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Funding Opportunities
- Funding for (permanently) employed researchers at the TU Berlin
- Support for the funding of temporary positions for principal investigators: "Eigene Stelle", Junior Research Groups, Junior Professorships, Professorships
- Selected Scholarships
- Research Abroad and Travel Costs
- Symposia and Conferences
- Networks
- Publications
- Funding opportunities for Start-Ups
Funding for (permanently) employed researchers at the TU Berlin
The following overview gives a first impression of selected third-party funding opportunities (see in addition: TU-internal research funding). You can apply for funding if you hold a doctoral degree and are employed at the TU Berlin for the foreseeable future.
If you are temporarily employed at the TU Berlin your project should be viable during your employment period.
Project Funding
| German Research Foundation (DFG) - Research Grants | |
|---|---|
| Type | Enabling researchers to carry out a project on a specifically defined topic within a limited time period |
| Duration and scope | Staff costs, direct project costs and instrumentation for several years (depending on the project) |
| Application | no deadlines |
| Further information | A research project of high scientific quality and originality, carried out at an international level |
| Fritz Thyssen Foundation - Support for Projects | |
|---|---|
| Type | Support for time-limited and focused projects with special regard to early stage researchers. |
| Duration and scope | Staff and direct project costs for up to 2-3 years |
| Application | 2 annual deadlines |
| Further details | |
| Gerda Henkel Foundation - Project Grants | |
|---|---|
| Type | Research projects in the historical humanities |
| Duration and scope | Dissertation or research scholarships for up to 2 years |
| Application | 2 deadlines per year |
| Further details | |
Support for the funding of temporary positions for principal investigators: "Eigene Stelle", Junior Research Groups, Junior Professorships, Professorships
In the following section you will find a number of programs which enable you to apply for third-party funding to pay for a temporary position as part of a project grant, the creation of a junior research group or a (junior) professorship (see in addition: TU-internal research funding).
"Eigene Stelle" (Temporary Position)
| German Research Foundation (DFG) - "Temporary Positions for Principal Investigators" (Part of the Research Grant Program) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Enabling researchers to carry out a project on a specifically defined topic within a limited time period |
| Duration and scope | Staff costs, direct project costs and instrumentation initially for 2-3 years |
| Application | no deadlines |
| Further details | Regulations for Research Grants apply |
| DFG Walter Benjamin-Programme | |
|---|---|
| Type | Conduction of an independent research project; support of mobility and thematic development relevant in the early career phase |
| Duration and scope | max. 2 years; a scholarship is granted abroad, a post in the personnel category "postdoctoral researcher and comparable" is granted in Germany |
| Application | no deadlines |
| Further details | Applicable are early stage researchers |
| Fritz Thyssen Foundation - "own post" (Part of the Research Grant Program) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Support for time-limited and focused projects with special regard to early stage researchers. |
| Duration and scope | 1 position TV-L E13 and direct project costs for up to 3 years |
| Deadlines | 2 deadlines per year |
| Further details | |
Junior Research Groups and Junior Professorships
| German Research Foundation - Emmy Noether Programme (DFG) | |
|---|---|
| Type | leading an independent junior research group to qualify for a professorship or comparable position in science and research. |
| Duration and scope | max. 6 years |
| Deadlines | no deadlines; processing takes 6 month |
| Further detailes | within 2-4 Jahre after doctoral degree, not at the degree-awarding institution; significant international research experience and publications; excellent research project |
| Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): Junior Research Groups | |
|---|---|
| Type | leading an independent junior research group to qualify for a professorship or comparable position in science and research. |
| Duration and scope | staff and direct project costs to up to 5 years (evaluation after 3 years) |
| Deadlines | announced through specific calls |
| Further details | specific calls in different subject areas; please sign on for the ministry newsletter |
| Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups | |
|---|---|
| Type | individual support for talented early stage researchers and qualification for a university career by leading a junior research group |
