Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Announcement of Regulations for Funding Selected Key Areas of Scientific Basic Research in the fields of

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1 Federal Ministry of Education and Research Announcement of Regulations for Funding Selected Key Areas of Scientific Basic Research in the fields of Materials Science and Structural Biology using Neutron and Synchrotron Radiation within the framework of the German-Swedish cooperation (Röntgen-Ångström-Cluster) 1. Funding purpose, legal basis 1.1 Funding purpose The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) intends to fund projects which serve the objectives of the German-Swedish Röntgen-Ångström-Cluster ( The particular aim is to initiate and expand cooperation between scientific working groups from Germany and Sweden. These efforts are based on the German-Swedish Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 15 June This funding measure, which is coordinated within the framework of the Röntgen- Ångström-Cluster, is also supported by the Swedish Research Council (VR). Only bi-national collaborative projects are eligible for funding, whereby the funding institutions intend to limit their funding to the project partners based in their own respective country. As far as the BMBF is concerned, funding will be complementary to the proposed funding of research and development projects in the field of "Condensed Matter Research at Large-Scale Facilities" stated in the funding regulations of 17 October 2012 and funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). The measure is limited to projects in the field of basic research in the natural sciences using selected large research facilities which are financed for the most part by the Federal Government. 1.2 Legal basis Project grants will be awarded in accordance with these funding regulations, the BMBF's standard terms and conditions for grants on an expenditure or cost basis and the administrative regulations under sections 23 and 44 of the Federal Budget

2 2 Code (BHO). There is no legal entitlement to a grant. A decision on the award of funding will be made after due assessment of the circumstances and within the limits of the budget funds available. 2. Object of funding Funding is provided for so-called collaborative projects that are jointly implemented by German and Swedish partners working in the research fields of structural biology and materials science using neutron and synchrotron radiation and which serve the aims of the Röntgen-Ångström-Cluster. The bi-national collaborative projects must involve one or several of the large facilities mentioned below and set out to develop methods and instruments, thus contributing to increasing the performance of existing and future large research facilities. The large facilities involved are: PETRA III and FLASH at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, BESSY II and BER II at the Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy, the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser XFEL, which is under construction, the MAX IV Laboratory, which is currently being built, and the European Spallation Source ESS, which is at the planning stage. The measure is not intended to cover work on scientific topics that are unrelated to the development of methodology, support for standard equipment in the environment of the large-scale facility, or the operation of research installations. 3. Recipients of funding Research proposals may be submitted by German institutions of higher education. Research and science establishments which receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can only be granted project funding to cover their additional expenditure under certain conditions if their participation is essential and an appropriate own contribution is assured. 4. Prerequisites for funding Funding will be granted to projects in which at least one German partner works with at least one Swedish partner (bi-national collaborative projects).

3 3 Applicants must prove that they have reached a basic agreement on specific criteria stipulated by the BMBF before a funding decision can be taken regarding the share of the German collaborative partner(s) that is to be funded. All the partners must regulate their cooperation in a cooperation agreement and appoint a project coordinator. Details are contained in the BMBF s leaflet 0110 ( Should working groups from Sweden not apply for or receive any funding from the Swedish side, the precondition for funding under these regulations is that the Swedish partners provide those contributions that are necessary to implement the joint research project. The project description must make this clear. The following conditions must also apply: The collaborative projects must distinguish themselves through innovative and sophisticated research work that will lead to a significant increase in the scientific output of the large-scale facility in question. The expertise and methodologies of the participating partners should complement each other to the benefit of the collaborative project. The implementation of the project in the form of a bi-national collaborative project will achieve added value compared with individual results. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the EU's Research Framework Programme with regard to the envisaged national project. They should check whether the intended project includes specific European components and is thus eligible for exclusive EU funding. Furthermore, they should check whether an additional application for funding can be submitted to the EU in the context of the proposed national project. The results of such investigations should be described briefly in the national project application. 5. Type, scope and rates of funding Funding will be awarded in the form of non-repayable project grants. The basis for calculating the grants for universities, research and science establishments and similar institutions is the eligible project-related expenditure (in the case of the Helmholtz centres and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG) eligible project-related costs), which can receive up to 100% coverage in individual cases. Funding is intended to begin on 1 October The projects should be designed to run for a minimum of three years and a maximum of four years and should be structured stating concrete milestones.

