Preparation of an initiative can be discussed on the phone or in person, usually with the involvement of the Scientific Affairs department. Please contact Dr. Suzanne Zittartz-Weber early on in the planning stage.

A group of researchers who hold doctorates and are at German universities or at equivalent higher education institutions with the right to confer doctorates; it is possible to involve non-university research institutions. The initiative must be coordinated with the applicant university.

A member of a non-university research institution can participate in a Collaborative Research Centre as a project leader, as a member of the management board or in the position of deputy spokesperson.

The proposal process for a new Collaborative Research Centre consists of two phases: a consultation phase and a review phase. Submission of a draft proposal is a prerequisite. Forms and guidelines are available in German or English. Following a consultation with researchers from relevant subject areas and a comparative discussion in the Senate Committee on Collaborative Research Centres, the DFG either recommends or discourages submission of a proposal. See DFG forms 60.003 and 60.17 for further details.

Draft proposals can be submitted at any time.

A Collaborative Research Centre is structured via individual projects. It is mainly focused on research projects, which may be grouped into project areas. The exact number and scope of the research projects will depend on the requirements of the respective Collaborative Research Centre. As such, there are no specific requirements or recommendations regarding the number and scope of the projects.

In addition to research projects, various other types of projects may be included in the proposal. For details, see the German versions of the proposal templates 60.100 and 60.200. The review criteria for the various types of projects are set out in DFG form 60.14.

A CRC is mainly focused on research projects. Each CRC also runs a central administrative project in which the funds required for the CRC as a whole are applied for. In addition, an integrated Research Training Group can offer a visible way of supporting the academic independence and further qualification of doctoral researchers. The main purpose of an information infrastructure project is the systematic management of data relevant to the Collaborative Research Centre. A dedicated science communication project can be applied for if extensive strategic measures are planned.

Transfer projects in CRCs serve to test the findings of basic research under real-life conditions or to further develop them into a prototype or an exemplary application together with an application partner. Finally, scientific service projects – in contrast to research projects – focus on providing methodological and technical support for the CRC as a whole. For this purpose, service projects generally offer platforms and services that benefit many of the research projects and are vital to their success.

A consultation session is held involving researchers from related subject areas and representatives of the initiative; it usually lasts five hours and takes place in the form of a video conference. This discussion serves as a basis for evaluating the prospects of success of the concept from a subject-specific perspective. For further details, see DFG forms 60.003 and 60.17.

The result of the consultation serves as a basis for the Senate Committee on Collaborative Research Centres in its comparative discussion of all draft proposals which have recently undergone such a consultation. The DFG then either recommends or discourages the submission of a proposal. The Senate Committee on Collaborative Research Centres convenes twice a year, in May and November. Initiatives are notified promptly about the outcome.

Once a recommendation has been made, the timeline for proposal submission and review is coordinated with the responsible contact persons at the DFG Head Office.

Revised draft proposals may only be re-submitted once.

Alternatively, an initiative that has not been invited to submit a proposal can still do so, although this involves a substantial risk.

Eligible applicants are universities and other higher education institutions which confer doctorates (hereinafter: universities).

Proposals may be submitted at any time. They must be submitted in English. German may be used only in justified exceptional cases after consulting with the DFG Head Office first. Appropriate templates are available (DFG form 60.100). The deadline for the proposal submission will depend on the date of the review and is agreed on individually with the Head Office.

There are no upper or lower limits in terms of how much funding can be applied for. However, the financial requirements must always be justified in detail as specified in the proposal template. The total amount of funding for the CRC depends on the requirements of the individual projects.

A CRC can be run by a management committee. Its specific organisation can be established flexibly according to the needs of the CRC and defined within its bylaws (cf. DFG form 60.21) and aligned with the needs of the network as appropriate. The management and organisational structure can be presented externally (e.g. on the CRC’s website) and can also be outlined at review sessions to be evaluated accordingly.

However, the role of spokesperson is assumed only by one of the key researchers involved. This individual acts as the central contact person for the DFG. In accordance with the bylaws, the spokesperson chairs the management committee and manages the central administrative project. The role of spokesperson can be re-assigned in the course of the funding period.

As a rule, only a researcher who holds a doctorate and is a member of a university or other research institution can take on leadership of an individual project. In any case, evidence of the person’s scientific expertise must be provided in the form of high-quality peer-reviewed publications. Note: In the context of a Collaborative Research Center, no funds can be granted to finance the positions of project leaders (exception: cf. the next question).

Some examples are: career development measures for female researchers or initial funding of positions for female project leaders; other measures are possible as well. See DFG form 50.06 for details. For further information, please contact Dr. Susanne Sangenstedt.

Some examples are: compensation for family-related absence or part-time work by the project leader, compensation for family-related absence or part-time work by research staff employed on a project, contract extension for research staff employed on a project after maternity or parental leave; other measures are possible as well. See DFG form 50.06 for details. For further information, please contact Dr. Susanne Sangenstedt.

The deadline for the proposal submission will depend on the date of the review and is agreed on individually with the DFG Head Office.

Following the consultation phase, a written proposal for the establishment or continuation of a Collaborative Research Centre is evaluated on site by a review panel specifically selected for the CRC in question. The review lasts just under two days and involves two members of the Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres – one from a related subject area and one from an unrelated subject area. They report on the review and its outcome to the Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres, which meets twice a year. See DFG forms 60.022 and 60.14 for details.

The Grants Committee is composed of researchers as well as representatives of the responsible federal and state ministries. It meets twice a year to issue decisions on proposals submitted under the Collaborative Research Centres programme, based on the results of the review.

The DFG Head Office will contact you after the relevant meeting of the Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres. At a later date you will receive the decision letter and a letter with the reviewer's comments.