| Duration and scope | min. 300.000 € per year for staff, direct project costs and investments; max. 6 years (evaluation after 3-4 years) |
| Application | annual deadline |
| Further details | within 2-6 years after doctoral degree |
| Robert Bosch Junior Professorship Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources | |
|---|---|
| Type | leading a junior research group |
| Duration and scope | up to 1 Mio € for 5 years for staff and direct project costs |
| Application | annual deadline |
| Further details | up to 5 Jahre after doctoral degree; subject areas: natural sciences, social, developmental, political, medical and public health sciences |
| VolkswagenStiftung: Freigeist-Fellowships | |
|---|---|
| Type | support of young researchers with a free spirit, open to new horizons and combining critical analysis with imagination and innovative solutions. |
| Duration and scope | 5+3 years; staff and direct project costs; renewal after positive evaluation |
| Application | annual deadline |
| Further details | within 1-4 Jahre after doctoral degree; contribution from the hosting institution is expected (creating a permanent position after 8 years) |
| ERC Starting Grant | |
|---|---|
| Type | establishing a research group in Europe (focus on excellence) |
| Duration and scope | 5 years; max. 1.5 million Euro (possibly + 500.000 Euro) |
| Application | annual calls in July; deadline generally autumn |
| Further details | 2-7 years after doctoral degree |
Professorships
| German Research Foundation (DFG): Heisenberg Programme | |
|---|---|
| Type | preparation for for a future scientific leadership position; selectable between fellowship, position and professorship (professorship: if all requirements for tenured professorships are fulfilled) |
| Duration and scope | max. 5 years |
| Application | no deadlines |
| Further details | integration of the position in the university budget after expiry of the support |
| Volkswagen Foundation: Lichtenberg Endowment Professorship | |
|---|---|
| Type | creation of a professorship for outstanding researchers in innovative and interdisciplinary fields of research |
| Duration and scope | 2 million euros over 5 years |
| Application | at any time |
| Further details | conditions: acquisition of further 3 million euros by the university for endowment capital; change of academic environment in the last five years |
Selected Scholarships
| Fritz Thyssen Stiftung: PostDoc Scholarship | |
|---|---|
| Type | Support for time-limited and focused projects with special regard to early stage researchers |
| Duration and scope | max. 1 year; basic grant and further benefits |
| Application | no deadline |
| Further details | within 2 years after doctoral degree |
| Gerda Henkel Foundation: Research Scholarships | |
|---|---|
| Type | Support of research projects in the historic humanities for researchers with doctoral or post-doctoral degree (Habilitation) |
| Duration and scope | max. 2 years; basic grant and direct project costs |
| Application | deadlines twice a year |
| Further details | applicants should have received their PhD within the last ten years; one scientific reference from a professor must be provided |
Research Abroad and Travel Costs
| Fritz Thyssen Foundation: Travel Grants | |
|---|---|
| Type | travel costs related to research work, can be granted independently from project funding |
| Duration and scope | travel and living expenses |
| Application | no deadlines, applications are processed within 6-8 weeks |
| Further details | applicants should have a doctoral degree |
| German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)*: Kongress- und Vortragsreisenprogramm | |
|---|---|
| Type | active participation in renowned international academic meetings (conference, symposia, etc.) which take place abroad. |
| Duration and Scope | travel grant, support for conference fees and living costs for the duration of the event; max. 8 conference days |
| Application | applications at least four month (conferences) / one month (lectures and presentations) before the date |
| Further details | applicants must have a doctoral degree |
*Please note: non-German applicants should be integrated in the German academic system and should have a long-term perspective in Germany
| DFG Walter Benjamin-Programme | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fellowship abroad to conduct an independent research project |
| Duration and scope | max. 2 years |
| Application | no deadlines |
| Further details | Applicable are early stage researchers |
| Europäische Union / Marie S. Curie: Research Fellowship Programme: Individual Fellowships | |
|---|---|
| Type | European Fellowships or Global Fellowships for "experienced"* researchers |
| Duration and scope | 1-2 years (EF); 2-3 years (GF) basic salary and benefits |
| Applications | annual calls |
| Further information | *min. 4 years of full-time research experience (also without doctoral degree); joint application with the hosting institution |