4 4 6. Other terms and conditions for funding The Allgemeine Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen zur Projektförderung (ANBest-P) (General Auxiliary Conditions for Grants Provided for Projects on an Expenditure Basis) and the Besondere Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen des BMBF zur Projektförderung auf Ausgabenbasis (BNBest-BMBF 98) (Special Auxiliary Terms and Conditions for Funds Provided by the BMBF for the Promotion of Projects on Expenditure Basis) will form part of the notification of award of grants on an expenditure basis. The Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen auf Kostenbasis des BMBF an Unternehmen der gewerblichen Wirtschaft für Forschungs- und Entwicklungsvorhaben (Auxiliary Terms and Conditions for Funds Provided by the BMBF to Commercial Companies for Research and Development Projects on a Cost Basis NKBF 98) will be part of the notification of award for grants on a cost basis. 7. Procedure 7.1 Involvement of a project management agency and request for documents The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has entrusted the Projektträger am Deutschen Elektronensynchrotron DESY (PT-DESY) Hamburg Phone: Fax: Internet: pt@desy.de with implementing the funding measure. PT-DESY will also act as a national information centre to which applicants from German higher education institutions, research and science institutions can turn with any questions concerning this funding measure. The contact person is: Dr. Michael Birke Phone: michael.birke@desy.de Application forms, guidelines, leaflets, information and auxiliary terms and conditions are available online at

5 (under "Formularschrank/BMBF") Submission of formal applications for funding and decision-making procedure It is essential that German and Swedish applicants use the Swedish Research Council's web-based application system VR-Direct The partners in the collaboration draft a joint project description in English which must clearly indicate which project partners are responsible for the individual work packages. The project outline must be submitted to the Swedish Research Council together with the formal application for funding by the Swedish partner(s) in accordance with the VR's valid guidelines by 14 March 2013 (23:59 CET) The applications received will be evaluated by a joint committee of experts consisting of experts nominated by the German and the Swedish funding institutions. The respective funding institution will decide on funding on the basis of this evaluation and following a final review of the application (see below). Swedish law will apply concerning the confidentiality of the information (so-called principle of public access). German applicants who wish to ensure that certain information about their planned research project cannot be released at any time by the Swedish administration may pass this information onto the PT-DESY exclusively. It is recommended that applicants should contact the project management agency in advance. The following additional conditions apply for German applicants: Paper and electronic copies of formal applications for funding are to be sent by post by 30 April 2013 (23:59 CET) at the latest. The project description is not necessary in so far as a clear relationship can be established with the application data stored with the help of the Swedish system (application number). The new electronic application system "easy-online" should be used to draw up the formal application for funding: It is essential to ensure that all the financial details agree with those presented to the Swedish Research Council. More detailed information how to apply can be found on the webpage:

6 6 The project management agency decides on applications from working groups from Germany following due assessment and within the framework of the budget funds provided by the BMBF. The project applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria: Relevance of the research topic for the German-Swedish cooperation (Röntgen-Ångström-Cluster), Scientific quality and originality of the project, Prospects of success and sustainability of the project, Competence of the applicants, qualifications of the collaboration partners, Quality of the planned collaboration and recognizable added value for the German partner institution(s), extent of the Swedish contribution, Prospects for commercializing the envisaged project results, Contribution of the project to the research programme of the large facility or experiment, Inclusion of junior researchers. Questions concerning the approval and payment of and accounting for funds as well as proof and examination of proper use and, if necessary, revocation of the award and reclaiming of the funds awarded are governed by the administrative regulations pertaining to section 44 of the Federal Budget Code (BHO) and sections 48 to 49a of the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG), unless deviation is permitted under the present funding regulations. 8. Entry into force These funding regulations will enter into force on the day of their publication in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger). Bonn, January 10 th 2013 Federal Ministry of Education and Research Dr. Heike Prasse Head of Basic Scientific Research Division