Traditional Collaborative Research Centres are proposed by one university (coordinating university), and at least 60% of the projects must be based at this institution. Individual projects and project leaders from other universities and non-university institutions may be additionally integrated into the CRC. Their subject-specific suitability and contribution to the Collaborative Research Centre as a whole is subject to review, as are the proposed measures for integration in the cooperative structure of the Collaborative Research Centre. The non-university share may not exceed 30% of projects.

Each institution’s share of projects is determined based on the proposal. Here, all projects count except the central administrative project. A project that is jointly managed by one or more members of the university and one or more members of a non-university institution is counted proportionately as a university project and as a non-university project. In the case of projects where the leader has a contractually secured position at both the applicant university and at another institution, the institution at which the project is to be carried out is the one that counts for this purpose.

If you have any questions regarding the structure of a CRC, please get in touch with the CRC contact person at the DFG Head Office.

CRC/Transregios are proposed jointly by two or three universities, and the latter are represented approximately equally in the consortium. One of these universities acts as coordinating university and manages the approved funds. Furthermore, CRC/Transregios can also integrate projects run by project leaders at other universities and non-university institutions. However, the majority of projects must be based at the applicant universities in order to promote institutional priority area development. Hence, the share of external projects may not exceed one-third in the case of two applicant universities, or one-quarter in the case of three. The non-university portion of projects may not exceed 30% of the Centre as a whole (or 25% in case of three applicant universities).

Each institution’s share of projects is determined based on the proposal. Here, all projects count except the central administrative project. A project that is jointly managed by one or more members of the university and one or more members of a non-university institution is counted proportionately as a university project and as a non-university project. In the case of projects where the leader has a contractually secured position at both the applicant university and at another institution, the institution at which the project is to be carried out is the one that counts for this purpose.

If you have any questions regarding the structure of a CRC, please get in touch with the CRC contact person at the Head Office.

In the list of current Collaborative Research Centres and in the DFG project database GEPRIS.

Yes, these are set out in the binding funding guidelines for Collaborative Research Centres with rules of good research practice (DFG form 5.01, available in German only).

By no later than 31 March of the following year.

No, the utilisation of funds is subject to extensive flexibility within the approved period. In principle, funding is granted to a Collaborative Research Centre as a whole and not to individual projects. Within the individual expenditure groups (staffing, consumables, investments), the estimates for project funds may be exceeded without consulting the DFG Head Office providing this is necessary from a subject-specific point of view and if savings are made in other expenditure groups within the project funds as a whole. The reasons for such deviations must be recorded by the Collaborative Research Centre in the audit documents.

In Collaborative Research Centres, research assistants have the opportunity to obtain academic qualifications (prepare for a doctorate). If this opportunity is taken up in addition to the work done on the project, the individual is paid at least according to TV-L E 13 (50%) or as a research assistant with a final examination. If necessary due to national and international competition for qualified research staff inside and outside the research system, funding can be granted for positions with up to 100% of regular working hours. See DFG form 55.02 with information on the remuneration of doctoral candidates, in which the review boards provide guideline figures (available in German only).

Yes, provided this amount is saved elsewhere. Additional funds cannot be approved for this purpose.

Maintenance costs and costs resulting from wear and tear cannot be financed from CRC funds.

It is possible to obtain funding for project-specific instrumentation repairs, but only for instrumentation that has been fully funded by the DFG and only if the repair goes beyond the scope of regular maintenance. In the case of laser replacement purchases, please contact the CRC division’s Finance Team.

• Repair Options
• Contact person for financial resource management

There are no sample contracts. For details of requirements, see the funding guidelines (DFG form 5.01). Anything not specified in this document is left to the university. The provisions of state law and university regulations are to be applied when drafting contracts.

Providing state and university regulations permit such utilisation, this type of expenditure can be accounted for as project funds.

In principle, approved funds are tied to the respective financial year. Only unspent lump sum funds can be re-approved. Only in well-founded exceptional cases is it possible to re-approve other project funds. In any case, re-approval must be applied for in due time.

Only to the extent that this concerns investment obligations entered into in the final year of funding. In cases where funding ends on 30 June, this is the cut-off date for obligations. It is not possible to have funds approved (or re-approved) for the period after the end of the Collaborative Research Centre.

Only if the obligations were entered into in the final year of funding. In cases where funding ends on 30 June, this is the cut-off date for obligations. It is not possible to have funds approved (or re-approved) for the period after the end of the Collaborative Research Centre.

No, these funds must come from savings generated elsewhere.

No, but funds saved elsewhere can be used for this purpose.

No later than 30 September of the financial year in question.

If mixed financing is to be applied using funds from Core Support and supplementary resources and if an item of instrumentation consists of components made by several different manufacturers. All applications for the release of funds for self-procurement must be submitted in writing to the DFG Head Office together with the procurement request (DFG form 21.04). Self-procurement always requires the written consent of the DFG Head Office.

General information on Collaborative Research Centres

• Contact persons for questions about submitting proposals for Collaborative Research Centres and the procedure in general
• General Information: Alexandra Klütsch
• Review Session Scheduling: Claudia Kiupel
• Consultation Session Scheduling: Lorena Strikic
• Use of Funds: Stephan Nouera, Thomas Lüdtke-Kenn

Use of Funds for

• Nordrhein-Westfalen: Stephan Nouera
• Brandenburg, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thüringen, Hamburg, Sachsen: Janin Winkel
• Bayern, Hessen: Berthold Hühnerbach
• Baden-Württemberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland: Thomas Lüdtke-Kenn
• Berlin, Niedersachsen: Cornelia Niebus