Objectives

In order to increase the amount of successfully secured third-party funding and to foster experience in competitive research and grant application practices with a view to larger collaborative research projects (involving other Schools at the UOL and/or academic partners in Germany and beyond), The School and the Presidential Board are launching a funding programme to provide start-up funding for third-party funding applications, initially for a period of three years.

From 2025 to 2027, funding totalling 60,000 euros per annum will be made available, with each year’s allocation split equally between the two years. The start-up funding is intended to support the preparation of

a) individual applications and
b) collaborative applications,

which are to be submitted to the third-party funding body within the funding period.

In parallel, School I will initiate suitable formats during this period to facilitate the exchange of ideas and further networking across Institutes. A mentoring scheme (e.g. led by colleagues with prior DFG experience) is also intended to help increase the likelihood of success for third-party funding applications through the exchange of experience and individual feedback.

Funding amounts

a. Preparation of individual proposals to third-party funding bodies
Funding of up to 12,000 euros per proposal for a maximum of 12 months

b. Preparation of collaborative proposals to third-party funding bodies
Funding of up to 18,000 euros per proposal for a maximum of 12 months

Eligibility

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

Requirements and conditions

Funding is granted exclusively to support the preparation of a project proposal planned for submission to a third-party funding body with an external peer-review process. If a proposal is to be submitted to an organisation other than those listed below, prior consultation with the Dean's Office is required: BMBF, DFG, ERC, Fritz Thyssen Foundation, MWK, Volkswagen Foundation.

Only activities that directly serve the preparation of the intended project proposal areeligible for funding. These include:

- business travel (in accordance with the Federal Travel Expenses Act) for data collection
or collaborative meetings (including short stays of external guests at the UOL of up to five days),
- Support staff (current hourly rates can be obtained from the respective departmental offices),
- Preliminary studies and data collection (e.g. including subject fees, archive research,
contracts for ‘fieldwork’ following prior consultation with the Procurement Department
of Division 2 regarding feasibility),
- consumables (max. 3,000 euros),
- workshops,
- professional advice on submitting applications.

The following items arenot eligible for funding:

- Publications,
- Large or small equipment,
- Expenditure on building works and fitting-out, rent,
- Expenditure on general departmental equipment (e.g. office furniture, computers),
- Expenditure on the use of the university’s own service centres,
- Entertainment expenses.

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

Upon approval of the start-up funding, the applicant shall enter into a grant agreement with the Dean's Office of School I (commitment to submit the application by a specified date, commitment to spend the funds in a specified manner).

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

Immediately after submitting the proposal to a third-party funding body, the Presidential Board (VP-F) and the Dean's Office must be informed in writing. Should an application not have been submitted within one year of the School’s approval of the start-up funding, the Dean's Office must also be informed.

Application format

Proposals may be submitted informally. An outline of the project intended for the application, not exceeding 10,000 characters (excluding the bibliography), must be submitted.

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

- the proposed funding body, including the level of funding sought from that body;
- information on preparatory work that has already been carried out and that which is still to be carried out by the date of application
;
- a budget 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 annexes:

– a current academic CV of the respective applicant;
– a current list of publications by the respective applicant.

Procedure

Decisions on proposals are made promptly after the end of the relevant proposal deadline by a committee comprising the Presidential Board as well as Research Committees I and III (which each have similar funding initiatives). The committee is appointed and chaired by the Vice-President for Research.

Proposals that are not approved may, if necessary, be resubmitted at a later date following revision. An overview of the use of funds is presented to the Faculty Council annually at its final 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 proposed third-party-funded project
  2. Coherence of the project design and implementation of the proposed third-party-funded project
  3. Relevant expertise and appropriate qualifications of the applicant(s)
  4. Potential impact of the proposed externally funded project
  5. Feasibility of achieving the objectives of the start-up project within the planned timeframe
  

Restrictions

The programme will initially run for three years, commencing on 30 June 2025. A maximum of 60,000 euros will be allocated in each programme year (February to January). Proposals received after the annual funding allocation has been exhausted will be carried over to the following year. Depending on the budgetary situation and the number of applications, the Dean's Office may decide to increase the amount of its own funding contribution for the current year. The Presidential Board’s funding contribution will not be increased accordingly; it is capped at 30,000 euros per year and, if not fully utilised, cannot be carried over.

Submission of applications

Proposals must be addressed to the Dean's Office of School I.
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