06.11.2008 - 27.02.2009

Announcement

Reference: Original version in German language

24th of October 2008

Guidelines and general conditions:

The land surface is people's primary living space, which they have influenced and actively shaped for centuries. The current processes of global change, which include demographic change, climate change and the globalization of economic systems, are an enormous challenge for the management of this finite resource. This applies not only to the area of nutrition but also to energy supply and the provision of living space as well as to the preservation of ecosystems. Our aim must now be to face the above challenges and to adapt the various land use activities and, where necessary, restructure them with a view to making them more sustainable (in economic, ecological and societal terms). Sustainable land management is therefore of key importance in preserving our natural resources and the development prospects of future generations.
Global change increases competition in the use of limited land resources in Germany and in many other parts of the world in the abovementioned areas. The interest in preserving an unspoilt environment, in protecting the climate and ensuring the sustainable management of resources, the necessity of a secure energy and food supply, and the processes of social change reflect the many different aspects of today's complex situation, for which sustainable land management must seek suitable solutions. The term land management therefore means far more than traditional agriculture and forestry. It is a highly complex field of action which affects all areas of human life and includes such aspects as water, soil and biodiversity management, regional value creation, the relationship between urban and rural regions, quality of life, etc.
We need innovative concepts and strategies for land management and the relevant basic knowledge, technologies, instruments and system solutions in order to be able to face the challenges of regional and global change. The present funding measure therefore aims to initiate research which will contribute to sustainable land management in accordance with the objectives of the sustainability strategy and the Federal Government's climate protection goals. The funding measure is based on the "Research for Sustainability" (FONA) framework programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and provides a link with the Ministry's future research areas.
The Federal Government's High-Tech Strategy for Germany and the BMBF's High-Tech Strategy for Climate Protection are the main basis for research under the present call. The challenges which are to be met by future land use offer excellent prospects for research and innovation in Germany. That is why this funding measure aims to strengthen cooperation between science and industry and to bring together the different areas of innovation identified in the High-Tech Strategy (e.g. environmental and water technologies, services).

Interdisciplinary integration and transdisciplinary research

Research on land management consistently aims at integration following different strategic approaches: Previously separate research branches of the natural sciences and technology are combined with the economic and social sciences with the aim of studying the different aspects of global and regional change - environment/climate, business/technology, society/culture - in a broader context. The research area "Land management" thus integrates different but related topics in a cross-disciplinary approach.

The success of the funding measure mainly depends on action-based research and thus on the generation of knowledge which can be used directly by people in the regions. Usability requires a transdisciplinary approach and is ultimately decided at the level of decision-makers and stakeholders involved in the research process.

Region-based research

Global change will alter the natural conditions that have resulted from land use decisions on a regional level. Research on land management must deal with complex issues which differ greatly in some respects. Regions are particularly suited as a common frame of reference for interdisciplinary research activities because they combine different viewpoints. Regions are the main level of integration for the various impacts of global change (e.g. cultivation of cash crops, changing lifestyles and consumption patterns, water scarcity). They are the central level of action for the implementation of land use decisions. Such decisions are taken at the local/regional level; and last but not least, regions are the participation level at which regional players can become involved in a transdisciplinary research approach.
Research activities on specific topics should therefore focus on specific regions, for which model solutions are developed that can be transferred to other regions.

Research at national and international level

As the globalization of business and science increases and science needs to offer solutions to global problems, research policy must also support the international networking, expertise and visibility of German research. The land management funding measure is part of the efforts to implement the Federal Government's strategy for the internationalization of science and research and therefore pursues both national and international objectives.

Land use research should focus on regions which are particularly affected by the phenomena of global change and by specific regional changes (hot spots), which are of special relevance to the central issues addressed in related calls and which can make model contributions to positive and sustainable development. In Germany this includes in particular regions which are strongly affected by demographic change, structural change in the economy, or climate change. From an international perspective, these are, for example, the highly dynamic growth regions on Earth (e.g. Southern Africa, Brazil, China), where the continuation of currently prevailing land use practices is virtually impossible due to considerable environmental stress, and regions with particular relevance in terms of natural features (e.g. drylands and mountains) or specific conditions.

