1. Funding purpose and legal basis
1.1 Funding purpose
Against the background of the "Strategic Partnership in Education, Research and Innovation" (www.deutsch-russische-partnerschaft.de) between Germany and Russia, the support of German-Russian collaborations in the area of applied, industry-related, innovative research and development plays a particularly important role.
In this context, the International Bureau (IB) - on behalf of the BMBF - and the Russian Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) concluded an agreement in December 2007 to jointly support future German-Russian cooperation projects. Following two successful joint calls in 2008 and 2009, the two organizations now want to consolidate their partnership. To this end, they are publishing a further joint call for proposals.
The call is mainly aimed at innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs¹) in Germany and Russia that are active in the field of research. On the German side, German research institutions that conduct application-oriented research are also eligible to apply.
The aim of the funding measures is to promote German-Russian collaborative projects focusing on emerging technologies that have a high priority for both Germany and Russia.
1.2 Legal framework
For German applicants:
Project grants can 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.
For Russian applicants:
Projects can be funded by the Russian Fund for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in accordance with the Russian Federation's legal regulations on project funding and the Fund's own funding regulations within the limits of the budget funds available.
2. Object of funding
- Biotechnology and health research
- Medical genome research
- Post-genome technologies and proteomics
- Medical technology
- Nanotechnologies
- Nanoceramics
- Biocompatible and biofunctional materials
- Biomimetic materials
- Modern functional materials, surfaces and coatings
- Substitutes for toxic substances or rare elements
- Optical technologies
- New photonic materials for the targeted control of light propagation and light-matter interaction
- Micro- and nanophotonic components, including their use for innovative light sources and photodetectors
- New optical fibres, fibre optic components and fibre-based optical systems
- Information and communication technologies (ICT)
- ICT for mechanical engineering / automation: Monitoring and control of processes, hardware and software embedded in products (embedded systems)
- ICT for health / medicine: Telemedicine, intelligent patient systems for hospitals; new diagnostic procedures; stand-alone monitoring systems for high-risk patients
- Human-technology interaction: Communication with IT systems via language, gestures, facial expressions and touch
- ICT for logistics and services: Real-time management of logistics chains, fully-automated storage systems, telematics
- Microsystems technology applications in process technology, production processes and health
- Environmental technologies
- Integrated environmental protection in industrial production
- Climate protection technologies, energy efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions
- Materials efficiency, recycling and closing of material cycles
- Water technologies, water management
Other fields can only be funded in exceptional cases, depending on the priorities of the International Bureau of the BMBF and FASIE and on the budget funds available, and only if the project has outstanding innovation potential.
3. Recipients of funding
On the German side:
Research proposals may be submitted by German research institutions, universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Germany.
Research institutions that receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can only be granted project funds to cover extra expenditure in addition to their basic financing.
On the Russian side:
- small, innovative companies
4. Prerequisites for funding / type, scope and rates of funding
Funding will be provided in the form of non-repayable project grants.
Applications can be submitted by consortia consisting of at least two partners, one on the Russian side and one on the German side. The Russian project partner will receive funding from the Fund for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE). The German project partner will receive funding from the International Bureau of the BMBF.
As a rule, projects can receive up to €100,000 of funding from each side. On the German as well as on the Russian side, the projects will be funded for a duration of 24 months.
Grants for commercial companies are calculated on the basis of the project-related costs eligible for funding, up to 50% of which can, as a rule, be covered by government grants, depending on how near the project is to application. The BMBF's policy requires an appropriate own contribution towards the eligible costs incurred - as a rule at least 50%.
Grants for universities, research and science institutions and similar establishments will be calculated on the basis of the eligible project-related expenditure (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 which can be covered in individual cases.
The European Commission's Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development will be taken into account when determining the rates of funding. The Community Framework allows a differentiated bonus arrangement for collaborative projects involving applicants in the new German Länder and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which may allow a higher rate of funding.
In their own interest, applicants should familiarize themselves with the EU's Research Framework Programme in the context of the planned national project. They should check whether the intended project includes specific European components which make it 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. Applicants should briefly state the results of this examination in their national application.
Grants from the German side:
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 country in which the researchers are based; per diem allowances will be provided by the host country.
German project scientists travelling abroad will receive
- Air tickets: Economy class flights from the departure airport to the location of the partner, financed by the International Bureau of the BMBF
Foreign project scientists travelling to Germany will receive
- Per diem allowance: Cost of visits of Russian experts to Germany for up to 3 months per person / per year (currently at a rate of €104 per day; monthly rate starting on the 23rd day: €2,300; per diem for additional days in a subsequent month: €77). 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. +
b) Equipment
Funding for equipment can only be provided to a limited extent in justified exceptional cases. This only includes equipment that does not form part of an institution's basic equipment (i.e. no PCs, no normal consumables).
c) Workshops
Funding can be provided for the organization of bilateral workshops in the partner country. With regard to the organization of bilateral workshops in Germany, grants can be provided towards expenses such as the accommodation of the foreign guests, transfers within Germany, preparation of the workshop, entertainment and rental of the venue. The exact amount of the grant depends on the size of the workshop and the number of foreign guests. In such cases, no per diem allowances (see a) will be provided.
d) Staff costs
Grants towards the costs of student assistants, administrators and/or scientific staff required in connection with the proposed project can be provided.
e) Measures for the joint marketing of SME expertise
To improve the promotion of German activities in Russia, grants can be provided towards the costs incurred in presenting German SMEs in connection with project-related cooperation (e.g. participation in trade fairs and conferences in Russia, road shows, creating a website, etc).
f) Costs for filing and obtaining patents
- Rules for institutions of higher education
Necessary expenses for patent applications (patent lawyers and patent office fees) that are needed to fulfil the funding objectives can be covered, provided that the expenses are incurred during the funding period and that they have not already been or are expected to be covered by other public funding providers.
