Regulations for the funding measure "National Network for Computational Neuroscience" under the FUTUR lead vision "Understanding Thought Processes"
Announcement of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [August 12, 2003 - deadline: November 01, 2003]
1. Funding purpose and legal basis
1.1 Funding purpose
Understanding cognitive functions on the basis of the structure of the brain and its neural dynamics is essential for the prevention and treatment of disorders of the nervous system, for a better general comprehension of biological processes, for developing new high-performing computers and, last but not least, for designing efficient strategies for teaching and learning. Major progress has been made in the study of fundamental neural processes over the last ten years. However, the thorough analysis of brain functions continues to be a challenge which, due to the complexity of the dynamic processes involved, is considered even more difficult than the study of structural and functional relations of the human genome. This task requires focussed interdisciplinary cooperation between neuroscientists, biologists, medical professionals, physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists. Specific software must be developed for the fast numerical analysis of large amounts of complex data and for extensive computer simulation.
Major insights are expected from the new and highly dynamic discipline of “Computational Neuroscience”. It combines experiments with data analysis and computer simulation on the basis of well-defined theoretical concepts, and it makes available a scientific language which can be used across disciplines and levels for neurobiology, cognitive science, systems biology and information technology.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) intends to support measures aimed at the further development, structural focussing and networking of existing regional capacities in the field of computational neuroscience under the lead vision "Understanding Thought Processes", which has been developed within the FUTUR process. Support of young scientists is an integral part of this concept. Possible applications to be considered reach from the technical and biomedical fields to learning research and will benefit from an integration of neuroinformatics research.
The BMBF funding measure aims to pool the outstanding neuroscientific expertise available in Germany while integrating theoretical approaches to a greater extent in a joint effort with the Länder and universities . This is to create the necessary structure for collecting and networking neuroscientific findings and for transfering the results to areas that are relevant to application. For that purpose it is intended to establish a National Network for Computational Neuroscience. The network will consist of local centres, which will strengthen the concentration and further development of existing capacities. Within the national network, the Centres for Computational Neuroscience will be connected through the exchange of data, analytical methods, computer models and theoretical approaches. The development of interdisciplinary training programmes in the field of computational neuroscience and the establishment of expert counselling resources are an integral part of the concept. The funding measure is intended to give new impetus to research and provide a basis for innovative and promising developments in application-oriented disciplines. To guarantee a lasting impact, funding will be provided only if additional measures are taken which ensure long-term integration of computational neuroscience into teaching and research opportunities offered by the participating institutions.
The funding measure entitled "National Network for Computational Neuroscience " addresses a central element of the lead vision "Understanding Thought Processes" and supplements the existing BMBF funding activities "Imaging Centres in Clinical Neuroscience" and "Systems of Life – Systems Biology". Furthermore, the funding measure provides a sound basis for activities that are planned under this lead vision in the fields of information technology, neuroprosthetics, cognitive neurosciences and learning research.
1.2 Legal basis
The BMBF provides funds for the above-mentioned purpose in accordance with the present funding regulations, the BMBF standard terms and conditions concerning funding on the basis of expenditure or cost 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.
2. Object of funding
As structural elements of the envisaged national network, up to five regional Centres for Computational Neuroscience will enable theoretical and experimental research groups to engage in close and efficient interdisciplinary cooperation on complex neuroscientific problems. These problems should be of major relevance to application, mainly in the areas of information technology, biomedical research and learning research. Funding is aimed at supporting innovative research concepts of high scientific and technical quality, particularly those involving cooperation between universities and non-university research institutes or hospitals. Coordinated programmes for qualifying young researchers should be included. Furthermore, all Centres should be designed as interdepartmental structures with a critical mass of research groups so that synergy can be achieved. Each Centre will appoint an advisory board to ensure scientific support and coordination, and after its establishment, it will closely interact with other Centres and external partners.