Structure of the funding measure

Different strategic approaches will be followed in tackling relevant research lines and tasks since land management is a very complex topic. The research activities will therefore be broken down into different modules, for which separate calls will be issued in a timephased approach. The modules A and B described in section 2 below are the first in a series of modules which pursue different research approaches or focus on different research priorities under the funding measure.

1. Funding purpose and legal basis

1.1 Funding purpose

The funding measure aims to generate the basic knowledge which is needed for sustainable land management decisions and to provide relevant strategies for action as well as suitable technologies and system solutions.

Within the framework of the "Sustainable land management" funding measure, calls for proposals will be issued in the thematic areas listed below, which the individual modules (cf. section 2) with their different focuses will study from different perspectives.

• Regional impact of global change on land use; socio-economic conditions as drivers of change in land use
• Land management strategies including resources management for coping with the regional impacts of global change
• Interaction and feedbacks between land use systems and ecosystem services
• Urban-rural relations and transregional cooperation
• Interdependencies between land use options; solutions for competing uses and conflicting goals, exploitation of synergy potential
• Contribution of land use changes and land management strategies to greenhouse gas reduction goals
• Innovative technologies and services (socio-technical systems) for sustainable land management including technology assessment
• Innovative governance and participation models for the sustainable development of regions

The research activities should draw on available knowledge and are expected to provide solutions to problems which are of great importance to the future development of land management and to help society make progress towards sustainable development. The solutions offered by the projects must be of a model nature, i.e. they must be transferable to other regions.

1.2 Legal basis

Project grants will be awarded in accordance with the present funding regulations, the BMBF's standard terms and conditions for grants on an expenditure or cost basis and the administrative regulations under section 44 of the Federal Budget Code (BHO). Applicants have no legal claim to funding. The fund provider will decide freely after due assessment of the circumstances within the framework of the budget funds available.

2. Object of funding

As described above, research for sustainable land management must take account of the highly complex interrelations between changing general conditions, societal objectives, and a variety of disciplines and topics. Research funding of individual modules therefore focuses on different aspects and sometimes involves the application of specific funding procedures and selection criteria.

The present call includes the modules "Interaction between land management, climate change and ecosystem services" (module A) and "Innovative system solutions for sustainable land management" (module B).

Module A has a mainly international/European focus and specifies relevant issues for research. It is divided into two priority areas.

Module B has a primarily national focus but can also include the study of regions at international/European level, and it should take account of the international applicability or exportability of the results. Broad thematic priorities are defined for that purpose.

Module A: "Interaction between land management, climate change and ecosystem services"

Global change doubtless affects or will affect land use in most world regions, though in different ways and with different consequences. Climate change has been identified as the main driver of this development, apart from the globalization of the world economy and demographic change with its consumption patterns. But this represents a highly simplified view.

The relationship between land management and climate change is in fact characterized by a complex system of multidimensional interactions and feedback mechanisms which have not yet been fully studied. The aims include not only adaption to climate change but also mitigation and the possible contribution by sustainable management of regions/landscapes. It is not helpful to think in terms of "climate-optimized landscapes" unless efforts are made at the same time to ensure the preservation of major key functions which are vital for sustainable land use. These include ecosystem functions and services, which must be preserved for economic (basis of business) as well as societal (basis of life) reasons. Longterm use of land as a resource for human life does not seem possible without the preservation of such ecosystem functions and services. Furthermore they are essential when it comes to resilience and adaptability to climate change and other phenomena of future global change.

The interaction and interdependencies between the thematic areas of land management, climate change and ecosystem services are therefore the focus of module A. In view of the complexity of the topic and the necessity to consider different expert opinions and involve user groups, the proposed research projects can have a duration of up to five years.