- Rules for small and medium-sized companies
Necessary expenses incurred by SMEs (according to the applicable European Commission definition) for patent applications (patent lawyers and patent office fees) that are considered necessary for fulfilling the funding objectives can be covered, provided that the expenses are incurred during the funding period and that they have not already been or are expected to be covered by other public funding providers.
g) The following expenses will generally not be covered, either in whole or in part
- Expenses for office supplies, communication, etc.</><//>
In addition, no funding can be provided for normal basic equipment such as:
- Laboratory and IT equipment
Grants from the Russian side:
- Personnel costs (salaries)
- Travel expenses within Russia
- R&D services of external organizations (up to a total of 30%)
- Materials, resources and equipment (up to 30%)
- Equipment (up to 15%)
- Other expenses (office rent, equipment, telephone costs and bank services)
5. Procedure
5.1 Involvement of the International Bureau and request for documents
On the German side, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has entrusted the International Bureau with implementing the funding measure:
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 (on the subjects of marine and polar research, ICT, geosciences, and education), please contact:
Maria Josten
E-mail: maria.josten(at)dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)2 28-38 21-415
For subject-related information (on the subjects of biotechnology, optical technologies, nanotechnology (including materials research), health research, production technologies, and physical and chemical technologies), please contact:
Dr. Anja Köhler
E-mail: anja.koehler(at)dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)2 28-38 21-458
For subject-related information (on the subjects of basic physics research (e.g. accelerator-based photon sources), environmental technologies/sustainability research, renewable energy, humanities, and social sciences), please contact:
Dr. Marion Mienert
E-mail: marion.mienert(at)dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)2 28-38 21-469
For administrative information, please contact:
Andrea Kröll
E-mail: andrea.kroell(at)dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)2 28-38 21-413
For technical information about the Internet-based application system, 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(at)dlr.de
Phone: +49 (0)2 28-38 21-734
Contact person for Russian applicants at the Russian Fund for Support to Small Innovative Companies (FASIE):
Olga Georgievna Levchenko
E-mail: o.levchenko(at)list.ru
Phone: +7-495-6278207
Internet: http://www.fasie.ru
5.2 Submission of formal applications and decision-making procedure
By 15 July 2010 at the latest.
German and Russian applicants who want to form a consortium need to submit a full application describing the proposed project both to the International Bureau of the BMBF (German applicant) and FASIE (Russian applicant) by 15 July 2010 at the latest. Projects that are only submitted in one country will not be considered.
On the German side, the application process consists of a single step. The application must include two parts:
- Part A - a completed application form
- Part B - a project description focusing on the content of the project.
Part A:
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=WTZOM.
In addition to the electronic application, a hard copy of the final proposal signed by both the German and the Russian partner (original document with the official stamp of the institution), finalized using the electronic application system, must be sent by mail to the following address no later than 15 July 2010:
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
Internationales Büro des BMBF
Andrea Kröll
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
Part B:
German applicants can find a file with the structure of Part B here. The completed file should be sent via e-mail to the scientific contacts at the International Bureau of the BMBF listed in section 5 (for contact information, please see section 5).
On the German side, the International Bureau of the BMBF will carry out an evaluation and make a decision on the basis of this application - consisting of Part A and Part B.
Generally speaking, the deadline for submission is a cut-off deadline. Applications received after this date will usually not be considered.
The International Bureau of the BMBF and FASIE will jointly evaluate the project proposals with the help of external experts 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 cooperation and added value for the partner institutions
- Support for young scientists
- Scientific benefits and prospects for the commercialization of the expected results
A final scientific ranking will be drawn up by a German-Russian selection committee. A funding decision will be taken after a final evaluation.
The IB will conclude private-law grant agreements with the successful applicants on behalf of the BMBF.
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).
Funding for projects that receive a positive evaluation and are approved is expected to start on 1 January 2011.
6. Procedure in the partner country
Russian partners must submit a parallel application to the Russian Fund for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE).
Part A and B of the application should be written using the application forms that can be found in the information sheet at http://www.fasie.ru. Both completed forms (parts A and B) should be sent via e-mail to Ms Olga Georgievna Levchenko (o.levchenko(at)list.ru) at FASIE.
On the Russian side, this application - consisting of parts A and B - is considered to be an "expression of interest". Due to Russian project funding regulations, the Russian Fund for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) will ask the successful Russian applicants to submit a formal application following the joint evaluation of the received project proposals with the International Bureau.
7. Entry into force
These funding regulations will enter into force on the day of their publication in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger).Bonn, 28 April 2010M. SchlichtFederal Ministry of Education and Research------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------¹ 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: ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/sme_definition/sme_user_guide.pdf <//strong>German-Russian research collaborations in the following fields are eligible for funding:
