TU internal research funding

Promoting equal opportunities and the integration of gender-related aspects in research projects has become an integral component of numerous evaluation procedures conducted by national and European funding organizations. Women should be increasingly included in the research teams of European associations and in national excellence initiatives. In respect to research projects themselves, the needs of women and men should be considered on an equal basis.

In this context, the TU Berlin Steering Committee resolved to commit itself to implement the Research-Oriented Standards in Gender Equality of the German Research Foundation DFG. We would like to encourage you to utilize TU Berlin funding instruments in order to the increase the number of women involved in research and incorporate gender-related aspects into the organization of research projects. 

Purpose of this instrument
The purpose of the funding instrument “initial acquisition of third party funding” is to make it easy for newly appointed professors (5 years after their initial appointment to a university) and equivalent to access third party funding and to support them in developing their Chair with the aid of third party funded projects.
Funding is provided for the preparation of a third-party funding application.

Applicants
Newly appointed professors (first 5 years after their initial appointment at a university).
The same status is granted to Emmy Noether Grantees, ERC Starting Grantees and persons in similar positions, who as a junior research group leader have received excellent funding in the context of competitive programs.

Scope of financial support
Funding for personnel TV-L E13 for a maximum of 6 months (FTE) plus max. EUR 5000 for material resources.
Funding is provided for the preparation of a third-party funding application.

Application procedure
Funding tenders are published regularly up to three times per year.

Decision-making structure
Proposals are in competition with each other. They are submitted to the Strukturkommission (Structural Commission) for their recommendation. The Vice President for Research, Appointment Strategy, Knowledge & Technology Transfer [4] makes the final decision.

Further information on eligibility:
Applicants are generally only eligible to re-apply if a grant has been concluded, i.e. when an application for third-party funding which is supported with internal research funding has been provably submitted for a further round by the submission deadline to the provider of the funding. If no application has (yet) been submitted and is not shown on the project display, then written explanation to the vice president / Strukturkommission will be expected as to why the aims of the funding were not achieved. 

Purpose of funding
The funding instrument aims to help junior researchers (masters or comparable qualification), who have not yet obtained a doctorate. The funding is intended for the preparation of an application for third-party funding.

The professor who applies for the third-party funded project in which the junior researcher shall work accepts, by their application, the obligation to support the junior researcher. The junior researcher shall gain in-depth experience in the intended third-party funded project for his/her work in research. The support and preparation of the third-party funded project application serves the further scientific qualification and scientific orientation of the junior researcher. The accompanying professor may not belong to the group of newly appointed professors.

Applicants
Professors who wish to support a junior researcher with a masters or comparable qualification within the scope of a third-party funding project.

Scope of financial support
Funding for personnel TV-L E13 for a maximum of 6 months (FTE) plus max. EUR 5000 for material resources.
Funding is provided for the preparation of a third-party funding application.

Application process
Funding tenders are published regularly up to three times per year.

Decision-making structure
Proposals are in competition with each other. They are submitted to the Strukturkommission (Structural Commission) for their recommendation. The Vice President for Research, Appointment Strategy, Knowledge & Technology Transfer [5] makes the final decision.

Further information on eligibility:
Applicants are generally only eligible to re-apply if a grant has been concluded, i.e. when an application for third-party funding which is supported with internal research funding has been provably submitted for a further round by the submission deadline to the provider of the funding. If no application has (yet) been submitted and is not shown on the project display, then written explanation to the vice president / Strukturkommission will be expected as to why the aims of the funding were not achieved.

Purpose of funding
This instrument seeks to advance outstanding junior PhD researchers for a maximum of 3 years after their PhD in the next stages of their career and provides support by ensuring financing for preparation of an application to the DFG for funding for a temporary position as principal investigator or for comparable programs (such as those sponsored by the Thyssen Foundation).

Applicants
Eligible for application are postdoctoral candidates, max. 3 years after completion of their PhD (awarding of the certificate). Upon submission of the application, the dissertation must already have been submitted and the PhD defence successfully passed. If one or more children under the age of 18 are taken care of, the period of eligibility is extended by two years per child.