Priority area A1:

"Interaction between land management and climate change"

Background:
Changes in land use have globally reached a significant level and pace. Frequently, climate gas emissions are increasing and entire regions are, partly or entirely, losing their capacity to function as sinks due to changes in land use.

Globally, about 2,150 Pg C are stored in plants and soil. Up to a quarter of this amount could be released in the next century through climate change and land use change, which would in turn again accelerate climate change. At the same time, there is regional and sectoral potential for increasing the carbon content of terrestrial ecosystems, even more effectively than in other areas, e.g. oceans. Climate change not least affects the possibilities for land use in various regions of the Earth to a considerable extent, though with clear regional variation.

The BMBF's High-Tech Strategy for Climate Protection therefore addresses the topic of the interaction between land management and climate as one of the crosscutting priorities in the area "Knowledge - the Basis for Climate Protection". The interaction between the biogeosphere and climate protection seems to offer considerable potential for a contribution to climate protection (mitigation and adaptation). The present initiative should therefore be seen as being complementary to other funding measures with a more technological focus.

Climate change and other phenomena of global change must be expected to affect not only landscapes but also the demands on land use. If land management is to contribute to climate protection, it must always take account of different user interests and other environment policy goals (e.g. resources conservation and biodiversity protection) in an integrated approach. Previous land use concepts have not fully met these complex challenges because basic scientific findings are not available for major interaction processes, new competing uses have not yet been properly identified and their impact assessed, and adequate account cannot be taken of societal or socio-economic drivers and parameters.

Unless new land management strategies are applied, it is to be expected that ecosystem functions will increasingly be restricted and entire ecosystems will eventually disappear. It is a matter of maintaining the ability of regions and people to adapt to global climatic, socio-economic and political changes.

Objective:
Priority area 1 of this funding measure therefore aims to contribute to an improved understanding of the interaction between land management and climate protection and at the same time to develop specific options for action by means of modelling and a holistic evaluation of different, largely sustainable forms of land use. A regional approach should be pursued in developing these options (see Guidelines and general conditions), and their robustness, effectiveness and applicability should be studied by way of example.

Funding will be provided for research networks / collaborative projects which focus on the topics listed below, addressing them by way of example in particularly suited regions with a view to answering relevant questions. Research should mainly focus on regions which are relevant for climate protection from a global perspective and/or where land use is particularly affected by climate change, either directly or indirectly. The proposed concepts must consider all of the topics listed below, but they are free to set thematic priorities.

1. Contribution of land use changes and innovative land management strategies to greenhouse gas reduction goals
2. Adaptation of land management to climate change
3. Possibility of influencing greenhouse gas emissions by means of specific cultivation systems and management options
4. Trade-offs between carbon-optimized land management and other societal demands such as food production and the preservation of biodiversity and other ecosystem functions and of the water and nutrient balance
5. General socio-economic conditions and consequences of the integration of climate protection goals in land use decisions.

Research on the above topics should provide answers to four central questions:

1. Can the carbon and greenhouse gas pools in soils and plants be preserved or even increased by adapting land management practices? How, to what extent and in which timespans can this be done in particularly relevant regions?
2. What impact does climate change itself have on this mitigation potential?
3. To what extent does potential GHG optimization of land management compete with other societal demands on land use?
4. What general conditions must be fulfilled to ensure that the proposed solutions can be effectively realized (capacities, basic requirements), and what tools are needed for evaluation and implementation?

