Introduction to Introduction to the Activities the Activities of the German of the German Research Research Foundation Foundation (DFG) in North (DFG) in North America America Dr. Max Vögler Bonn, 7 June 2009
Jun 20, 2015
Introduction to the Introduction to the Activities of the Activities of the
German Research German Research Foundation (DFG) in Foundation (DFG) in
North AmericaNorth America
Dr. Max VöglerBonn, 7 June 2009
The DFG…
Who we are and what we do
central, self-governing funding organisation that promotes basic research in Germany.
Membership organization (universities, academies, research organizations), not a government agency
Serving the sciences and humanities in all fields
Promoting academic excellence on a competitive basis with:
Independent multi-tiered peer review
Special focus on supporting young academics
Promoting international research co-operation
Advisory function for politics
Fostering links between science and industry
Funding of Infrastructure(Scientific Library Services and Information Systems,Central Research Facilities) € 172 m (7,8 %)
Individual Grants€ 714 m (32,5%)
Direct Funding for Young Researchers€ 84 m (3,8 %)
Scientific Prizes (e.g. Leibniz, Communicator) € 18 m (0,8%)
Coordinated Programmes(e.g. Collaborative Research Centres, Research Training Groups, Excellence Initiative) € 1,1 bn (50 %)
International Scientific Contacts(Measures to encourage Bi- and Multilateral Collaborations)€ 40 m (1,8 %)
Committees & Commissions€ 5 m (0,2 %)
€ 2.2 bn
Status: 2009
DFG Awards 2009
20% Overhead Funding to Newly Approved Projects in nearly all
DFG’s Programmes since January 2008
(inclusive 2,5 % administration costs)
€ 2.2 bn
DFG Awards 2009
Of this funding:
• 32 % (about 700 Mio. €) goes to projects with international components
• 6 % (133 Mio €) have a U.S. partner
• 0,8 % (13 Mio. €) have a Canadian partner
• 0,5 % (11 Mio. €) have an Australian partner
• 1,5 Mio € is invested in projects with a partner from New Zealand
DFG: Modules for International Research Collaboration
DFG Funding Schemes for International Mobility Preparatory trips & collaborative visits Bilateral events Mercator visiting professorship Post-doc fellowships
International Modules within the DFG Funding Schemes
is possible in all DFG funding lines funding for travel, exchange of people
International DFG Funding Schemes International Research Training Groups Joint solicitations (e.g. DFG NSF Chemistry)
Preparatory trips / Collaborative Visits
Aim
enable researchers to develop collaborative activities
collaboration must relate to a concrete project, not just to a general institute-to-institute collaboration
Features
invitation by host
funding for travel, accommodation, and per diems for up to three months (no funding for positions or consumables)
principle of matching funds
Aim
funding for workshops in a scientific field that offers high potential for bilateral scientific collaboration
Features
event may be held either in Germany or in the partner country
funding for travel, accommodation, catering, conference organization, excursion after the symposium
principle of matching funds
Bilateral Events
Mercator Visiting Professorship Program
Aim To enable German universities to invite
distinguished researchers and scholars from abroad
Features: Applications must relate to the university's
scientific research profile Contribution to research, research-related
educational activities and research training Stay of 3 to 12 months Pay scale of full professor (W-3 professor)
DFG Research Training Groups (Graduiertenkollegs)
thematically focussed interdisciplinary research and study programs at universities; maximum funding period: 9 years
5-12 faculty; 1-2 post-docs, 1 coordinator; 12-24 PhD students; selected undergrads
possible components:
mobility period at universities abroad;
conferences; summer schools
regular supervision of PhD students; mentoring program
tailor-made study program; large scope for student initiatives
three-year stipends for doctoral students, open internationally
currently ca. 235 RTGs funded: www.dfg.de/gk/en/
The International Dimension of Research Training Groups
International students are welcome to apply for fellowships: ca. 30% international PhD students over 40% international postdocs
Some RTGs offer their programmes in English
International guest scientists
Support for international exchange of senior and junior scientists
Program variety: International Research Training Groups Joint international research training at centers of excellence Jointly proposed by a research group at a German university and a
partner group at a university abroad Joint research and study programme Joint supervision
An Example:
Research Training Group 1523
Quantum and gravitational fields Location: University of JenaFunding since: 2009
Coordinator:Prof. Andreas WipfFriedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Partners from various Universities cooperate with the RTG, including:
Prof. Wolfgang Tichy
Prof. Robert L. Bryant
Joint Solicitations:
Partnerships with various U.S. Grant Agencies
National Science Foundation Yearly open joint call in chemistry Participation in Materials World Network Annual DFG/NSF Research Conference
National Endowment for the Humanities Joint Programme in the Digital Humanities
National Institutes of Health Research Career Transition Awards Program
Exzelleninitiative
The German Excellence Initiative
Aims: Strengthen Germany’s top universities Make them internationally more visible and attractive
Competition for funding of: Graduate Schools (DFG) Clusters of Excellence (DFG) Institutional Strategies (WR)
Budget: 1.9 billion € government funding for 5 years (2007 – 2012) for project funding plus 20% "overhead"
Exzelleninitiative
39 Graduate Schools
Highest level research trainingApprox. € 1 m p.a. each
37 Clusters of Excellence*
Centers of excellence in researchApprox. € 6.5 m p.a. each
* incl. 4 additions to DFG-RCs
Institutional Strategy for TopLevel University Research Increase international competitiveness of
the whole university Approx. € 13.5 m p.a. each (9)
German Excellence Initiative: Three Lines of Funding
DFG Offices Abroad
Sino-German Centre for Science
Promotion Beijing, 2000
Liaison Office North America (Washington,
2002New York, 2007)
Liaison
Office
Moskau,
2003
Liaison OfficeNew Delhi,
2006
New:
Tokyo 2009
contact point for current and former DFG award holders and alumni
cooperation of German researchers with partner organizations in the U.S. and Canada
info point for universities and research institutions about S&R and research funding in Germany or the US / Canada
Mission of the DFG North America Team
Dr. Marion MüllerDFG North America OfficeWashington and New [email protected] +1 (202) 785-4208 (Washington)+1 (212) 339-8300 (New York)
Dr. Max VöglerDFG Bonn – International Relations North America (USA, Canada)[email protected]+49 (0)228 885 2388
Thank you for your attention!
Questions?Dr. Max VöglerDFGInternational Relations Head of Section: North America (USA, Canada)[email protected]