DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 The DFG and its Funding Schemes with particular Attention to the Excellence Initiative

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, Profile and Tasks 2. Structure, Budget and Programmes 3. The Excellence Initiative 4. International Cooperation 5. Contacts Beispielfolie Inhaltsverzeichnis (mit Bild) The DFG

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, Profile and Tasks 2. Structure, Budget and Programmes 3. The Excellence Initiative 4. International Cooperation 5. Contacts Beispielfolie Inhaltsverzeichnis (mit Bild) The DFG

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 The German Research Foundation (DFG) – Who We Are and What We Do Who we are: ► Central public funding organization for basic research in Germany ► A self-governing body of science and research ► Member organization (universities, academies, research organizations) ► The budget in 2011: approx. € 2.7 billion in direct research funding, provided primarily by the federal government and the 16 German Länder

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 The DFG’s mission Statement The DFG ► serves all branches of science and the humanities ► fosters scientific excellence through competition ► supports international cooperation in research ► advises political and social decision- makers ► supports the transfer of knowledge between science and industry Funding in 2012, by scientific discipline

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, ,1% funded by Federal government 32,7% funded by German states 0,2% funded by private sources The DFG´s 2012 budget The DFG´s 2012 budget totalled approx. € 2.5 billion

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 ► Ensure the best possible support for outstanding scientists and young researchers ► Make research funding open to all disciplines in accordance with scientific standards of quality ► Keep Germany future-oriented and internationally competitive as a scientific location What are the DFG’s aims? The DFG’s scientific aims are to

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Basic principle of the DFG DFG Illustration: bottom-up

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, Profile and Tasks 2. Structure, Budget and Programmes 3. The Excellence Initiative 4. International Cooperation 5. Contacts Beispielfolie Inhaltsverzeichnis (mit Bild) The DFG

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 DFG Funding Portfolio Funding Programs Infrastructure International Scientific Contacts Coordinated Programs Individual Grants Program Research Fellowships Emmy Noether-Program Heisenberg-Program Reinhard Koselleck-Projects Research Units Priority Programs Collaborative Research Centres Clusters of Excellence International Research Training Groups Prizes Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Prize Heinz Maier-Leibnitz-Prize Communicator Award Promoting Young Researchers

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 DFG - Individual Grants Programme (funding for a period of up to three years) ► Research project on a specifically defined topic within a limited time period ► A research grant can be used to ●staff ●scientific instrumentation ●consumables ●travel and publications ► No submission deadline ► Funding decision: General Assembly of DFG ► Information on formalities: DFG-Form DFG-Scientific Affairs ► funding for a period of up to three years Part in total funding volume: 27,9% (2011) How does the DFG promote international cooperation? Individual Grants Programme

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 What coordinated programmes does the DFG offer? Purpose To create a core research focus at a university through the long-term promotion of interdisciplinary cooperation within the framework of a coordinated programme Eligibility Research universities Duration Up to 12 years, with each funding period encompassing four years Particular features CRC/Transregios are supported by multiple (usually up to three) university locations Collaborative Research Centres (CRC)

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Countries of origin of foreign visiting researchers in Collaborative Research Centres* * Data source: Online survey CRC 2012, reporting period 2011

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 How does the decision-making process work? Individual grants involve reviewers, a review board & the Joint Committee confidential Draft of funding recommendation Formal examination Communication of funding recommendation Decision letter, Reviewers’ recommendations Assessment of reviewer selection Proposal and review Comparative merit and funding volume Assessment Review Board Reviewer selection Project quality Applicants’ qualifications Aims & work programme Employment opportunities Planned allocation of funding (written) Review Reviewers Cross-subject comparison Decision Joint Committee DFG Head Office Proposal Notification Further inquiries

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Peer reviewers in the individual grants programme ► have special knowledge of the fields involved in the proposals ► are unbiased and independent ► are individually suitable and experienced ► are able to argue evidentiary ► are additionally qualified Each year, and abroad. Reviewers act in an honorary capacity. The DFG receives approximately 13,000 proposals for individual grants and solicits reviews from 9,000 reviewers from Germany Who reviews proposals for individual grants? Peer reviewers

