15.05.2008 - 30.06.2008

Announcement

of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Regulations Governing Funding of German-Korean Cooperation in Science and Technology

1. Background and objectives

The "Korean-German Cooperation Committee on Science & Industrial Technology" was established in December 2007 on the basis of the successful work of two cooperation committees headed by research organizations in both countries as well as of the initiative "Germany and Korea: Partners in Research and Development" of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The new committee will have the task of coordinating the two countries' collaboration in research and development (R&D) and will make an important contribution to expanding bilateral cooperation between Germany and Korea. On the German side, it is headed by the BMBF, with the participation of numerous research and intermediary organizations. On the Korean side, responsibility alternates between the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) ¹. At the constituent meeting of the committee, the two partners agreed to establish a bilateral mobility funding programme. This "German-Korean R&D Mobility Support Program" (G-K-Mobility) has the aim of establishing new collaborative projects and expanding existing collaborations. For German applicants, the purpose of these mobility measures is to initiate collaborations that will eventually support themselves or to prepare applied R&D projects under current BMBF funding programmes. The specific innovation areas of the High-Tech Strategy for Germany are particularly important for the German side, provided that the bilateral dimension of the project offers a clear added value for achieving the research objectives. In certain cases, the purpose of the mobility measures can be the potential inclusion of a Korean partner in a proposal under the 7th EU Research Framework Programme or a programme of another provider of external funding. On the Korean side, the key priorities are those specified in the "National R&D Total Roadmap".

2. What is eligible for funding?

In line with the two objectives of initiating new and extending existing collaborations, different funding measures are available depending on the extent of the existing research collaborations:

1. Preparatory fact-finding visits: If contacts are to be newly established or potential cooperation partners in Korea are to be sought with the aim of achieving the above-mentioned goals, funds can be made available to cover travel expenses (each application is limited to a maximum of one return flight in economy class plus a per diem of €107 for stays of up to 5 working days).
2. Preparatory projects: If contacts already exist, the BMBF can provide funds to promote the following measures aimed at initiating or preparing joint projects or deepening existing collaborations in the above-mentioned areas:
   • Expert exchanges
     For periods of work of particularly qualified young German scientists and experts in Korea, grants of €2,350 per month can be awarded for a maximum of 3 months, plus one return flight in economy class.
   • Workshops
     For the organization of bilateral workshops in Germany, grants of a maximum of €6,000 per workshop and applicant can be awarded to cover the costs of transfers within Germany, accommodation and the workshop venue.
     Travel grants can be awarded for participation in bilateral workshops in South Korea (each application is limited to a maximum of 4 flights in economy class plus a per diem of €107 for stays of up to 5 working days).
   • Exploration visits
     Grants can also be awarded for trips that have the purpose of exploring the Korean R&D landscape in a specific field and searching for additional cooperation partners (each application is limited to a maximum of 4 flights in economy class plus a per diem of €107 for stays of up to 15 working days).
3. In a few well-founded exceptions, up to €20,000 in funding can be provided to cover the costs of salaries and consumables needed for the preparation of competitive applications for subject-specific funding programmes of the BMBF or the EU.

The measures listed under b) and c) can be combined in one application.

3. Who is eligible for funding?

Research proposals may be submitted by state-funded and non-state-funded institutions of higher education as well as non-university research institutions that are headquartered in Germany. If existing collaborations indicate the possibility of commercial exploitation, small and medium-sized commercial enterprises headquartered in Germany are also eligible to receive funding.

4. What are the prerequisites for funding?

The prerequisites for funding are the suitability of the proposal to achieve the objectives of this announcement and the expertise of the applicants as shown by their previous work. Applicants should make a special effort to include young scientists in their proposals.

Applications for the funding instruments described under 2.b)-c) must be accompanied by complementary applications by the Korean partners to the Korea Foundation for International Cooperation of Science and Technology (KICOS). To this end, KICOS has published a comparable call for proposals with the same submission deadlines. For example, if an applicant requests funding for a visit to Korea, the Korean partner should submit an application to KICOS for a similar visit to Germany. If an applicant asks for funding to carry out a workshop in Germany, the Korean partner(s) should submit an application to KICOS to cover the travel expenses, etc. Exceptions to this procedure are only possible if there is reasonable cause. The contact in Korea is:

Ms Hye-lee Yun
Korea Foundation for International Cooperation of Science & Technology (KICOS)
2th Floor, Trust Tower, 275-1 Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, 137-739, Korea
Phone: +82-2-6710-7462
Fax: +82-26-6710-7409
E-mail: yuneri@kicos.or.kr
Internet: http://www.kicos.or.kr

Funding is planned to begin on 1 September 2008. All measures for which funding is requested must either be carried out in 2008 or started before the end of the year and completed by the first half of 2009.

After the end of the funding period, the funding recipients must write meaningful reports that provide information on contacts visited, results or planned follow-up activities, depending on the funding measure.

5. Procedure

a) Involvement of the International Bureau at the DLR

The BMBF has commissioned the following agency to implement the funding programme to extend bilateral cooperation with South Korea:
Internationales Büro des BMBF beim
Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
Internet: http://www.internationales-buero.de

b) Forms and deadlines for application

Applicants must submit online applications on the following website:  http://www.ewa.internationales-buero.de/

In addition to the online application, a signed copy of the final application must be sent to the following address no later than  30 June 2008:
Internationales Büro des BMBF beim
Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Dr Andreas Suthhof
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn

The deadline for submission is a cut-off deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. The same deadline applies for the Korean side.
If you have any questions on the online application process, please contact:

Internationales Büro des BMBF beim
Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Nathalie Brew
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
E-mail: nathalie.brew@dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)228 3821 454

c) Selection and decision-making procedure

The submitted applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Expertise of the applicant and the involved partners
• Quality and originality of the idea
• Chances for success of the planned collaboration or the planned project, particularly with regard to the BMBF's funding programmes, the EU's Research Framework Programme and the programmes of other providers of external funds.
• If applicable, the Korean side's evaluation of the application submitted by the Korean partners
• Initiation of new partnerships and inclusion of young scientists
• Benefits of the collaboration for the participating partners and, if applicable, the possibilities for commercialization of the expected results.

Applicants will receive written notification of the results of the competitive selection process. The International Bureau at the DLR will conclude a funding contract under private law with the successful applicants.

d) Content-related information and counselling

Further information will be provided upon request by:
Internationales Büro des BMBF beim
Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Dr Andreas Suthhof
E-mail: andreas.suthhof@dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)228 3821 414

Information on the BMBF's funding topics is available online on http://www.bmbf.de/de/99.php; specific information on calls for proposals can be found on www.bmbf.de/foerderungen/677.php. Information on the innovation areas of the High-Tech Strategy for Germany is available on http://www.bmbf.de/de/6616.php .

---

 ¹As of Feb. 29, 2008, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) have been consolidated into the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) by the New Presidential Administration. Also, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) and the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) have been consolidated into the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE).