04.04.2007 - 31.05.2007

Announcement

by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of funding regulations for the area of "Detection systems for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive hazardous substances (CBRNE hazards)" within the framework of the Federal Government's Security Research Programme

of 26 March 2007

With this call, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) intends to promote innovative security solutions for the detection of hazardous substances under the Federal Government's "Research for Civil Security" programme. Funding will focus on the early recognition of chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological and explosive hazardous substances using, for example, new sensor concepts or new screening technologies. This will enable the improvement of early warning processes as well as of crisis management strategies. Major criteria for funding are the innovativeness, the practicability and marketability of the envisaged solution, the consideration of societal goals and impact as well as the importance of the contribution to increasing civil security.

1. Funding purpose and legal basis

1.1 Funding purpose

The Federal Government adopted the "Research for Civil Security" programme on 24 January 2007 (http://www.sicherheitsforschungsprogramm.de). This programme focuses on improving the protection of citizens against societal threats caused, for example, by terrorism, organized crime, natural disasters and major technical accidents. Security-critical situations and new threats require highly developed technologies and new security systems as well as relevant strategies for action.

The Security Research Programme forms part of the High-tech Strategy for Germany. It is the first programme to consider research for civil security in a broad context and makes available new resources for extensive research and innovation activities. Funding is expected to lead to solutions generated by research as contributions to civil security which will open up the international market for German security products and processes. The Security Research Programme addresses both companies which develop innovative security solutions and operators of security-relevant infrastructures in areas such as transport, water, energy and others, as well as research institutions and authorities which cooperate with companies and users.

Funding within the framework of the Security Research Programme is provided under two programme lines:

Programme line 1 "Scenario-based security research" - which does not form part of this call for proposals - follows a cross-cutting approach which includes all relevant aspects of a possibly very complex basic security problem (e. g. the protection of traffic and supply infrastructures).

Programme line 2 "Technology collaborations" focuses on the study and use of new security technologies for clearly defined areas of application. The natural and engineering sciences are expected to cooperate with the humanities and social sciences in developing practicable security solutions in both lines of funding.

The call for proposals for "Detection systems for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive hazardous substances (CBRNE hazards)" within the framework of programme line 2 refers to projects with market potential which aim to achieve completely new or considerably improved solutions. CBRNE detection systems exploit basic technological knowledge which is important for security research and develop innovative technological systems using existing and new basic technologies. They are close to application and cover the entire innovation chain from research to industry and end users. End users within the meaning of the Security Research Programme are the operators of critical infrastructures (e. g. airports, public transport and long-distance traffic), public authorities (with their facilities) as well as security and rescue staff (police, fire brigade, disaster relief among others).

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 a grant. The grant-awarding agency will decide freely after due assessment of the circumstances within the framework of the budget funds available. This announcement is subject to the proviso that the programme is approved by the European Commission.

2. Object of funding

Funding under programme line 2 in the area of "Detection systems for hazardous CBRNE substances" will preferably be provided for multimodal and multifunctional detector platforms, new mobile sensor concepts and new sensor and data fusion concepts and procedures which can ensure effective prevention and early recognition, lastingly improve security on the site of deployment and accelerate security controls. Major criteria for the development and integration of multi-sensor components for both close-range and remote detection of hazardous CBRNE substances include not only high sensitivity, resolution and selectivity but also and in particular their manageability, autonomy, degree of automation and robustness as well as resistance to false alarms and real-time applicability. Funding will preferably focus on multi-sensor system solutions for parallel detection of different CBRNE substances based on a combination of new and tried and tested CBRNE sensors or the adaptation of existing detector technologies for specific applications.

It is expected that new security-relevant solutions for parallel detection of different CBRNE substances will be developed which take into account the current state of research, in particular with regard to the following sub-topics: 

• wireless or distributed sensor networks for parallel detection of hazardous substances;
• inexpensive portable sensor systems with low energy consumption as well as lab-on-a-chip systems;
• real-time sensor communication for mass data applications, data transfer and data fusion with decision-making function;
• systems for quick automatic remote detection;
• marker systems, identification and detection methods for new classes of explosives, toxins or pathogens;
• hyperspectral sensors and multispectral imaging sensors.