Priority area A2:

"Interaction between land management and ecosystem functions/services"

Background:
Not only public welfare but also many branches of the economy largely depend on ecosystem functions and services (ESF/ESS) which nature offers. Most of them are what we call public goods without markets and prices, which is why they are not taken into account in land use decisions determined by economic considerations. The Millenium Ecosystem Assessment has shown that many of these ecosystem services are decreasing worldwide, mainly as a result of non-sustainable forms of land use. This is not least due to the fact that many mechanisms involved in the interference of land use with ESF and ESS are still unknown or cannot yet be quantified with sufficient precision. This is of particular importance at the level of regions and landscapes and refers to both the direct and the indirect impacts which are due, for example, to the interference with special components of biodiversity. Previous studies largely focused on the interaction between certain land use or cultivation systems and specific ESF/ESS and not on cumulative effects and trade-offs on a larger geographical scale (e.g. at landscape level). Not only the spatial but also the temporal dimension of the provision of ecosystem services should be studied closely. Research is needed in particular to develop robust methods for functional and quantitative studies dealing with the dependence of ecosystem functions and services on different land management concepts, the quantification of ecosystem services and material and energy flows, and the resilience of ecosystems. International research activities (e.g. ESSP) and results such as The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) study as well as existing models for enhancing ESF/ESS must be taken into account.

Objective:
Funding of research in priority area 2 is aimed at improving the understanding of systems, thus enabling the analysis and evaluation of the interaction of ESF/ESS at regional level. Another special goal is to enhance the understanding of the interaction between land management and ESF/ESS and to develop suitable methods and tools which enable this interaction to be taken into account in the socio-economic context of land management decisions. An assessment of the impact of land use changes on ESF/ESS in other regions requires consideration not only of regional effects but also of substitution and secondary effects at the transregional and global level.
Funding will be provided for research networks / collaborative projects which focus on the topics listed below, addressing them by way of example in particularly suited regions with a view to answering relevant questions.

The proposed concepts must consider all of the topics listed below, but they are free to set thematic priorities.

1. Development of robust methods for the qualitative and quantitative analysis and evaluation of ecosystem functions and services and for determining the resilience of the given ecosystems
2. Functional and quantitative studies dealing with the dependence of ecosystem functions and services on biodiversity, climate change and land management
3. Analysis of cumulative effects in terms of space and time and recording of transregional secondary and substitution effects
4. Trade-offs and synergies between land management that takes special account of ESF/ESS and other goals of land use (e.g. food production, climate and biodiversity protection, etc.)
5. Development of socio-economic tools for consideration of ESF/ESS in land management.

Research on the above topics should provide answers to five central questions:

1. How can data about ESF/ESS be collected at regional level and how can their different features be analysed?
2. What interactions and feedback can be found between different ecosystem services and with major land use systems?
3. What trade-offs and synergies can be found for ESF/ESS between different space and time scales?
4. Which monetary and non-monetary assessment methods are suited for the quantification of ESF/ESS so that their use in market mechanisms is possible?
5. What socio-economic conditions must be fulfilled and/or what mechanisms/tools must be available to enable ESF/ESS to be considered in land use decisions?

Module B: "Innovative system solutions for sustainable land management"

Background
The big challenges that have to be met in land use at national and international level are not only due to the impact of climate change. Structural changes, particularly economic and demographic changes, which call for rethinking and sustainable action at regional and local level, are equally important. Both rural and urban regions are affected by these changes, though to a varying extent. The adaptation, reorientation and active shaping of regional development hold out good prospects. Future activities must increasingly aim to study the complex interactions between rural and urban regions within the framework of an integrated urbanrural development (see for example the Territorial Agenda of the European Union, the OECD Territorial Reviews, the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities). The relations between urban and rural areas involves diverse interactions which can be studied from different angles. Within the framework of Module B, special importance is attached to regional value creation networks (economic relations in the context of social and regional interdependencies in the field of housing, work and leisure, mobility and transport services) as well as to regional energy and material flows.

