03.03.2010 - 31.05.2010

Call for proposals

by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the Federal Government's Strategy for the Internationalization of Science and Research of Regulations Governing the Funding of Scientific and Technological Cooperation (STC) with China

1 Funding purpose and legal basis

1.1. Funding purpose

On the basis of the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation (STC) that was concluded on 9 October 1978 between the Federal Republic of Germany and the People's Republic of China, bilateral cooperation in science and technology between the two countries has seen very positive developments. The German-Chinese Year of Science and Education 2009/2010 has triggered further developments in the cooperation between German researchers and their Chinese partners.

The aim of this funding measure is to further intensify scientific and technological cooperation and, in particular, to attract outstanding young scientists from China to Germany on a long-term basis and to encourage young German scientists to go to China on research visits, especially long-term visits. With the help of mobility support, existing collaborations are to be extended and new project collaborations initiated. The aim is to prepare the ground for intensive and long-term collaborations between German and Chinese partners. The funding should be used to prepare larger projects and particularly to put together extensive project proposals to be submitted to funding organizations such as the BMBF, the DFG or the EU. In the joint projects, special emphasis is put on the scientific excellence of the Chinese and German partners. The participation of companies is welcomed, particularly that of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.

Funding can be provided to finance preparatory measures for scientific collaborations between outstanding German and Chinese research institutions, universities and SMEs in all areas of basic and applied research in the natural sciences, engineering, humanities, cultural sciences and social sciences.

1.2 Legal basis

Project grants will be awarded on the basis of private-law funding contracts in accordance with the present announcement, 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 Code (BHO). There is no legal entitlement to funding. The funding provider will make a decision after due assessment of the circumstances and within the framework of the budget funds available.

2 Object of funding

With a view to intensifying existing and initiating new collaborations as part of STC activities, funding will be provided for preparatory projects with a duration of at least one year and up to three years. The standard duration of preparatory projects will be two years.

A simplified procedure is available for smaller preparatory projects with a small funding volume that are only expected to run for short periods of time (fact-finding visits). Applications under this simplified procedure can be submitted at any time, regardless of the deadline of this call.

3 Recipients of funding

Research proposals may be submitted by German research institutions, universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).*

Research establishments which receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can be granted project funding for additional expenditure on top of their basic funding under certain conditions only.

4 Prerequisites for funding / type, scope and rates of funding

Funding will be provided in the form of non-repayable project grants.
All proposed measures must start in the year 2011. It is expected that funding will be able to start in January 2011. Complementary funding must be provided by the Chinese side. Alternatively, the Chinese partners themselves must make a substantial financial contribution. In principle, the German side will cover the travel expenses of German participants travelling to China and the subsistence expenses of Chinese guests in Germany, while the Chinese side will cover the travel expenses of Chinese participants travelling to Germany and the subsistence expenses of German scientists in China. In the application procedure, the applicants must provide information about the source of the financial contribution of the Chinese partner. The application must also include a written document from the Chinese partner (letter or fax) confirming that the German partner or partners are invited to China as part of the joint project and that the accommodation costs and other expenses (e.g. workshop, laboratory work, field surveys) will be borne by the Chinese partner.

In the case of projects in which special procedures or technologies that are close to practical application will be used or developed, the strategy for the use and protection of intellectual property should be clearly described in the proposal.

a) Exchanges of experts and highly qualified young scientists

Funding will be provided proportionally by the two countries.

Flight costs to the project partner's location will be covered by the sending country; per diem allowances will be provided by the host country.

German project scientists travelling abroad will receive

• Flight tickets: Economy class flights from the departure airport to the airport that is closest to the partner's location, financed by the International Bureau of the BMBF
• The project partner (or the funding organization in China) is responsible for providing per diem allowances in China.

Foreign project scientists travelling to Germany will receive

• Flight tickets: Economy class flights from the departure airport to the location of the partner will be financed by the Chinese project partner (or the funding organization in China)
• Per diem allowance: Fixed grants of €104 per day or €2,300 per month will be provided for stays of up to 3 months in Germany. Contributions to health insurance and, if applicable, other types of insurance are included in this allowance and must be paid by the grant recipients themselves.
• In well-justified exceptions, if the German side can provide evidence of special scientific interest, funding can be provided for longer stays (up to 6 months).
• As a rule, all visits from young Chinese scientists to Germany must be matched by corresponding visits from young German scientists to China. The latter's subsistence must be borne by the Chinese side.

b) Equipment

Funding for equipment can only be provided to a limited extent and in justified exceptions.

c) Workshops

Workshops with existing partners and workshops aimed at unlocking new cooperation potential can receive the following support:

For the organization of bilateral workshops in Germany, grants towards expenses such as entertainment of the Chinese guests, rental of the venue including presentation technology, preparation and follow-up of the workshop, and field excursions (transportation, entrance fees) can be provided. The exact amount of the grant depends on the size of the workshop and the number of foreign guests. The subsistence costs for Chinese visitors (see section a) will be covered in the form of per diem allowances.

