based on the individual project needs
(typically 2 or 3 years, continuations possible)
proportion relative to DFG‘s
overall volume of approvals:
36,6% (2005)

9. Example: The Individual Grants
What may be funded?
Cost categories:
personnel (graduate students, postdocs)
scientific equipment
consumables
travel, guests, conferences
new: funding for one’s own position (only for fresh postdocs!)
German share of funds necessary for international cooperation
Funding cannot be provided for:
one’s own salary as PI (except fresh postdocs)
basic equipment in your field of work
general institute utilities (office material, postage & telephone)
buildings, their equipment and rent
upgrades and repair of instruments which are not DFG property

10. Example: The Individual Grants
Proposal submission
first proposal: any time, no submission deadlines
prolongations: at least 4 months before approved funds will be
exhausted
Proposal evaluation
peer review
takes about 6 months from the submission until decision
for individual proposals normally no fixed decision dates

11. The Way towards the Funding Decision (research grants within the individual grants programme)
consultation before application
formal check of the proposal
selection of reviewers
analysis & evaluation of the reviews
(comparative) evaluation by review board members
recommendation
decision by DFG´s grant committee
 notification of the applicant
 notification of the reviewers

12. Criteria for the Evaluation of Proposals
Reviewers consider in their evaluation of a proposal
Project:
Infrastructure:
relevance
what is new and rewarding?
methods, working programme
prerequisites (equipment)
prerequisites (personnel)
collaborations
Applicants:
Cost positions:
preparatory work and achievements
track record
publications (qualitatively & quantitatively)
personnel
equipment
consumables, travel ...

13. Applications with Partners from Foreign Countries
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
Applications with Partners from Foreign Countries
Application requirements
need to comply with the formal requirements of DFG
a detailed description of the aims and methods of the research project and the costs, differentiated into German and non-German components
parallel submission to the respective funding organizations
before approval by DFG: co-funding for the non-German partner should be secured from sources of the partner country
"green light" from all sides  funding

14. The DFG: Scientific Fields and Funding Instruments
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
The DFG: Scientific Fields and Funding Instruments
Scientific Fields 2005 (in %)*
Funding Instruments 2005 (in Mio €)
infrastructure
boards & committees
international cooperations
prizes
individual
grants
coordinated programs
funding for
young researchers
* Data: individual grants, funding for young researchers & coordinated programs (including humanities research centres)
overall funding: 1,469.5 Mio €

15. International Agreements / Contracts
DFG – Vorstandsbüro

16. Promoting International Cooperation
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
Promoting International Cooperation
„Mobility funding“
Preparatory trips and Cooperation stays (max. 3 months)
enable researchers to build up or intensify cooperation
Both instruments:
Application to be submitted by the German partner
Bilateral Symposia / Seminars
can be held in either
country
application to be submitted by the German coordinator
(2)
(air china)
Illustration taken from: ;

17. Our strategic goals Internationality Promotion of Young Researchers
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
Our strategic goals
Internationality
Drei satzungsmäßige Aufgaben
Internationalität:
Öffnung aller Programme
Internationalisierung der Begutachtung und der Gremien
Intensivierung der institutionellen Kooperation
Übergreifendes Ziel: Internationalisierung der Wissenschaft und der Wissenschaftsförderung
Präsenz im Ausland
Beijing (seit Oktober 2000)
Washington (seit Mai 2002)
Moskau (ab Sommer 2003)
Interdisziplinarität
koordinierte Programme, Reform des Begutachtungswesens
Nachwuchs:
insbesondere ein Anliegen des amtierenden Präsidenten
„frühe Selbständigkeit“ , Emmy Noether
Promotion of
Young Researchers
Interdisci-
plinarity
Illustration unter Verwendung von:

18. A Focus on Promoting Young Researchers
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
A Focus on Promoting Young Researchers
Early Independence
Excellency
DFG
Internationality
Illustration unter Verwendung von:

19. International dimension of DFG programmes
researchers from all countries can be employed in DFG projects
parts of projects can be performed abroad with foreign partners
projects can contribute to international coordinated programmes
most research grants include funds for cooperation:
travel, invitation of guest scientists, international workshops
joint projects based on complementary funding principle (examples) :
Individual Grants
International Research Training Groups
International Collaborative Research Centres (SFB)
Mercator-Visiting Professorship
all fellowship programmes are open to candidates from abroad
international peer review

20. Mercator Visiting Professorships
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
Mercator Visiting Professorships
To enable German universities to invite highly qualified scientists and scholars from abroad
Aims:
To provide a visible accent of quality in the host university's activities
To contribute to the internationalization of Higher Education and research in Germany
Features:
Applications related to focal points in the university's scientific profile
Contribution to
Research
Research-related educational activities
Graduate Research Training at the respective university department
Intended stay between 3 and 12 months
NOTE: APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE GERMAN HOST UNIVERSITY
DFG
Illustration taken from:

21. DFG – Vorstandsbüro
Perspectives:
Aims:
increase the project numbers in the co-operation, new flagship projects?
strengthen the institutional co-operation
build up of a network of bilateral structures on an institutional level
promote a more intense collaboration between scientists (information!)
Implementation:
joint thematic workshops
joint evaluation of applications
co-funding of projects / programmes
staff exchange

22. The Triad of Internationality
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
The Triad of Internationality
Programmes
encouraging cooperation
People
wishing to cooperate
Internationality
needs ...
A Framework
facilitating cooperation
Illustration taken from:

23. A love of learning starts early ...
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
A love of learning starts early ...
... and with the DFG it lasts a lifetime.
(Baby Computer)
(alter graduierter)
Illustration taken from:

24. Thank you for your attention!
DFG – Vorstandsbüro
Thank you for your attention!
Dr. Dietrich Halm
Programme Officer
International Co-operation
Latin-America
Kennedyallee 40
53175 Bonn
Germany
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