Symposia and Conferences
| DFG: International Scientific Events | |
|---|---|
| Type | international specialist conferences, symposia, colloquia, workshop, annual meeting |
| Duration and scope | international conferences: lump sum, varies according to the number of researchers participating annual meeting: Allowances for travel expenses (travel and maintenance costs) for active participants from abroad |
| Application | 6 months before the event begins |
| Further details | proposals can only be supported every second year. |
| VolkswagenStiftung: Symposia and Summer Schools | |
|---|---|
| Type | events in all subject areas dealing with new ideas and research approaches, innovative event formats as well as new ways of supporting interaction and networking |
| Duration and scope | travel expenses for participants, expenses for accommodation and non-personnel costs |
| Application | Symposia: at least eight months between submitting your application and the date of the actual event, please observe the respective deadlines Summer schools: at any time |
| Further details | symposia, workshops and conferences funded by the Volkswagen Foundation are held in the newly constructed "Herrenhausen Palace" convention center in Hanover |
| Fritz Thyssen Foundation: Conferences | |
|---|---|
| Type | scholarly events, in particular national and international conferences |
| Duration and scope | travel expenses, costs of accommodation, meal costs for active participants and speakers, incidental conference costs |
| Application | February 28th, May 31st, August 31st, November 30th , at least 3 months before the conference starts |
| Further details | |
Networks
| German Research Foundation (DFG): Scientific Networks | |
|---|---|
| Type | promote scientific exchange across locations regarding joint taks and subjects |
| Duration and scope | travel and living costs for working meeting of the participants and possible guests; further costs (e.g.coordination) and publications for max. 3 years |
| Application | no deadlines |
| Further details | clear aim, e.g. a joint publication, research project, exhibition, etc. |
Publications
| The TU Publication Fund | |
|---|---|
| Type | Funding of articles in open access journals, contributions to open access anthologies and open access monographs |
| Scope | max. €2,000 (VAT included) or up to 90% for open access monographs and anthologies |
| Application | Applicants can apply for cost coverage as soon as contract negotiations with a publisher exist. |
| Further details | The applicant must be the “submitting author” or “corresponding author” responsible for funding and be a member of the TU Berlin under Section 43 of the ‘Berliner Hochschulgesetz’. The fund supports articles published in open access journals that undergo a quality assurance process. Articles in traditional, subscription-based journals that offer Open Access options per article for a fee are not eligible for funding. |
| DFG: Project-related publication expenses | |
|---|---|
| Type | Contribution to cost of publishing results of scientific projects |
| Scope | up to 750 Euro per year |
| Application | Research Grants Basic Module |
| Further details | |
| VG Wort: grants fo printing costs | |
|---|---|
| Type | printing costs for unpublished outstanding scientific works that may not be realized without financial assistance due to the hight specialization and limited circulation |
| Scope | up to € 15.000 |
| Application | 1. March and 1. September |
| Further details | Processing time 4 to 7 months |
| Geschwister Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation for Humanities: printing costs | |
|---|---|
| Type | Grants for printing costs for scientific works, which are attributable to the humanities |
| Scope | |
| Application | 15. Feburary, 15. June or 15. September of each year |
| Further details | Dissertations will be funded only with summa cum laude, publications of symposia and anthologies only if they treat a closed topic and publish new findings |
| Fritz Thyssen Stiftung: Printing Subsidies for scholarly or scientific works | |
|---|---|
| Type | Printing subsidies offer support for the publication of scholarly findings emanating from projects that have already been supported by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation (i.e. through projects, conferences, stipends, travel subsidies, etc.). |
| Scope | |
| Application | no deadlines |
| Further details | dissertations can not be funded |
| FAZIT-STIFTUNG: Grants for printing costs | |
|---|---|
| Type | Grants for printing costs for dissertations and habilitations |
| Scope | Grant for the required number of depository copies |
| Application | no deadlines |
| Further details | There has to be an actual financial distress, so that it would be impossible to finish the dissertation/ habilitation without the grant |