Foundations

Project funding via foundations (e.g., Volkswagen Foundation, Joachim Herz Foundation, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)

Content

If you have found a partner or someone to commission your research work, you will need a contract to proceed.

Budget planning and cost calculation is a key feature of acquiring a contract. Your budget should be well thought out. Calculate the individual cost items as concretely as possible, indicating the basis for your calculations.
Note that cost calculations must include a full cost flat rate. In addition, contracts and services within the scope of knowledge and technology transfer are fundamentally subject to value-added tax.
If you have not previously done so, fill out the external-funding notification form (PDF) and send it to your faculty administration.

when a contract is required for research you are carrying out for third parties (e.g., companies, foundations, or other research institutions) and
if you are drawing up a contract tailored to your specific project and in compliance with usual standards and agreements.

These contracts require a signature from University management: Remember to plan in the necessary time for acquiring this signature.
You can already provide notification of your externally funded project by completing a notification form for externally funded projects (PDF) and sending it to your faculty administration.

The project can start as soon as the agreement is completed.
In order to use the funds, you will need a project account (WBS element). All project-specific transactions are made from this account and recorded here—as are incoming funds, expenses, and costs.
The project account is set up by Section 74 and made available to the project management.
The hiring procedure can take up to 6 weeks.

handle your bank statements (Management Accounting Team)
with other financial overviews (Section 74: Investment and Asset Management)
with necessary proof of use of costs for the DFG (Section 74: Investment and Asset Management)
if you want to increase hours or extend contracts for staff (HR)
to procure project materials, equipment, and services (procurement)
if you want to undertake work-related travel (Work-Related Travel Team).

After you have completed the tasks agreed upon, you can do your final accounting. Inform Section 74 promptly when the work has been completed.
The project account will be closed by Section 74 upon project completion.