Advance Notice of a Call for Proposals: BUA Core Facilities
Co-funding of “Major Research Instrumentation according to Art. 91b GG”
The Berlin University Alliance (BUA) plans to publish a call for proposals for BUA Core Facilities in the first quarter of 2027. This advance notice provides researchers at BUA partner institutions with early information about the planned funding initiative and gives them time to prepare suitable cross-institutional projects.
Purpose of Funding
This call will support the establishment of shared major research instrumentation as part of BUA Core Facilities. The aim is to develop sustainable, cross-institutional research infrastructure across the BUA.
The BUA will provide co-funding for major research instrumentation under the DFG Major Research Instrumentation Program (Art. 91b GG). This funding is not intended to serve as a standalone grant for a large-scale research facility from the BUA. Instead, the BUA funding will cover the co-funding contribution required under the DFG program, provided that the project also offers significant added value for the BUA's shared research infrastructure.
Funding is intended in particular for projects
- that will be used by researchers and research communities from several BUA partner institutions;
- where scale, specialization or strategic importance of the planned investment makes cross-institutional use and joint development appropriate or necessary; and
- that are designed to establish a sustainable and cross-institutional research infrastructure as a BUA Core Facility.
Participation by at least three of the four BUA partner institutions is expected to be a prerequisite for funding. The participating institutions are expected to jointly shape and take responsibility for the development and use of the Core Facility.
In addition to co-funding the major research instrumentation, temporary funding for the establishment and operation of the Core Facility is planned. This may include personnel and non-personnel costs. The detailed funding conditions will be set out in the call for proposals.
Funding Framework
A total of up to EUR 1.4 million is expected to be available for co-funding under the planned call.
Selection and Further Procedure
BUA will decide which projects will receive co-funding through an internal BUA review process. These projects may then submit a proposal under the DFG Major Research Instrumentation Program (Art. 91b GG). The scientific and technical assessment of the proposed instrumentation and the funding decision will be made by the DFG.
The call for proposals is scheduled to be published in the first quarter of 2027. It will set out the binding funding conditions, application requirements, selection criteria and timeline.
This advance notice is for information purposes only and does not establish any entitlement to funding. Interested researchers and research communities are encouraged to identify shared infrastructure needs, recruit suitable partners within the BUA network, coordinate potential projects, and prepare necessary collaborations.
Contact:
Dr. Alexandra Vetter (BUA): alexandra.vetter@berlin-university-alliance.de
Dr. Christina Bochow (FUB): christina.bochow@fu-berlin.de
Dr. Jöran Balks (FUB): j.balks@fu-berlin.de
Dr. Katrin Salomo (HUB): katrin.salomo@uv.hu-berlin.de
Dr. Stefan Ahlswede (TUB): stefan.ahlswede@tu-berlin.de
Dr. Claudia Flügel (Charité): claudia.fluegel@charite.de
Antje Mertsch (Charité): antje.mertsch@charite.de