Regional value creation networks are the basis of integrated urbanrural development. Global changes, including mainly the developments on the globalized agricultural and raw materials markets, but also phenomena like rural migration into cities/urbanization, the globally increasing consumption of meat, and regional impacts of climate change require the flexible and forward-looking adaptation of land use systems to constantly changing conditions. In general, however, it is extremely difficult for people and decision-makers at local and regional level to consider the complex interactions between global and regional changes when taking land use decisions; the same applies to urban-rural relations. Land use decisions are often based on shortterm, mostly economic considerations, which may lead to onesided concentration on the cultivation of only a few cash crops. Overriding needs for sustainability (in economic, ecological and societal terms) which affect the entire value creation network are left aside in most cases. The sustainability deficit is further increased by rising world market prices for raw materials and by the competition between food production and bioenergy generation.

Energy and material flows (e.g. heat and energy sources, water, carbon/biomass, nutrients, geogenic and anthropogenic substances) are another central aspect of urban-rural interaction and the preservation of natural resources and ecosystem functions. Today's material flows are the result of natural processes which have been modified by human intervention and activities. Various technologies and systems have been established to meet the most varied user requirements and societal objectives. Changes in economic, societal or climatic conditions now require the sustainable adaptation of systems which are crucial for the control of anthropogenic energy and material flows.

Objectives
Funding of research in Module B is aimed at contributing to sustainable land management by generating innovative system solutions for regional value creation networks and by promoting the integrated management of energy and material flows.

A special focus of research should be on enhancing the understanding of systems and their mechanisms, on improving individual elements or the interaction between them, and on contributing to the technological and/or organizational innovation of systems in a holistic approach. Innovative system solutions will therefore mainly be developed in order to link new technologies and/or technologies that are to be adapted (e.g. environmental technologies, infrastructure systems) with new service concepts (e.g. operator, financing and business models, consulting and logistics) and with other nontechnical activities (e.g. management or administrative structures, information and communication, laws and regulations, governance and participation) which must be combined for the implementation of a sustainable land management scheme. Research approaches are encouraged which ensure that the stakeholders and users of system solutions are involved in transdisciplinary activities.

Understanding interactions and exploiting synergy potential between existing systems and between sectors, disciplines or branches is another important goal of research funding. For example, there will be potential for synergy when energy suppliers, regional planners, water economists and others join forces to develop new solutions for infrastructures or for the distribution and control of material flows. Funding will not be provided for specific sectoral solutions or for the mere development of existing systems without a clear contribution to sustainable land management.

A variety of interests are involved in the use of natural resources like land, water or biomass. Research approaches which deal with innovative system solutions for the topics listed below will frequently have to face the challenge of competing user interests. Research projects that address a broad range of user interests are therefore expressly encouraged.

Priorities
The proposed research and development activities should focus on the topics listed below. These topics reflect different approaches in the context of regional value creation networks and/or the integrated management of energy and material flows. With a view to promoting integration and the exploitation of synergy potential, the projects should preferably address several of the topics listed.

• Innovative value creation networks to promote sustainable regional economic development
• Technologies/methods (e.g. applied remote sensing) and forecasting tools (simulation models, trend analyses, etc.) for the reliable assessment of the need for innovation and the adaptation requirements with regard to land use systems
• Services to promote sustainable land use systems (e.g. in the information, consulting, finance sector)
• Information and knowledge management in value creation networks, promotion of cooperation and communication between players
• Concepts for decentralized supply including renewable energy sources
• Resourceefficient and low-emission settlement development with due consideration of sustainable land resources management
• Efficient and sustainable use of resources for production and energy generation
• Integrated use of land and water resources with due consideration of regional supply and disposal services (food, residues, energy sources, nutrients, water, waste water)
• Adaptation of land use and infrastructures and of related services for the sustainable mitigation of extreme events (drought, heat, flooding, storm)
• Adaptation of technical infrastructure systems (centralized and/or decentralized) with due consideration of overlapping uses (e.g. transport and storage) and multiple uses (e.g. energy, water/waste water, communication).

