Collaborative Research Centers are long-term interdisciplinary research networks of outstanding researchers at one or more universities. They are used to fund excellent interdisciplinary research within a network, to establish focus areas and structural formation at the applicant university, and to support young researchers.
Collaborative Research Centers (CRC) can be applied for by a group of outstanding researchers at a university - or, in the case of Transregional CRCs, at up to three universities - in order to collaborate on a long-term research project on an overarching topic.
Funding duration: 12 years in up to three funding periods, each with a duration of four years
The application process has multiple stages: 1. Preparation of the draft proposal: (approx. 6-12 months) • Contact the Research Support in the Central Administration as early as possible (see Guidance and Support) • Submit the proposal idea to the respective Faculty Management or the Faculty's Internal Research Committees • Optional application for start-up funding (€ 50.000) • Prepare the draft proposal in cooperation with the Research Support • Consultation with the President's Office
2. Submit the draft proposal to the DFG (approx. 6 months) • Consultation panel with the DFG • Preliminary decision by the DFG Senate on whether to call for full proposal (May and November)
3. Full proposal (approx. 3 months) • Preparation of the full proposal in consultation with the Research Support • Optional application for second tranche of start-up funding (€ 50.000) • Consultation with the President's Office
4. Review (approx. 3 months)
5. Approval decision by the DFG Senate (May and November)
Please also refer to Texts and background knowledge for grant proposals regarding central topics of the university (Equality/Diversity, Research Data Management, Early Career support etc).
