Collaborative Research Centres

Further Information

Forms and Guidelines FAQ elan direct access List of Collaborative Research Centres in GEPRIS

Collaborative Research Centres are long-term university-based research institutions, established for up to 12 years, in which researchers work together within a multidisciplinary research programme.

They allow researchers to tackle innovative, challenging, complex and long-term research undertakings through the coordination and concentration of individuals and resources within the applicant universities. They therefore enable institutional priority area development and structural development. Cooperations with non-university research institutions are expressly encouraged.

Collaborative Research Centres consist of a large number of projects. The number and scope of these projects depend on the research programme. Individual projects are led by one researcher or jointly by several researchers.

Note

Since January 2023, a new DFG form for CVs (DFG form 53.200elan) as well as new proposal templates for the establishment and for the continuation of a Collaborative Research Center (DFG forms 60.100 and 60.200) are available. The use of the new templates is mandatory for all CRC proposals that will be decided on in May 2024 or at a later date. Further information can also be found in the January 2023 Rundbrief.
- Rundbrief an die Sonderforschungsbereiche Nr. 1 / 2023 (in German only)
Further information about the “Personnel Structures in Collaborative Research Centres” is published in the corresponding report from the annual survey in coordinated programmes. more

Purpose

The realisation of excellent research within the group; the development of priority areas and structural development at the applicant university/universities; interdisciplinary cooperation; support of early career researchers and equal opportunity for women and men in research

Eligibility Requirements

Universities (and institutions of equivalent status entitled to confer doctorates) in Germany; other research institutions which are to make essential contributions to the research programme can be integrated

Proposal Requirements

High scientific quality and originality at an internationally competitive level; a complex, long-term research programme; coherent interlinking of projects; researchers with very good track records; appropriate staffing, funding and infrastructure; convincing contributions to development of priority areas and structural development at the applicant universities; support of early career researchers and equality for women and men in research; professional management

Type and Extent of Funding

Funding for staff (including the replacement and rotation posts modules), funding for scientific instrumentation, funds for consumables, travel, colloquia, guests, visiting professorships (Mercator Fellow module), international cooperations, early career support including Integrated Research Training Groups, equality measures, science communication, information infrastructure, transfer projects and group coordination, see also:

Funding Duration

Up to 12 years; one funding period lasts four years

Forms and Guidelines

Forms and Guidelines

The traditional Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) is proposed and carried out by one university. It addresses an extensive research programme by combining the resources available at the institution.

The CRC/Transregio (TRR) is proposed and carried out jointly by two or three universities. It allows close cooperation between these institutions and the researchers based there, including the shared use of resources. The contributions of the partner applicants are essential to the joint research goal, complementary and synergistic.

Collaborative Research Centres and CRC/Transregios can also integrate projects led by researchers at other universities and non-university research institutions.

DFG form 50.06

It is also possible to integrate projects at research institutions abroad; foreign universities can be participating institutions in a CRC/Transregio.

International

In addition, Collaborative Research Centres can integrate projects in cooperation with partners in industry or other application partners with the goal of knowledge transfer.

Transfer Projects

The establishment of a Collaborative Research Centre involves a two-stage decision process.

New proposals: no submission deadline, however, the submission of a draft proposal and a consultation are mandatory steps before submitting a full proposal to establish a Collaborative Research Center.

Renewal proposals: must be submitted within the final year of the current funding period of the Collaborative Research Centre.

Decision-Making Process

The Senate Committee on Collaborative Research Centres is...

is appointed by the DFG's Senate
is composed of 39 researchers who automatically serve on the Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres as representatives of the scientific community
has members that serve as rapporteurs on initiative consultation panels and in on-site reviews of Collaborative Research Centres
discusses the results of consultation panels on initiatives
prepares strategies for further developing the Collaborative Research Centre programme.
Members of the Senate Committee

Meeting of the Senate Committee:

Thursday, November 21, 2024 (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres

is composed of all 39 scientific members of the DFG's Senate Committee, one representative of the federal government, and one representative from each of the 16 federal states
decides on funding for each Collaborative Research Centre in the relevant fiscal year
decides on the further development of the Collaborative Research Centre programme. If fundamental questions arise that involve other DFG funding programmes, the DFG Joint Committee will address these questions upon recommendation by the Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres.
Members of the Grants Committee

Meeting of the Grants Committee:

Thursday, November 21, 2024 (2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and
Friday, November 22, 2024 (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

The aim of promoting international cooperation through the Collaborative Research Centre programme (or CRC/Transregio programme) is to establish and/or expand international networking structures with scientists and academics abroad. Prerequisites for their integration are the scientific excellence of the projects in question and their logical thematic relationship to the overall concept.

Aims

Cross-border scientific cooperation is essential for the international competitiveness and attractiveness of Collaborative Research Centres and CRC/Transregios. The aim of funding this type of cooperation through the CRC programme is to establish and expand international networking structures between Collaborative Research Centres and scientific partners abroad.

Type and Scope of Funding

The DFG makes funding available to the Collaborative Research Centres or CRC/Transregios for travel, colloquia and visiting professors for the purposes of maintaining international contacts and presenting findings to an international audience. Additional funding may be applied for in order to develop project-like cooperation structures. This funding can also be used to finance long-term cooperation projects with comparable centres of excellence abroad (centre-to-centre cooperation). Scientists and academics can also lead (either individually or jointly) their own projects abroad, although funding for these is to be received by one of the DFG's international partner organisation..

Foreign Locations of CRC/Transregios

As part of the CRC/Transregio programme, one of the locations may be abroad. This usually requires intensive coordination between the DFG and the participating foreign partner organisation in order to regulate funding and review procedures and funding decisions.

Funding Requirements

Project requirements include scientific excellence, logical thematic integration into the overall concept and a high level of added value for the Collaborative Research Centre or CRC/Transregio. The programme’s aim of creating local structures must also be given due consideration.

Co-Funding by the Foreign Partner Organisation

The promotion of cross-border cooperation projects is based on the principle of mutual responsibility. It is expected that the expenses occurred by scientists and academics abroad will be borne either by their institution or by a funding organisation in the country in question. The DFG supports this integration by providing additional funding for travel, colloquia and visiting scientists. Provided that certain conditions are fulfilled, the DFG may also provide funding for research cooperation with developing countries.

Further Information

Cooperation with Developing Countries

Other cooperation agreements with DFG partner organisations abroad may also apply

Further Information

International Cooperation

Additional information on international cooperation within Collaborative Research Centres is available in (Chapter III.3):

Guidelines 50.06 - Collaborative Research Centres Programme

Early career Support is a key goal of the DFG and is, therefore, also an important review criterion in assessing Collaborative Research Centres. The main aim is to provide Early Career Researchers with opportunities to independently carry out research. The programme further takes care to tightly integrate Early Career Researchers into a closely-woven research network and facilitates access to outstanding infrastructure and administrative support.

Further Information

The DFG currently funds 269 Collaborative Research Centres (CRC) with a total of €871 million (incl. programme allowances) for 2024 (figures as of 1 October 2024). This accounts for approximately 24 % of the DFG’s total budget.