Regulations governing the German Funding Activity - Future Leaders of Ageing Research in Europe (FLARE)

Announcement of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [February 7, 2007 - deadline: April 30, 2007]

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1. Motivation for the joint call

The demographic development of European societies is, as far as it concerns longevity, a major achievement. This development has, however, great impact on the existing health care systems and pension schemes. To understand and tackle the substantial problems related to the ageing society, researchers in all relevant scientific fields should work together.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has recently initiated a funding measure to support research networks in the field of “Health in Old Age”. In the announcement of this funding initiative published in September 2006 it was stated that “supplementary funding will be offered at a later date to promote scientific exchanges at European level, which will cover, for example, periods abroad and exchanges with institutes and hospitals of international partners.”
For this purpose, BMBF joins the first common programme “Future Leaders of Ageing Research in Europe (FLARE)” initiated by the ERA-AGE consortium (European Research Area in Ageing). The FLARE programme aims at supporting young successful researchers at the postdoc level who have the potential to become future European leaders in the field of ageing research. The overall aims of this joint program are:
- To provide outstanding researchers with the opportunity to qualify for a leading position in ageing research;
- to support ageing research and develop a well trained cohort of European interdisciplinary researchers in this field, connecting them to the prominent research institutes and scientific teams in Europe as well as to other post-doctoral researchers through communication, meetings and schools;
- to enhance communication and multilateral co-operation in ageing research and thereby create a network of leading European institutes and experts to form a basis for future national and EU-funded research on ageing.

For this, interdisciplinary research projects and international collaboration in the multidisciplinary areas of ageing research are jointly funded by the following nine European Partners with their own national announcements: 

- Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF, Germany
- Medical Research Council, UK
- Academy of Finland
- Caisse Nationale des Allocations de Vieillesse, France
- Ministry of Health, Israel
- Fonds National de la Recherche, Luxembourg
- Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria
- Romania
- Swedish council for working life and social research, Sweden

The participating countries committed themselves in a “memorandum of understanding” to the aims of the FLARE programme. National rules and regulations have to be kept by the national partners.

1.2 Legal basis

Project grants will be awarded in accordance with the present national funding regulations, the BMBF standard terms and conditions for grants on expenditure or cost basis and the administrative regulations under section 44 of the Federal Budget Code (BHO). Applicants have no legal entitlement to a grant. The BMBF will decide on the award of grants after due assessment of the circumstances within the framework of the budget funds available.

2. Object of funding

In accordance with the above objectives, young scientists with doctoral degrees from Germany and other European countries are given the opportunity to conduct a research project within the framework of a postdoctoral scholarship of up to three years. The scientist’s home institute has to be either a German university or another research organisation/institute. The projects should preferably be carried out between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2010. Within the three years of funding, at least 6 and a maximum of 12 months have to be spent in one or several designated centres related to ageing research in one of the EU member state, an associated state or Israel.
The proposed research project has to be within the field of health research / biomedicine in a clinically relevant field and has to complement the profile of the home and recieving institutions.
In addition, ERA-AGE intends to organize a summer school in August 2008 for the participants within the FLARE-programme as to intensify the interdisciplinary exchange between these scientists. Furthermore, workshops and other interdisciplinary meetings are planned to bring together the scientists. Post doctoral fellows within the programme have to commit themselves to participate at the summer school and other meetings, details of which will be given at a later time.

3. Grant recipients

Applications may be submitted by state and non-state institutions of higher education and by non-university research establishments in Germany. Research establishments which receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can only be granted project funding for additional expenditure under certain preconditions.

4. Prerequisites for awarding grants

Above all, funding presupposes an excellent scientist whose abilities must be documented i.a. by corresponding publications. There is no age limit for scientists but their doctoral degree has to be completed within the last six years.
Applications should be submitted by applicants (scientist) together with her/his home institute organisation. The home institution has to support this application in a written statement and must commit itself to providing the necessary rooms, basic equipment and overhead expenses and it must supply the necessary apparatus, if needed (see “Annex 2a”). 
In addition, the applicant has to name one or two centres, faculties or well known research groups in the field of ageing research abroad, where he or she will conduct research for a period of between 6 to 12 months. The receiving institution(s) must commit themselves to providing the necessary rooms, basic equipment and overhead expenses and it must supply the necessary apparatus, if needed (see “Annex 2b”)
It is expected that the applicants show their interest in international cooperation. The funded scientists have to attend the common events (summer school, workshops etc.) of this funding initiative.