This call for proposals is expected to contribute to sustainable approaches in land use. The question whether system changes and innovations can actually be considered to be sustainable requires comprehensive analysis as a rule. The development of system solutions within the framework of the above topics should therefore preferably be linked with more farreaching R&D activities. These can, for example, include the analysis and evaluation of the status quo and of general conditions (social, legal, institutional, economic and ecological), trend analyses and scenario development, and issues regarding the communication, acceptance and feasibility of new system solutions. The activities should be designed in such a way that most regional players are involved and conclusions can be drawn for implementation in regional development.

Requirements and structure of project proposals
R&D activities should be oriented to action and implementation (and should not primarily focus on knowledge generation). They should focus on model regions which have to face special challenges due to major regional, economic and/or climatic changes. The selected regions should be separate economic areas, administrative units or natural environments. Their specific features must be outlined in the project description of the proposal. Attention may initially focus on the local level, for example when land use decisions are taken by local authorities. The results must then be considered in a regional context. The innovative system solutions which are to be developed should be designed to contribute to the adaptation and sustainable development of regions. Their model character and transferability to other regions (cf. Guidelines and general conditions) is of special importance, and they are expected to meet the criteria of future flexibility and adaptability.

The model regions should mainly be located in Germany. International model regions are only eligible if there are good chances for local application of the system solution developed with potential for dissemination and/or good prospects for the export of technologies and/or services from Germany.

R&D activities can be funded within the framework of a single or several collaborative projects and/or individual projects, depending on the complexity of the chosen approach. It is expected that research structures will be chosen which match the complexity of the problem and that relevant disciplines and players in the regions are involved.

Scientific coordination projects for module A and module B
Each of the two modules of the funding measure should be supported by a separate scientific coordination project which addresses organizational and subject-specific issues. Preparing a synthesis of the results yielded by the regionally oriented projects and providing for their coordination across different topics is the main goal of these projects. The two coordination projects should be designed for cross-module cooperation. Implementation must be closely coordinated with the BMBF and/or the respective project management organization and will include the following specific activities in particular:

• Overarching analysis and synthesis of the findings of the various regional research collaborations
• Processing the project results for different target groups (scientific community, general public, land use community, political community and decision-makers)
• Ensuring subject-related coordination within the BMBF funding measure and with relevant activities of the Helmholtz Association, the German Research Association (DFG) and other funding organizations and with the Länder
• Preparation and organization of working meetings, discussion forums and status seminars
• Preparation and provision of information material regarding the funding priority (PR material, homepage, etc.) and networking with other national and international research activities
• Supporting the BMBF in its coordination activities within the framework of European ERA-Net projects in the area of land use research
• Development of a common framework for basic global models and scenarios in cooperation with the regionally oriented collaborative projects, and constant revision during the period of the funding priority (only module A).

3. Recipients of funding

Research proposals may be submitted by local authorities and the Länder, by universities, non-university research establishments and business enterprises, particularly SMEs (for the EU's definition of SMEs see BMBF form 0119/10.07, Part C: http://www.kp.dlr.de/profi/easy/bmbf/pdf/0119.pdf). Research establishments which receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can be granted project funding for additional expenditure only under certain preconditions.

The BMBF aims to increase the share of universities of applied sciences in research funding. The universities of applied sciences are therefore specially invited to participate in the collaborative projects.

4. Prerequisites for funding

In their own interest, applicants should familiarize themselves with the EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme in the context of the envisaged project. They should check whether the planned project includes specific European components which make it eligible for exclusive or complementary EU funding. The result of this examination should be described briefly in the proposal.

Preference is given to collaborative projects. Applicants must prove that they have reached basic agreement on specific criteria stipulated by the BMBF before a funding decision is taken. Details are contained in BMBF form 0110 (http://www.kp.dlr.de/profi/easy/formular.html). Cooperation between the partners in a collaborative project must be laid down in a cooperation agreement at the start of the project.

