In March 2021, the Presidential Boards of both universities adopted the jointly developed "Roadmap for Cooperation 2020 - 2030", which defines the fields of action and goals of the co-operation for the next ten years. They cover various areas of research, study and teaching, as well as regional transfer in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe and in the north-west of the state of Lower Saxony.

Achieving these goals is to be promoted through the broadest possible spectrum of events, projects and initiatives. In order to support the idea generators and organisers of suitable formats, project funding of a maximum of 20,000 euros per year is provided from the internationalisation programme budget of the Vice President for Academic Career Paths, Equal Opportunities and International Affairs.

In order to be able to respond to the needs of applicants as quickly as possible, the following deadlines apply for the submission of funding applications: 31 May / 30 November of the year.

1. Funding target:

The funding is intended to support bilateral projects and events that strengthen the cooperative partnership between the universities of Oldenburg and Groningen. In general, all measures that serve to maintain or expand the cooperation are eligible for funding. Funding is available for projects and events that have a content-related connection to the focus areas defined in the "Roadmap". Please submit the application via one of the spokespersons for the following focus areas:

1. Healthy Ageing for a Healthy Society:
   Prof. Dr. Lena Ansmann, Prof. Dr. Axel Hamprecht, Dr. Adriana Pérez-Fortis
2. German and Durch Language, Linguistics, and History:
   Prof. Dr. Esther Ruigendijk, Prof. Dr. Andrea Strübind
3. Energy Transition and Climate Adaptation:
   Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lehnhoff, Prof. Dr. Bernd Siebenhüner
4. Governance, Law, and Politics for a Sustainable Society:
   Prof. Dr. Christine Godt
5. Digital Society and Technologies:
   Prof. Dr. Martin Fränzle, Prof. Dr. Jochem Rieger
6. Teacher Training:
   Prof. Dr. Martin Butler, Tina Grummel
7. Knowledge Transfer, Entrepreneurship, and Public Engagement:
   Dr. Birte Lipinski 

2. Persons entitled to apply:

Teachers and researchers belonging to the Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg are eligible to apply.

3. Requirements:

Funds may be requested by faculty members for the following projects:

• workshops
• summer schools
• innovative event concepts
• preparation of joint project applications for Horizon Europe, Interreg and national or regional funding programs
• short-term research stays for early career researchers

The projects must provide a bilateral orientation, i.e. participation must be equally possible for students and/or researchers/teachers of the Universities of Oldenburg and Groningen. Projects aimed at the non-university public in Oldenburg and Groningen are also eligible for funding. As the aim is to promote cooperation between the two universities, only projects that take place at these universities or at a location in the region between the two university cities will be funded.

4. Amount of funding

The maximum amount of funding for a measure is 4,000 euros, with approximately half of the approved grant being provided by the University of Oldenburg and half by the University of Groningen. As a matter of principle, there is no full funding of a measure; the applicant's own contribution is essential. This can also be provided by personnel. Planned expenses for meals and catering for events must be listed separately, as they can be subsidized either by the University of Groningen or by the University Society Oldenburg (UGO) in Oldenburg. It is important to show where the costs are incurred: Costs incurred in Groningen are only billable there, costs incurred in Oldenburg can only be granted up to a maximum of 300 euros from the UGO grant.

5. Selection criteria

The jury makes the decision on the approval of a funding application with particular consideration of the following criteria:

• Relevance for the achievement of the goals defined in the roadmap as well as for the general internationalization strategies of the two participating universities
• Feasibility
• Innovative character
• Sustainability 

6. Application deadline / Application submission

Applications for funding from applicants on the Oldenburg side must be sent by email to the Vice President for Academic Career Paths, Equal Opportunities and International Affairs, Ms Katharina Al-Shamery (vp.n@uol.de) and Ms Birgit Bruns, Strategic Internationalization, Planning & Development Department (birgit.bruns@uol.de) by 31 May or 30 November of the current year. 

A copy of the e-mail must be sent in parallel to the spokespersons of the relevant field of action. 

Funding applications from applicants on the Groningen side must be sent by e-mail to Tim Zwaagstra, International Strategy and Relations at the University of Groningen (tim.zwaagstra@rug.nl) by May 31 or November 30 of the current year.

In a selection meeting after the end of the respective call period, the selection committee, consisting of the chair Prof. Dr. Katharina Al-Shamery (Vice President for Academic Career Paths, Equal Opportunities and International Affairs) and other members, will decide on the funding applications received. Applicants will be informed of the decision as soon as possible.