Internal Navigation
Scientific Instrumentation - Information Technology
- Major Equipment in Research Grant Proposals
Major Equipment in Research Grant Proposals
The DFG provides funding for scientific instrumentation that is essential to carry out special research projects and is not included in the core support available at the respective institute. Each year, the DFG receives several hundred proposals for research grants that include equipment requests. In addition to demonstrating the scientific necessity of the item in question, the applicant must ensure that the institution is willing and prepared to create the necessary conditions for installation and operation of the equipment. Within this framework, there is no programme that enables applicants to request equipment only.
Major Equipment in Research Grant Proposals
In conjunction with its research grants, the DFG defines instrumentation with a gross purchase price of € 50,000 or higher as major equipment. Proposals that include major equipment pass through the standard review process used in the relevant funding programme. If assessed favourably, the proposals are then discussed by the Committee on Scientific Instrumentation or the Commission on IT-Infrastructure regarding the methodological and technical aspects of the equipment. There, a funding recommendation is made for the DFG’s Joint Committee, which makes the final decision.
Major Equipment Initiatives
Applicants may request expensive, high-performance equipment for research through major equipment initiatives. The initiatives are developed in cooperation with the Committee on Scientific Infrastructure/Commission on IT Infrastructure. The DFG then issues specific calls for proposals. Calls are published on the DFG’s website and may additionally be announced through contacts in the scientific community. Initiative proposals are jointly reviewed.
Purchasing of Scientific Instrumentation
All equipment purchase orders exceeding € 10,000 are issued by the DFG's Central Purchasing Office in conjunction with the applicant. The equipment is either provided on loan to the researcher or ownership is transferred to the academic institution for the purpose of carrying out the researcher's project. Researchers may take the equipment with them when changing affiliations.
- Ute Breuer, Tel.: 0228885 2474, E-Mail: Ute.Breuer@dfg.de
- Boris Licker, Tel.: 0228/885 2105, E-Mail: Boris.Licker@dfg.de
Repair of Equipment on Loan
Researchers who obtain equipment on loan may additionally apply for funding to pay for major repairs which are not considered part of the routine maintenance costs. Proposals must be approved before the repair work can be commissioned. Smaller repairs may be funded by redirecting research grants, subject to prior approval by the DFG. Approval is not required for repairs costing less than € 600.
- Frank König, Tel. 0228/885 2255, E-Mail: Frank.Koenig@dfg.de