In module B, it is desirable that commercial companies, particularly small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), should be involved wherever this is necessary for subjectrelated reasons.

5. Type, scope and rates of funding

Funding may be awarded in the form of non-repayable project grants.

The basis for calculating the grants for universities, research and science institutions and similar establishments is the eligible project-related expenditure (in the case of the Helmholtz centres and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG) the eligible projectrelated costs), which can be funded up to a maximum of 100% in individual cases.
The basis for calculating grants for commercial companies is the eligible projectrelated costs, up to 50% of which can as a rule be covered by government grants, depending on the project's closeness to application. The BMBF's policy requires an appropriate own contribution towards the eligible costs incurred, as a rule of at least 50%.
The European Commission's Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development must be taken into account when fixing the rates of funding. The Community Framework allows differentiated bonus arrangements for applicants from small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), which may result in a higher rate of funding.

6. Other terms and conditions for awarding funds

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.

The Allgemeine Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen zur Projektförderung (General Auxiliary Conditions for Grants for the Promotion of Projects - ANBest-P) and the Besondere Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen des BMBF zur Projektförderung auf Ausgabenbasis (Special Auxiliary Terms and Conditions for Funds Provided by the BMBF for the Promotion of Projects on an Expenditure Basis - BNBest-BMBF 98) will be part of the notification of award for grants on an expenditure basis.
The Allgemeine Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen zur Projektförderung an Gebietskörperschaften und Zusammenschlüsse von Gebietskörperschaften (General Auxiliary Conditions for Project Grants awarded to Territorial Authorities and Associations of Territorial Authorities - ANBest-GK) will be part of the notification of award for funds granted to territorial authorities.

7. Procedure

7.1 Involvement of a project management organization and request for documents

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has entrusted the following project management organizations with implementing the funding measure:

For module A "Interaction between land management, climate change and ecosystem services" and for its scientific coordination project:

Projektträger im Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Organisationseinheit Umwelt, Kultur, Nachhaltigkeit
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn

Contact: Dr. Lothar Quintern
Tel.: +49(0)228 3821-520; e-mail: lothar.quintern@dlr.de

For module B "Innovative system solutions for sustainable land management" and for its scientific coordination project

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Projektträger Jülich - PtJ
Geschäftsbereich Umwelt
Außenstelle Berlin
Zimmerstr. 26/27
10969 Berlin

Contact: Dr. Reiner Enders
Tel.: +49(0)30 20199-424; e-mail: r.enders@fz-juelich.de

Forms for application as well as guidelines, information for applicants and the auxiliary terms and conditions for the award of grants are available at http://www.kp.dlr.de/profi/easy/bmbf/index.htm or can be obtained directly from the project management organization.

Applicants are strongly recommended to use the electronic application system "easy" for drafting project outlines and formal proposals:

Outlines: http://www.kp.dlr.de/profi/easy/skizze/index.html

Proposals: http://www.kp.dlr.de/profi/easy/download.html

Applicants are advised to contact the relevant project management organization before submitting their documents. The organization will provide further information.
The two project management organizations PT-DLR and PtJ will organize an information event in early December regarding both modules A and B. Detailed information will shortly be provided on the websites of the two organizations at http://pt-uf.pt-dlr.de/de/113.php and http://www.fz-juelich.de/ptj/landmanagement 

Funding is provided in a two-step procedure.

7.2.1 Submission and selection of project outlines

In a first step, project outlines in printed and electronic form must be submitted by post to the relevant project management organizations (see above) by 27 February 2009 at the latest. For collaborative projects, a joint project outline must be submitted by the designated collaboration coordinator.

The submission date is not a cut-off deadline. However, it may prove impossible to consider project outlines received after this date.