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 These review boards ► are elected by scientists and academics from their respective communities ► are involved in panel reviews for coordinated programmes ► monitor the selection of reviewers, make recommendations and comparatively assess all proposals and reviews in the individual grants programme ► ensure that comparable high-quality standards and criteria are applied equally in all DFG programmes There are 48 DFG review boards with 594 members. Review board members act in an honorary capacity. Who ensures scientific merit? The DFG’s review boards 2011

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 ► scientific quality of the project ► applicants’ qualifications ► aims and work programme ► employment opportunities ► planned allocation of funding ► quality and added value of cooperation ► programme-specific criteria What are the DFG's selection criteria? DFG reviewers judge proposals according to in coordinated programmes

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, Profile and Tasks 2. Structure, Budget and Programmes 3. The Excellence Initiative 4. International Cooperation 5. Contacts Beispielfolie Inhaltsverzeichnis (mit Bild) The DFG

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 The Aim ► the aim is to establish a university landscape that is similar to the Alps: to promote the excellent, to foster diversity and to link university and non-university research and graduate education

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 The Aim The Excellence Initiative aims to ► strengthen German universities and departments ► enhance Germany’s attraction as a research location ► Increase Germany’s international competitiveness and visibility in all fields of science and the humanities ► Establish centres of excellence and raise the overall quality of German universities

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Description The Excellence Initiative ► promotes top-level research in Germany ► was launched in 2005 ► First phase ► is coordinated by the DFG and the German Council of Science and Humanities ► is financed jointly by the German federal government (75%) and the states (25%) ► Second Phase from 2012 – 2017

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 ► Funding is awarded according to the highest standards of research quality (on the basis of peer review) Funding st Funding Phase 2006/ € 1.9 billion € 380 million per year 2 nd Funding Phase € 2.7 billion € 540 million per year

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Description The funding lines Graduate Schools Highest level research training  45 Graduate Schools  approx. 1,6 million € p.a. each Clusters of Excellence Centres of excellence in research  43 Clusters  approx. 6,3 million € p.a. each Institutional Strategy for Top- Level University Research Increase international competitive ability of the entire university  11 Institutional Strategies  approx. 12,5 million € p.a. each

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Review Criteria for draft, initial and renewal proposals ► Research 1. Quality of the research programme by international standards 2. Originality and risk-taking 3. Impact on the research area 4. Added value of interdisciplinary cooperation 5. Applicability, knowledge transfer, domestic and foreign cooperation partners ► People 6. Quality of participating researchers 7. Strategies to promote training and career opportunities for young researchers 8. Strategies to ensure gender equality ► Structures 9. Impact on the structural development of the university 10 Added value of cooperation with other institutions 11. Organisation, management and infrastructure 12. Implementation and sustainability of the cluster of excellence Example: Clusters of excellence

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Review Criteria for draft, initial and renewal proposals ► Realisation of objectives ● in terms of each review criterion ● considering duration of the past funding period and funding volume General evaluation: Added value through funding Clusters (renewals)

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Excellence Initiative Competition 2012

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Impacts of the Excellence Initiative In two rounds 2006/2007: excellent positive dynamics in research organisations ► Sharpened profiles ► New interdisciplinary networks ► Expansion of internationalisation and international visibility ●Increased the attractiveness to students and scientists from Germany and abroad

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Impacts of the Excellence Initiative ► Increased cooperation between universities and non-university research-institutions and the private sector ► Improvement of administrative structures ► Targeted promotion of young researchers ► Promotion of equal opportunities and measures to help balance work and family life

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Impacts of the Excellence Initiative Approx. 4,000 new positions were created ► EXC and GSC: ~ 2,200 doctoral positions ~ 660 positions for postdocs ~ 70 junior professorships ~ 110 senior professorships ► Institutional Strategies: ~ 850 positions for early career researchers (doctoral level to group leader) ~ 145 junior & senior professorships [February 2009]