Special attention is given to the involvement of end users in the projects. Topics in the field of the humanities and social sciences can also make an important contribution and should be integrated into the projects if possible. The aim is to analyse potential risks and threats before developing relevant technologies and to study possible applications of these technologies. Actual threats must be distinguished from supposed threats, and recommendations should be formulated for suitable defense measures. This is expected to reveal existing security deficits and to indicate possible solutions which take special account of economic aspects. Furthermore consideration is to be given to aspects related to the standardization of new detection systems.

For scenario-oriented project proposals please refer to the call for proposals for the "Protection of traffic infrastructures", which is published simultaneously.

3. Recipients of funding

Research proposals may be submitted by commercial companies (headquartered and mainly exploiting their results in Germany), universities, research and science institutions as well as similar institutions and public authorities. Preferably, however, universities and research and science institutions should be involved via R&D subcontracts awarded by commercial companies within the framework of a collaborative project. Research institutions which receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can only be granted projects funds to cover additional expenditure under certain conditions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expressly invited to participate; their involvement will be taken into account in the evaluation of the proposed projects.

The BMBF aims to increase the share of universities of applied sciences in research funding. The universities of applied sciences are therefore particularly invited to participate in the collaborative projects - preferably via R&D subcontracts awarded by commercial companies (see also para 7.3 below).

4. Prerequisites for funding

Cooperation between the partners in a collaborative project must be laid down in a cooperation agreement. The cooperation partners must prove that they have reached basic agreement on specific criteria stipulated by the BMBF before a funding decision is taken.

For further details please refer to the BMBF form 0110, which can be found http://www.kp.dlr.de/profi/easy/bmbf/pdf/0110.pdf.
The coordinator of the collaborative project must as a rule be named by an industrial partner or an end user.

Cooperation with European partners is desirable.
Applicants should, in their own interest, familiarize themselves with the EU's Research Framework Programme and examine whether the envisaged project includes specific European components so that exclusive or additional EU funding would be possible (e.g. http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/cooperation/security_en.html). The result of such an examination should be briefly described in the application for national funding.
Individual humanities and social science projects can also be funded within the framework of societal research conducted in the thematic area addressed.

5. Type, scope and rates of funding

Funds can be awarded as non-repayable grants.

The basis for calculating the grants for commercial companies are the project-related costs eligible for funding, up to 50% of which can as a rule be covered by government grants, depending on the project's relevance to application. The BMBF policy requires an adequate self-contribution - at least 50% of the eligible costs incurred.

The basis for calculating the grants for universities, research and science institutions and similar establishments is the project-related expenditure eligible for funding (grants for Helmholtz centres and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG) will be calculated on the basis of the project-related costs eligible for funding); up to 100% of this expenditure/these costs can be funded in individual cases.
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 rules on extra percentage points for SMEs, which may result in a higher rate of funding. The EU's definition of SMEs is applied (http://www.kp.dlr.de/profi/easy/bmbf/pdf/0119.pdf).

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) 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) 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) will be part of the notification of award for grants on an expenditure basis.

7. Procedure

7.1 Involvement of a project management organization

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has entrusted the following project management organization with implementing the call for proposals:

VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH
Projektträger Sicherheitsforschung
Graf-Recke-Straße 84
40239 Düsseldorf

Contact:
Dr. Joachim Fröhlingsdorf
Tel.: 0211/6214-508
Fax: 0211/6214-484
E-Mail: froehlingsdorf_j@vdi.de

When drafting their project outlines, applicants are requested to use the form which can be found at http://www.vditz.de/sicherheitsforschung/bekanntmachungen, a website of the project management organization VDI-Technologiezentrum (see above).

Further information and guidelines as well as auxiliary terms and conditions are available on the Internet at http://www.kp.dlr.de/profi/easy/formular.html.

7.2 Two-tiered selection procedure

The selection procedure is two-tiered.