The "easy" project outlines should include a project description (one for each collaboration or individual project), which should not exceed ten pages and will be structured as follows:

• Topic
• Summary of the project (one page maximum) 
• Objective of the project
• Specific contribution of the project to the funding goals of the call
• State of the art, applicants' own work to date, economic importance if appropriate
• Scientific concept / work programme and methods
• Structure of the project, project management/coordination, type and intensity of cooperation of the partners involved
• Prospects of sustainable continued operation of the established structures after the end of funding
• Participating partners from practice, science and industry as well as from third countries
• Finance structure (differentiation of subprojects for collaborations)

For each subproject of a collaboration, a description of a maximum two pages must be added, which is structured as follows:

• Topic of subproject
• Applicant / project leader
• Objective of the subproject
• Utilization plan

Please note: Project descriptions for module A must be submitted in English and German, and the title page of the application must indicate whether the proposal contributes to module A1 or A2.

Several collaborative or individual projects can be combined for conducting relevant R&D activities if so required. In this case, a joint project outline should be submitted following the procedure for collaborative projects. A single coordinator for all the projects involved must be named in this case. The planned research structures must be outlined in the joint project description.

Selection criteria:

The following selection criteria will be applied in evaluating the outlines:

• Contribution of the project to achieving the objectives of the call
• Scientific quality, novelty and originality of the research approach (innovation)
• Excellence of the applicants (profile and performance of the partners involved)
• Cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approach (interdisciplinary dimension)
• Quality of participation by decision-makers, users, stakeholders and others (transdisciplinary dimension)
• Orientation to application and transferability of the R&D approach
• Effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed organization and management of the collaboration / adequateness of research collaboration structures and financial planning.

Additional criteria for module A:

• Coverage of the specific issues listed in section 2 above
• Relevance and suitability of the selected region as a scientific focus (rationale)
• Viability of international cooperation with researchers and decision-makers in the regions to be studied.

Additional criteria for module B:

• Relevance for problem-solving (e.g. anticipated effect, feasibility, sustainability, transferability, model character) particularly for regions which are subject to considerable pressure for adaptation due to change processes (demographic change, economic change, climate change)
• Systemic approach, flexibility and adaptability of the proposed solution
• Contribution of the system solution to an integrated urban-rural development
• Combination of technical (processes, instruments and technologies) and non-technical (service concepts, organizational measures, etc.) system elements and sufficient consideration of relevant combinations of players
• Activities for the dissemination and application of research results (e.g. initiatives, services, products, technologies) during the project period / prospects for use and further implementation after the end of funding
• Opportunities for the international application and the export of technologies and services from Germany

For the scientific coordination projects:

• Quality of the concept for scientific support and/or coordination of the funding measure
• Profile, scientific/technical excellence and previous experience of the applicants (incl. profile and performance of the partners involved)
• Effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed organization and management of the project.

Applicants must submit five copies of the project outline, unbound for photocopying (A4 pages, 1.5-spaced, Arial 11, margin 3 cm minimum) and preferably also a pdf file on CD. The electronic application system "easy" should be used as described under 7.1 above. Applications must be self-explanatory and allow evaluation without further information or inquiry. The applications must not include any annexes.

A legal claim to funding cannot be derived from the submission of a project outline.

The assessable project outlines received will be evaluated in accordance with the abovelisted module-specific selection criteria in cooperation with external experts. Suitable project ideas will then be selected for funding on the basis of this evaluation, and the applicants will be invited to submit a formal proposal. In individual cases, the BMBF reserves the right to first invite applicants to submit a proposal for a further concept phase. Applicants will be informed in writing of the result of the selection procedure.

7.2.2 Submission of formal proposals and decision-making procedure

In a second step, the applicants whose project outlines for the modules have been evaluated positively will be invited, in coordination with the designated coordinator of the collaboration, to submit a formal proposal, on which a decision will be taken after final evaluation.

Approval and payment of and accounting for the 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 allowed 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, 24th of October 2008
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Dr. Gisela Helbig v             Achim Zickler
Global Change                   Division Division for Sustainability in  Production and Services