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 ► researchers are working in clusters of excellence or in graduate schools ► Among them 34% female scientists ► ~ 25 % have been recruited from abroad ► ~ 330 positions for assistent or full professors; 220 among these have been newly established Reference: Oktober 15th, 2011 Excellence Initiative Monitoring

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, DFG and Funding of German Research 2. Structure, Budget and Programmes 3. The Excellence Initiative 4. International Cooperation 5. Contacts Beispielfolie Inhaltsverzeichnis (mit Bild) The DFG

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 How Does the DFG Fund International Cooperation? All DFG funding programs generally allow the integration of international components as e.g. travel allowance, exchange of students/scientists. Special programs are: ► Funding for the initiation of international cooperation ► Individual Grants Program & Mercator Fellowships ► International Research Training Groups DFG support for projects with international partners is generally based on the principle of mutual responsibility. Researchers working in Germany apply to the DFG, while their partners abroad apply for funding at their respective partner organizations.

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 Objective To support the initiation of international collaboration with the modules „Bilateral Workshops“, „Trips Abroad“ and „Guest Visits “ Type and Extent of Funding The modules can be combined: ► Trips abroad of up to three months or research stays at partner institutions. Researchers from doctoral candidates to professors may take advantage of these; ► Joint workshops. Funding is available for a maximum of 1 year. The program relies on matching funds. Funding is applied for by the German partner university. How Does the DFG Fund International Cooperation? Program: Initiation of International Cooperation

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 DFG - Individual Grants Programme (funding for a period of up to three years) ► Research project on a specifically defined topic within a limited time period ► A research grant can be used to ●staff ●scientific instrumentation ●consumables ●travel and publications ► No submission deadline ► Funding decision: General Assembly of DFG ► Information on formalities: DFG-Form / English / Research Funding / Funding Programmes / Research Grant / Forms and Guidelines / list of Forms and Guidelines ► funding for a period of up to three years Part in total funding volume: 27,9% (2011) How does the DFG promote international cooperation? Individual Grants Programme

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 How Does the DFG Fund International Cooperation? This module is available within the Individual Research Grant Program and for coordinated programs. Mercator Fellows are supposed to ► Strengthen research (and teaching) in Germany ► Contribute to the objective of the research project ► Support early-career scientists Researchers can apply (through the German host institution) for funding for a research stay of 3 to 12 months (may be divided into 3-month blocks). Module: Mercator Fellows

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 What coordinated programmes does the DFG offer? Purpose To provide structured doctoral training under ideal conditions using well-established mentoring and qualification strategies in an international environment Eligibility Research universities together with their foreign partner universities Duration Up to 9 years, with each funding period lasting 4.5 years Particular features Complementary funding through the foreign partner organisation International Research Training Groups

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 What coordinated programmes does the DFG offer? International Research Training Groups

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 These provide a joint framework for  international promotion of young researchers at centres of scientific excellence  coordinated research and qualification programmes  Mentoring The proposal is submitted jointly to the DFG or a foreign partner organisation by a group of researchers at a German university and a partner group at a foreign university. How does the DFG promote international cooperation? International Research Training Groups

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, Profile and Tasks 2. Structure, Budget and Programmes 3. The Excellence Initiative 4. International Cooperation 5. Contacts Beispielfolie Inhaltsverzeichnis (mit Bild) The DFG

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 DFG Head Office in Bonn DFG Office in Berlin DFG Head Office Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V. Kennedyallee Bonn Tel.: +49 (228) Fax: +49 (228) DFG Office Berlin WissenschaftsForum (Gendarmenmarkt) Markgrafenstr Berlin Dr. Christian Schaich Director International Affairs Tel: +49 (30)

DFG, Dr. Christian Schaich Sofia, December 5, 2013 For more information ► on the DFG: ► on DFG-funded projects: ► on over 17,000 German research institutes: Thank you for your attention!