Large-scale research equipment (Art. 91b para. 1 GG)
Large-scale research equipment (Art. 91b para. 1 GG)
What is a large appliance:
"A major appliance is the sum of the appliance parts, including accessories, which form a functional unit for an intended operating state. There should be an appropriate relationship between the basic device (including software) and the accessories - which may also include methodological and metrological additions or aids that are not directly necessary for operation." (Source DFG)
Further information can be found on the DFG website.
Forms of the University of Oldenburg for applying for a large-scale research unit (FGG)
On the University of Oldenburg’s administration portal, you will find the budget application form for a FGG, which can be used to register the FGG with us. Once this application has been submitted, the FGG is added to the list of major equipment, which is then approved by the UOL Presidential Board.
The template for the approval of an FGG is used by the Dean's Office to authorise its submission to the Presidential Board.
The cover sheet for the proposal must be signed by the Presidential Board so that authorisation is in place for uploading it to the DFG.
All the above-mentioned forms are availablevia the administration portal here.
What requirements must my proposal fulfil?
The gross investment sum of a major instrument must be at least 200,000 euros including VAT. The upper investment limit is 7,500,000 euros (as adjusted by the DFG on 19 December 2018).
"Major instrumentation proposals can be submitted at any time. They are submitted to the DFG in accordance with the respective state regulations. The assurance of 50% co-financing by the host state or university is required." (Source DFG)
New regulation: Initial maintenance and service costs can be co-financed as part of the procurement of a major instrument. See DFG publication dated 12 May 2026: "Extended funding options for large-scale research equipment".
How does the application process work?
We are here to assist you with your proposal. Please feel free to email your proposal to for a formal review. We will then get back in touch with you to discuss the next steps.
Please have your proposal checked and approved by the Dean's Office. Here you will find the document that the Dean's Office will sign for this purpose.
We will submit the final proposal on your behalf to the Presidential Board, where submission to the German Research Foundation (DFG) will then be confirmed on the relevant form (cover sheet for the proposal).
You will then submit the proposal to the DFG electronically yourself by uploading it via the DFG’s elan portal. When you upload the proposal via the elan portal, a receipt form will be generated; please sign the original and return it to us. You can find a sample of a DFG receipt form here.
We will forward the acknowledgement form to the Presidential Board for signature. Finally, we will submit the documents to the DFG on your behalf by post.
The DFG will initiate the peer review process and inform the Presidential Board of its decision.
Please note that for investment sums exceeding 1 million euros, the entire proposal must also be sent in paper form to the MWK and to the State Audit Office (LRH). In addition, the Budget and Finance Committee (AfHuF) must approve the procurement of the major equipment.
The procurement of the large-scale equipment is ultimately handled by Division 2 (Procurement), which you should contact as soon as possible following approval.
Chart: Financing for large-scale research facilities at the UOL
| Share (in millions) | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| State contribution | 525,000 | 325,000 | 537,500 | 462,500 | 350,000 | 448,000 | 325,000 | 620,000 | 435,000 | 725,500 | 550,000 |
| Federal contribution | 1,325,000 | 337,500 | 974,000 | 3,754,650 | 350,000 | 448,000 | 3,243,500 | 927,700 | 840,000 | 1,652,500 | 649,500 |
| UOL’s own contribution | 299,984 | 12,260 | 24,910 | 1,281,100 | 1,726,000 | 425,000 | 99,500 | ||||
| Appointments | 411,650 | 2,011,050 | 1,685,000 | ||||||||
| Other | 850,000 | 405,000 | 1,200,000 |
All DFG funding programmes: click here for the links
Electronic application via the elan portal:
https://www.dfg.de/foerderung/grundlagen_rahmenbedingungen/elan/hinweise_antragstellende/index.html
Download application forms and information sheets for all funding programmes:
www.dfg.de/foerderung/programme/infrastruktur/wgi/formulare_merkblaetter/index.jsp
Details of the funding programmes:
www.dfg.de/foerderung/programme/infrastruktur/wgi/index.html
Good academic practice - recommendations and rules of procedure of the DFG:
www.dfg.de/foerderung/grundlagen_rahmenbedingungen/gwp/index.html