Scope of financial support
Funding for personnel TV-L E13 for a maximum of 6 months (FTE) for financing the applicant plus a maximum of EUR 5000 for material resources.
Funding is provided for the preparation of a third-party funding application.

Application process
Funding tenders are published regularly up to three times per year.

Decision-making structure
Proposals are in competition with each other. They are submitted to the Strukturkommission (Structural Committee) of the Academic Senate (SK) for recommendations. Within the scope of a public application pitch, the applicants present their projects to the Strukturkommission of the Academic Senate (SK) and a public made up of interested parties from TU Berlin. Subsequently, the Strukturkommission will consult on recommendations in a non-public session.
The Vice President for Research, Appointment Strategy, Knowledge & Technology Transfer [6] makes the final decision.

Purpose of funding
This instrument has as its target group internal and external postdoctoral candidates, who as from 1 January 2018 have received approval for a group of junior researchers  in one of the following junior researcher sponsoring programmes:

• Emmy Noether-Programme (DFG)
• BMBF Junior Research Group
• Helmholtz Young Investigator Group
• Robert Bosch Junior Professorship Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Ressources)
• VW Freigeist-Fellowships
• Sofja Kovalevskaja Award (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)

as well as

• DFG Heisenberg position in connection with a raised DFG research grant
• Einstein Junior Fellow

Applicants
Eligible are postdoctoral candidates, who have received approval for a group of junior researchers in one of these junior research sponsorship programs and are establishing this group of junior researchers at the TU Berlin. Also addressed are postdocs who have not been active at the TU Berlin up to now and will be switching to the TU Berlin with the grant and their group of junior researchers.

Scope of financial support
An annual payment of EUR 10,000 for this period as well as the part of the raised overhead currently valid at the TU Berlin is freely available to the externally financed group of junior researchers.

Furthermore, the group of junior researchers will receive its own sub-cost center. For the leader of the group of junior researchers, the possibility exists to supervise doctorates and to act as an evaluator.

Application process
An application is not required. The Research Promotion Section makes the payment available upon arrival of the grant letter and arranges the provision of the sub-cost center.

Purpose of funding
Support for the application within the scope of a joint application. Preparation of externally financed joint research projects, for example, for coordinated DFG procedures, EU or BMBF joint projects or other comparable cooperation models.

Applicants
Faculty members of one or more Chairs are eligible to apply.

Scope of financial support
Budget in the amount of up to 9 person months for pay scale TV-L EG 13, a single 6-month extension is possible in exceptional cases. The budget is to be used in support of the application process.

Financial support for renewal proposals is only possible in exceptional cases if there is no personnel available for the coordination / management within the network.

Application process
Applications can be submitted at any time.

Furthermore, the applicants are given the possibility to introduce the concept in a joint discussion with the VPFB (as well as the VPFB Team, department V and faculty) and to determine suitable support offers.
Upon request, the research department will act as an intermediary to provide experienced speakers from existing networks for peer-to-peer consulting.

Decision-making structure
The Vice President for Research, Appointment Strategy, Knowledge & Technology Transfer [7] makes the final decision.

Purpose of funding
The goal of the dialog platform is to support scientists in the generation of ideas and further development of research questions, to increase the quality of the TU-internal interdisciplinary cooperation, to promote exchange and networking with the support of methodologies and to create advantageous conditions for joint projects (national and international). To this end, diverse formats are being offered.  

Applicants
All scientists of the TU Berlin. 

Scope of financial support
Depending on format  

Application procedure
Diverse tender.

See homepage of the Dialog Platform (direct access: 163427 [8])

Decision-making structure
The Vice President for Research, Appointment Strategy, Knowledge & Technology Transfer [9] makes the final decision.

Purpose of funding
In order to make a contribution to the optimization of the TU-equipment infrastructure,

• The successful application will be supported within the scope of the procedure for large-scale research facilities according to Article 91b GG (Basic Law).
• In addition, a tender for the procurement of devices with an investment sum of between €20k and €200k will be carried out at irregular intervals. 

Applicants
Faculty members of one or more Chairs are eligible to apply.