5. Type, scope and volume of funding

Funds are awarded in the form of non-repayable project grants for a period of 3 years, in general. They may comprise regular salaries (EG 14 TVöD; comparable to BAT Ib), according to federal German regulations. In addition, they max comprise material expenses (consumables, travel expenses, in some cases investments) of up to 50.000 € altogether.
Costs for the participation at the above mentioned common events are financed by the national funders.
The basis for calculating the grants for universities, research establishments and similar institutions in Germany is the eligible project-related expenditure (in the case of the Helmholtz centres; and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG) the eligible project-related costs), which can be funded up to a maximum of 100 per cent.
The basis for calculating the grants for commercial companies is the eligible project-related costs, up to 50% of which can as a rule be covered by government grants, depending on the project's orientation to application. The BMBF policy requires a minimum self-contribution of 50% towards the eligible costs incurred.
The European Commission's Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development must be taken into account when fixing the rates of funding.

6. Other terms and conditions for awarding grants

Part of the notification of the award of cost-based grants are the Allgemeine Neben-bestimmungen für Zuwendungen auf Kostenbasis des BMBF an Unternehmen der gewerblichen Wirtschaft für FuE-Vorhaben (General Auxiliary Conditions for Funds Provided by the BMBF to Commercial Companies for Research and Development Projects on Cost basis) (NKBF98).
Part of the notification of the award of grants on an expenditure basis are the Allgemeine Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen zur Projektförderung (ANBest-P) (General Auxiliary Conditions for Grants Provided for Projects on an Expenditure Basis) and the Besondere Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen des BMBF zur Projektförderung auf Ausgabenbasis (BNBest-BMBF 98) (Special Auxiliary Terms and Conditions for Funds Provided by the BMBF for the Promotion of Projects on Expenditure Basis).

7. Procedure

7.1 The BMBF's project management organisation

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has entrusted the following project management organisation with implementing the funding activity:

DLR-Project management organisation of the BMBF
- Health Research -
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
Telefon: ++49 228-3821-250 (Dr. Barth)
Telefon: ++49 228-3821-144 (Dr. Ballensiefen)
Telefon: ++49 228-3821-210 (Secretariat)
Telefax: ++49 228-3821-257

Interested German scientists are strongly advised to contact the project management agency for advice on how to submit their applications. The project management agency will provide further information, advice and details.

7.2. Funding Procedure

The funding procedure is two-tiered. However, it only entails one specialist evaluation involving external experts.

7.2.1 Submission of project outlines

As a first step, applications in English are to be sent to the project management organization (see above under 7.1) by post

from now up to April 30, 2007 at the latest.

The projects descriptions have to be based on the given application form and should enable the international review board to form a final opinion. The deadline for submission is not a cut-off date. However, it may not be possible to consider project outlines received after this date. Applicants who intend to submit their proposals after the given deadline are strongly advised to contact the project management organization before doing so. Applications should not be sent by "electronic mail” or fax.

The informal, provisional project descriptions has to follow the “Application Form Main Part”.  Twenty copies on DIN A 4 paper are to be submitted together with an electronic version (pdf file on CD-ROM). No legal entitlement can be derived from the submission of a project description.

The evaluation of the applications will involve an independent, international review board and will be based on the following criteria:
- Scientific quality and originality of the project and of the research plan.
- Scientific excellence of the applicant (previous scientific track record, publications in scientific journals, other).
- National and international standing of the home and receiving institute (research profile of group and / or leading scientists) and complementarity.
- Integration of the project/fellow in the two institutes.
- Inter- or multidisciplinarity of the proposed project.

Suitable projects for funding will be selected on the basis of the assessment. The project management organization will inform the applicants in writing of the result of the review.

7.2.2 Presentation of formal applications for funding and decision-making process

In the second part of the process, applicants whose applications have been reviewed positively will be asked to send in a formal application for funding which will be the basis of the final decision.
Questions concerning the approval and payment of and accounting for funds as well as proof and examination of 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 49a of the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG) unless deviation is permitted under the present funding regulations.

8. Entry into force

These funding regulations will enter into force on February 7, 2007.

Berlin, January 29, 2007.
Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Dr. Gabriele Hausdorf
Head of  Health Research Division