Equipment in DFG Programmes

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 more than thousand 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 Instrumentation in Research Grant Proposals

In conjunction with its research grants, the DFG defines equipment with a gross purchase price of € 50,000 or higher as major instrumentation. Proposals that include such major instrumentation pass through the standard review process used in the relevant funding programme. There is no formal limit to the requested investment costs, but financial restrictions apply to major instrumentation as for any other funds. 

Contact

Dr. Johannes Janssen
E-mail: Johannes.Janssen@dfg.de
Telephone: +49 (228) 885-2430

Purchasing of Research Equipment

All equipment purchase orders exceeding € 50,000 are issued by the DFG's Central Purchasing Office in conjunction with the applicant, who has to fill the form 21.04 for this purpose. The 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.

Contact

Ute Breuer
E-mail: Ute.Breuer@dfg.de
Telephone: +49 (228) 885-2474
Boris Licker
E-mail: Boris.Licker@dfg.de
Telephone: +49 (228) 885-2105
Sémir Ben Methenni
E-mail: semir.benmethenni@dfg.de
Telephone: +49 (228) 885-2215

Repair of DFG-funded Equipment

Researchers who have equipment, which was funded fully by DFG, may apply for funding to pay for major repairs which are not considered part of the routine maintenance costs (see form 22.30). The request for additional funding 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.

Contact

Fabian Vogt
E-mail: reparatur@dfg.de
Telephone: +49 (228) 885-3134