Scope of financial support
For large-scale research facilities in accordance with Article 91b GG (Basic Law) with an investment sum greater than €200k, the means available to the research funding will generally provide a contribution of 25%. A contribution of 25% is to be made by the subject area / institute / faculty.

In the case of tenders for equipment/devices costing between €20k and €200k, a contribution of 25% - 50% is to be made by the subject area / institute / faculty.

Application process
Applications for large-scale research facilities in accordance with Article 91b GG (Basic Law) can be submitted at any time. Individual applications for a Chair can be made as can applications in connection with a joint project.

Applications for equipment / devices with an investment sum of between €20k and €200k can only be submitted within the scope of tenders which are carried out irregularly and according to need.

Decision-making structure
The Vice President for Research, Appointment Strategy, Knowledge & Technology Transfer [10] makes the final decision.

1. Tender

Purpose of funding
In order to support the strategic alignment and activities of the TU Berlin, tenders will occur according to strategic goals. Topics and formats for the respective tenders will be published upon suggestion of the vice president in consultation with the Strukturkommission (Structural Committee).

Application process
Tenders generally occur on an annual basis.

Scope of financial support
Depending on topic and format

Decision-making structure
The vice president for research makes the final decision.

2. ERC Strategy

In connection with the increase of the success of the TU Berlin in applications for ERC Grants, an ERC Strategy has been decided which will be implemented within the scope of this strategically aligned financial instrument. 

The main aims of the ERC strategy are:

• Support for internal applicants during the application phase
• Rewarding the role of supervision of external candidates and/or the procurement of external grantees
• Motivational factors upon conclusion of the grant
• TU internal consultation and offers for information on ERC Grants

Application process, scope of financial support and services
See home page of the EU office (direct access: 183569 [11])

Decision-making structure
The Vice President for Research, Appointment Strategy, Knowledge & Technology Transfer [12] makes the final decision.

Purpose of funding
Support of scientists in order to increase the scope of exploitation of inventions is intended and to increase the degree of maturity of invented technology with the intention of making the licensing process through industry partners easier.

Applicants
All inventors at the TU Berlin.

Scope of financial support
A one-time grant of max. EUR 60,000 per project (financing for personnel and materials).

Application process
Application is possible at any time to the Section V D. The Vice President for Research, Appointment Strategy, Knowledge & Technology Transfer [13] makes the final decision.

Purpose of funding
The instrument “Extraordinary” (Außergewöhnliches) shall provide support to high risk research at the interfaces between the academic disciplines which are not covered by other financing instruments of research funding or current programs of third-party sponsors.

Application procedure
Well-founded proposals for projects outside the scope of the abovementioned instruments can be submitted at any time.

Decision-making structure
The vice president for research makes the final decision.

To enlarge the table please click the symbol on the right.

Please download the table as pdf file [15].

Dr. Sören Stange - V C 1
Coordination and further development of the instruments of TU internal research funding, Dialogplattform, Strategic Calls

Fraunhoferstraße 33-36
Room FH 715
10587 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30 314-23864
E-Mail: stange(at)tu-berlin.de

Dr. Friedemann Koll - V C 11
Advice for funding for initiating collaborative projects, Infrastructure, Strategic Calls, Out of the ordinary

Fraunhoferstraße 33-36
Room FH 710
10587 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30 314-70809
E-Mail: koll(at)tu-berlin.de

Dr. Tim Köhler-Ramm - V C 12
Advice for initial acquisition of third party funds and Postdoc-Funding

Fraunhoferstraße 33-36
Room FH 717
10587 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30 314-70106
E-Mail: t.koehler-ramm(at)tu-berlin.de

Dr. Stefanie Retzlaff - V C 13
Dialogplattform

Fraunhoferstraße 33-36
Raum FH 718
10587 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30 314-25389
E-Mail: stefanie.retzlaff(at)tu-berlin.de

Anke Schietzel - V C 14
Administering TU internal Research Funding

Fraunhoferstraße 33-36
Raum FH 726
10587 Berlin
Tel. +49 (0)30 314-24783
E-Mail: anke.schietzel(at)tu-berlin.de