FAQ

The Innovation Grants are an intramural funding program, and as such, are only available to members of the University of Tübingen. Doctoral candidates and postdocs who are members or affiliates of the University are eligible to apply, provided they are also based at the University (in accordance with §7 and §8 of the Fundamental Order of the University of Tübingen).

The project described in the application for an Innovation Grant must originate from the own doctoral thesis but can have been further developed during the postdoc phase.

The decisive factor is the issue date of the doctoral certificate.

The supervising person must declare in writing that accommodation is guaranteed and infrastructure will be provided for the duration of the Innovation Grant project (Letter of Support from the supervising professor).

An additional Letter of Support must be issued from the scientific environment, but not necessarily from a person or an institution at the University of Tübingen. The author of the letter should know the applicant and be able to evaluate the person and the previous scientific work.

A supplementary Letter of Support must be obtained from an external partner. This should express a serious interest in the use or implementation of the planned development. For an Innovation Grant in the natural and life sciences, a Letter of Intent (LoI) is required in place of a letter of support.

The Letter of Intent (LoI) is a declaration of intent by (negotiating) partners. The letter should express a serious interest in the present project and declare a strong interest in a cooperation or further development, should the results be confirmed during the Innovation Grant phase.  The LoI replaces the second letter of support in the natural and life sciences.  Multiple LoIs from different companies reinforce the impression of a potentially successful proposal.

Of course, scientific quality is always a prerequisite for a fundable project, but the Innovation Grants are an economically oriented funding program and not suitable for basic research. For the latter, we refer to well-known formats of the DFG, the BMBF and the EU as well as various foundations.

The decisive factor for funding is the prospect of a successful transfer. This must be proven by corresponding letters of support from partners or, in the natural and life sciences, by Letters of Intent.

The Innovation Grant allows to apply for the own position as well as for hiring a technical assistant (TA) or assisting scientists (HiWis) without naming concrete sums.  It is sufficient to define the period of time and the pay grade. The Human Resources Department makes a level assignment at the time of recruitment, which will define the concrete sum. Applicants can apply for their own E 13 position (100%). For hiring scientific assistants, the table of remuneration rates can be used, which can be found in the download area of the Human Resources Department.

If a technical assistant (TA) is to be hired, there are following options: A TA position already located within the university can be increased or reallocated accordingly for the duration of the Innovation Grant project. Alternatively, in the case of a new recruitment, the supervising professor must guarantee the continued employment of project-funded technical assistant. This is important, so that the Human Resources department can ensure that the TA can be further employed after the end of the project, if necessary.

There is no official upper limit. The staff costs are limited to the own position and one co-worker, either TA or Hiwi. Supporting Funds for the project must be feasible and justified in a comprehensible way. They have to be presented in a small financial overview. If necessary, the reviewers and/or members of the research committee will recommend budget cuts.

The Innovation Grants are a person-related funding program. When the funded person leaves the university, the funding expires. For the possible takeover of project-funded technical assistants, a corresponding declaration of the working group leader must be submitted with the application.