The scientific mission of the Centres for Computational Neuroscience is the systematic study of the neural basis of cognitive processes ranging from the processing of complex sensory stimuli to learning processes and the retrieval of stored information to the planning and precise coordination of motion patterns relevant to behaviour. The work programme should elucidate the interaction between neural dynamics and information processing at the level of individual neurons, local networks and large-scale neural systems. Major criteria in project evaluation will include the development of new scientific approaches and an independent, high-quality research profile. Each Centre is expected to concentrate on one common scientific theme and is responsible for selecting the specific topics on which it will focus. Relevant subject areas could include the following:
- principles and mechanisms of the neural integration of multimodal information
- neural coding and representation of the temporal structures of sensory stimuli and/or motor programmes
- fundamental neural processes involved in spatial perception and spatial memory
- modular structure, hierarchy and cooperation in the nervous system
- dynamics of neural systems: mechanisms and function
- acoustic communication and speech: from sub-symbolic information to cognition
- neural basis of attention and conscious perception
- plasticity in the nervous system: from signal cascades to learning processes.
Research at the Centres will mainly consist in the following, partly parallel or intertwined activities:
- analysis of complex neural data
- modelling of the dynamics of neural systems
- modelling of neural information processing (from coding of sensory stimuli, storage, learning and memory to planning and motion control)
- development of mathematical theories concerning the function of neural systems
- modelling of behavioural context and neural adaptation.
It is expected that such work be interdisciplinary and involve experimental and theoretical research groups. Integrating theoreticians (mainly post-docs) in the experimental research groups seems particularly promising. In addition, the projects should be innovative and their results should provide a basis for work in application-related disciplines. An efficient exchange of experimental data, analytical methods, computer models and theoretical approaches is to be ensured to facilitate integration of the Centres into the envisaged national network. Coordinated software development and data management activities will be of special importance in this regard. It is expected that the neuroinformatics standards established by the OECD will be applied. One of the Centres is supposed to act as national contact for the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility planned by the OECD.
The following requirements are of special importance in establishing a Centre for Computational Neuroscience:
- availability of outstanding experimental and theoretical expertise
- existence of structures for training and supporting young researchers
- agreement of participating institutions to ensure continuation of the Centre's work when start-up funding by BMBF has expired
- agreement of participating universities to include computational neuroscience in the range of subjects taught.
The Centers will exchange views about the ongoing research activities and their results at annual workshops and status seminars to ensure close links and intensive communication. External partners (German research community, international guests) should be involved in these events. Additional contributions to networking will be made by guest researchers, mainly at the doctoral student and post-doc levels, as well as by exchanges of data and methods. Project-related collaborations with groups outside the Centres will serve the transfer of knowledge beyond the network.
Taking into account the research capacities at the site concerned, start-up funding will be provided over an initial period of five years for the establishment of a Centre. During this period, start-up funds can be used not only in support of posts for young researchers (doctoral students and post docs) but also for professorial chairs advertised in the field of computational neuroscience; appointments to such chairs should be made by a committee which includes external experts. The focus of such professorships should be directly related to the local research priorities and may include experimental approaches. Funding will only be provided if the higher education institutions concerned assume responsibility for the chairs when start-up funding by the BMBF has expired (binding agreement by the principal or governing board of the institution).
Supplementing these measures for improving the interdisciplinary training of young researchers, the research groups involved in a Centre will set up a consistent teaching programme for Computational Neuroscience, including the development and establishment of special courses, seminars and practicals. After two years, the university must prove that it has included the programme in its offerings. In addition, special method-related courses and guest programmes may be set up in order to draw on available international expertise.
3. Grant recipients
Research proposals may be submitted by institutions of higher education, non-university research establishments and commercial companies which are headquartered in Germany. Eligibility depends on cooperation between several institutions in an interdisciplinary centre (collaborative project) which is characterized by an independent interdepartmental structure and an autonomous organization.
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7. Procedure
7.1 The BMBF's project management organisation
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has entrusted the following project management organisation with implementing the funding activity:
Projektträger DLR
Gesundheitsforschung
Südstraße 125
53175 Bonn
Tel.: +49-228-3821-117
Fax: +49-228-3821-257
7.2.1 Project outlines
As a first step, English project outlines (of no more than 15 pages, 12 pt) including a one-page financing schedule and a summary of at most two pages (both in German and English) should be submitted to the project management organization no later than
November 1, 2003 (date of postmark).
7.2.2 Formal applications
As a second step of the application procedure, the applicants of the successful project outlines will be invited to submit formal applications. Decisions about funding the proposed projects will be taken after further evaluation.
8. Entry into force
These funding regulations will enter into force on August 13, 2003.
Bonn, August 12, 2003
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Dr. Roemer-Mähler
Scientific Research for Nutrition and Health