Objectives

In order to increase the number of successfully acquired third-party funding and to promote experience in competitive research and application practice with regard to larger collaborative research (with other School of UOL and/or academic partners in Germany and beyond), School I and the Presidential Board are launching a start-up funding programme for third-party funding applications, initially for a period of three years.

In the years 2025 to 2027, half of the funds will be made available in the amount of 60,000 euros per year. The start-up funding is to be used to prepare

a) individual applications and
b) joint applications,

which must be submitted to the third-party funding provider within the funding period.

At the same time, School I will initiate suitable formats during this period to promote the exchange of ideas and further networking beyond the institutes. Mentoring (e.g. by colleagues who already have DFG experience) should also help to increase the likelihood of successful third-party funding proposals through the exchange of experience and individual feedback.

Funding amounts

a. Preparation of individual proposals to third-party funding organisations
Funding of max. 12,000 euros per proposal over max. 12 months

b.Preparation of joint proposals with third-party funding providers
Funding totalling a maximum of EUR 18,000 per proposal over a maximum of 12 months

Eligible to apply

University lecturers who are still employed at School I for at least the duration of the funding period are eligible to apply.

Requirements and conditions

The funds are approved exclusively to support the preparation of a project proposal planned with a third-party funding provider with an external review process. If a proposal is to be submitted to an institution other than those listed below, the Dean's Office must be consulted beforehand: BMBF, DFG, ERC, Fritz Thyssen Foundation, MWK, Volkswagen Foundation.

Only measures that directly serve to prepare the planned project proposal areeligible for funding. This includes:

- business trips (taking into account the Federal Travel Expenses Act) for data collection
or cooperation meetings (incl. short stays of external guests at the UOL of up to five days),
- auxiliary staff (current hourly rates can be obtained from the respective institute offices),
- preliminary studies and data collection (e.g. incl. test subjects), - research assistants (e.g. incl. test persons).e.g. incl. subject fees, archive research,
work contracts for "field work" after prior consultation with the purchasing department
of Division 2 on the question of feasibility),
- consumables (max. 3000 euros),
- workshops,
- professional advice on the application process.

The following items arenot eligible for funding:

- publications,
- large or small equipment,
- expenses for construction and furnishing measures, rent,
- expenses for general institute equipment (e.g. office furniture, computers),
- expenses for the use of university service centres,
- entertainment expenses.

The preparation of the application to the funding institution must be accompanied by advice from the Department for Research and Technology Transfer.

If start-up funding is approved, the applicant concludes an approval agreement with the Dean's Office of School I (obligation to submit the application by a certain date, obligation to spend the funds in a specified manner).

The applicant must spend the funds within one year of approval of the start-up funding. Proof of this must be provided, otherwise the funds will be withdrawn. The start date is generally the 1st of the month following approval. In justified exceptional cases and after consultation with the Dean's Office, the start date may be up to three months after the date of approval.

The Presidential Board (VP-F) and the Dean's Office must be informed in writing immediately after the proposal has been submitted to a third-party funding institution. If the application has not yet been submitted one year after the School has approved the start-up funding, the Dean's Office must also be informed.

Form of application

Proposals can be submitted informally. An outline of the planned project for the application must be submitted in a maximum of 10,000 characters (plus bibliography).

In addition to a brief description of the project, this must contain the following information:

- the intended funding institution incl. the intended scope of funding;
- information on preliminary work that has already been carried out and that will be carried out by the date of application
;
- a cost plan and a timetable for the start-up funding as well as a detailed explanation of why the measures applied for
are necessary for a successful application.

In addition, the following must be submitted as an appendix:

- a current academic CV of the applicant;
- a current list of publications of the applicant.

Procedure

The decision on the proposals is made promptly after the end of the respective application deadline by a commission with the participation of the Presidential Board and the FK I and FK III (in which similar funding initiatives exist). The commission is appointed and chaired by the VP Research.

Proposals that are not approved may be resubmitted at a later date after revision. An overview of the use of funds is presented to the Faculty Council annually at the last meeting of the year.

Criteria

• The following criteria are relevant for the assessment of proposals for start-up funding:
  
  1. Originality and scientific quality of the intended third-party funded project
  2. Coherence of the project design and implementation of the envisaged externally funded project
  3. Relevant expertise and suitable qualifications of the applicant(s)
  4. Potential impact of the planned externally funded project
  5. Achievability of the objectives of the start-up project within the planned period
  

Limitations

The programme is initially valid for three years, starting on 30 June 2025. A maximum of 60,000 euros will be distributed in each programme year (February to January). Proposals received after the annual funding volume has been exhausted will be carried over to the next year. If the budget and application situation allows, the Dean's Office can decide to increase the amount of its own funding share for the current year. The Presidential Board's funding share is not increased accordingly, is capped at 30,000 euros per year and cannot be carried over if it is not exhausted.

Submission of applications

Proposals should be submitted to the Dean's Office of School I.
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