7.2.1 Submission and selection of project outlines

In a first step, project outlines must be submitted in written form by post and in electronic form to the project management organization VDI-Technologiezentrum GmbH
by 29 August 2008 at the latest.
This date for submission is not a cut-off deadline. However, it may not be possible to consider project outlines received belatedly.

The collaboration partners will, via the coordinator, submit to the project management organization a project outline of a maximum 15 A4 pages (including annexes, font size 12) in a form which can be evaluated.

1. Goals
   • Overall objective of the project, summary of the project proposal
   • Scientific and/or technical working objectives, envisaged innovations
   • Project consortium: Project coordinator, assignment of roles, value added chain if appropriate (collaborative projects only)
2. State of the art and applicants' own work
   • State of the art
   • Patents filed (by applicants and third parties)
   • Previous work of the applicants
3. Work plan
   Detailed description of the work of the partners in the collaboration (including sub-contractors, if appropriate; including all scientific and technical issues relevant for the project as well as the proposed solutions).
4. Utilization plan
   Utilization plan (scientific, technical and economic utilization of results by the partners involved; if appropriate, translation into provisions, guidelines and legal framework conditions)
5. Network plan
   Work packages, handover points, milestones and implementing decisions
6. Funding schedule
    Estimate of overall costs and funding requirements for each individual partner in the collaboration.

Applicants are free to add further points which they consider to be significant for the evaluation of their proposal.
Collaboration partners whose project is co-financed by industrial partners or other agencies must indicate the envisaged amount of external funds.
A legal claim cannot be derived from the submission of a project outline.

The project outlines received will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

• Relevance to the content of the call for proposals;
• Contribution to the programme goal of increasing the security of citizens without limiting their freedom;
• Innovativeness and knowledge gain;
• Holistic character and large-scale effectiveness of the approach, taking societal goals and impact into account;
• Practicability and marketability of the envisaged solution and its optimized economic leverage;
• Quality of the project consortium, involvement of all relevant stakeholders;
• Involvement of end users;
• Participation by SMEs.

Suitable project outlines will be selected for funding on the basis of the evaluation. The project management organization will inform the coordinator of the collaboration in writing of the BMBF's decision resulting from the selection procedure. The coordinator will, in turn, inform the partners in the collaboration of the result of the evaluation of their project outline. The BMBF and the project management organization reserve the right to consult independent experts when evaluating the project outlines received.

7.2.2 Submission of formal applications for funding and decision-making procedure

In a second step, applicants whose project outlines have been evaluated positively will be invited to submit a formal application for funding on which a decision will be taken after final evaluation by the BMBF.

The approval, payment and accounting for the funds as well as the proof and examination of the proper use and, if necessary, the revocation of the award and the 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 49 a of the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG) unless deviation is allowed under the present funding regulations.

7.3 Special information for universities of applied sciences

Universities of applied sciences which have been successful in the above selection and decision-making procedure for the collaborative projects can receive further funding.
Such further funding can be provided for an additional research project of a "New technologies qualification or profiling group". The topic and content of this second, separate application must bear reference to the theme of the collaborative project. The additional research project must include more far-reaching or new R&D issues and at the same time differ clearly from the topic of the original application in order to avoid redundancy. The work plans/research activities and staffing schedules of the two applications must not overlap. Such additional funding is to be used by a small project team to achieve an improved research profile and research expertise in the subject area of the call (bachelor/master/doctoral degrees, specialized publications, marketing for research). Evaluation and decisions on funding are internal BMBF procedures.


Further information (legal basis, prerequisites for funding as well as information on the drafting of project proposals, etc.) can be obtained from the BMBF, Division 515 "Research at Universities of Applied Sciences", Heinemannstr. 2, 53173 Bonn, tel. +49 (0)228 99 57-3468 or can be found at the BMBF's website http://www.bmbf.de/de/1956.php .

8. Entry into force

These funding regulations will enter into force on the date of publication in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) and expire at the end of the first funding period of the Security Research Programme in 2010.

Bonn, 26 March 2007

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Dr. Christine Thomas