Grants for student or graduate assistants required for the preparation and/or follow-up of a large-scale activity (e.g. a large workshop) to be carried out as part of a preparatory project can be provided for a duration of up to 3 months in well-justified special cases.

Workshops and other activities in China must generally be organized and financed by the Chinese partner.

d) The following expenses will generally not be covered, either in whole or in part:

• Personnel costs (exception: see section c)

In addition, no funding can be provided for normal basic equipment such as:

• Expenses for office supplies, communication, etc.
• Laboratory and IT equipment, other equipment

Grants towards the following expenses can only be provided in very well justified exceptions only:

• Translation of documents
• Interpreting at workshops taking place in Germany

5 Procedure

5.1 Involvement of the International Bureau

The BMBF has entrusted the International Bureau with the implementation of the funding activity:

Internationales Büro des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (IB)
im Projektträger
beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
Internet: http://www.internationales-buero.de

For subject-related information, please contact:
Dr. Frank Stiller
E-mail: frank.stiller@dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)2 28-38 21-408

For administrative information, please contact:
Ms. Petra Bauer
E-mail: petra.bauer@dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)2 28-38 21-404

5.2 Presentation of formal applications for funding and decision-making procedure

By 31 May 2010 at the latest.

Generally speaking, the deadline for submission is a cut-off deadline. Applications received after this date will usually not be considered.

The funding procedure consists of a single step. To draft formal applications, applicants must use the IB's electronic application system "ewa", which can be accessed via the following website: http://www.ewa.internationales-buero.de/?project_cat=WTZ4.

In addition to the electronic application, applicants should send one copy of the final proposal (finalized using the electronic application system), signed by both the German and the Chinese partners, together with any required additional documents (e.g. confirmation of the financial contribution of the Chinese partner, see above) by post to the following address by 31 May 2010 (making sure that it actually arrives at the International Bureau by this date):

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Internationales Büro des BMBF
Dr. Frank Stiller
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn

If you have technical questions about the online application process, please contact:
Martina Lauterbach
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Internationales Büro des BMBF
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
E-mail: martina.lauterbach@dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)2 28-38 21-734

The evaluation of the submitted project proposals will include external experts and will be based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the thematic priorities specified in section 1 and conformance with the specified formal requirements
• Qualifications of the applicant and the involved partners
• Quality and originality of the project
• Initiation of new partnerships
• Quality of the cooperation and aadded value for the partner institutions
• Support of young scientists
• Scientific benefits and prospects for the commercialization of the expected results

A funding decision will be taken after a final evaluation. Applicants can expect to receive written notification of the results of the competitive selection process in November 2010.
On behalf of the BMBF, the IB will conclude private-law grant agreements with the successful applicants.

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).

6 Procedure in the partner country

This call has not been coordinated with any Chinese funding institution. The Chinese partners are free to apply for project funding from any funding institution in China.

7 Entry into force

These funding regulations will enter into force on the day of their publication in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger).
Bonn, 10. February 2010
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
                         
Dr Christian Stienen

---

* According to the EU's definition of SMEs: The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises consists of enterprises which employ fewer than 250 people and which have either an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million, or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding €43 million. Within this category, the following definitions apply: Small enterprises are defined as enterprises which employ fewer than 50 persons and whose annual turnover or annual balance sheet total does not exceed €10 million. Micro enterprises are defined as enterprises which employ fewer than 10 persons and whose annual turnover or annual balance sheet total does not exceed €2 million. In general, most SMEs are autonomous since they are either completely independent or have one or more minority partnerships (each less than 25%) with other enterprises (see 2.3.1, p. 16). If that holding rises to no more than 50%, the relationship is deemed to be between partner enterprises (see 2.3.2, p. 20). Above that ceiling, the enterprises are linked (see 2.3.3, p. 23).
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/sme_definition/sme_user_guide.pdf