Next Generation Partnerships – Thematic Networks

Application requirements:

• At least 2 other universities (outside of Germany) must be involved, of which at least 1 has to be a strategic partner university of Universität Hamburg.
• The project aims to establish long-term research collaboration.
• There are plans to prepare a joint application for external funding.
• The project must include and foster doctoral and early career researchers.
• All partners must commit and contribute to the project.
• Project leaders have to be members of Universität Hamburg.
• The applicant is employed in a professorial capacity by Universität Hamburg, postdoctoral researchers and research associates may apply with the support of a professor.
• For fixed-term employee contracts, the applicant must be available as a manager for the entire duration of the project if the application is approved; similarly, the project must be able to be continued in the event of a successful application for third-party funding.
• Must be approved by the office of the dean, in consideration of the following points:
• Description of the relevance of the project for the faculty and for Universität Hamburg.
• Integration of the research project in the global context and description of its significance in the international research landscape.
• Obligatory signing of a Letter of Intent between the partners (see template).

All applications have to be submitted in a single PDF document, including all attachments and should be sent by email to international-exstra"AT"uni-hamburg.de

Submission deadline: 13 November 2022

The Universität Hamburg Internationalization Committee will assess the applications.

Evaluation criteria:

• Contribution to establishing sustainable international university partnerships and long-term research cooperations
• Ambitious and realistic targets as well as demonstrable milestones
• Action planning considering aspects of ecological sustainability and sensible usage of in-person as well as virtual and hybrid formats
• Ideas and concepts to boost the (international) visibility of the project and the cooperation (at universities and institutions as well as among the public)
• Diversity (gender, level of profession, cultural background, etc.) of the project team, recognizable synergies
• Establishing a network within the core research areas, emerging fields or profile initiatives of Universität Hamburg
• Cross-disciplinary approach to research
• Involvement of external research facilities (“flagship university”), regional and/or transregional
• Comprehensible and appropriate financial plan
• Support and reciprocal funding through partner institutions

Export control, academic freedom, and in-depth review procedure

The Department of International Affairs helps Universität Hamburg researchers by minimizing the risk of and providing a sound basis for international cooperation. In 2020, Universität Hamburg’s Executive University Board resolved to establish a review process for international cooperation. The University Administration will review funding applications and cooperation agreements with international partners with regard to the upholding of academic freedom and the requirements of the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). If cooperation topics are relevant to further control rights issues, and if the cooperating institution is located in a country that the Academic Freedom Index (AFI) has listed as restricting academic freedom, an in-depth review procedure will be initiated. Both the first and the in-depth review will be conducted within strictly defined parameters.

• If the application is successful, the projects must be subjected to any specified review procedures. The funding can only be officially granted following successful review.

Funding use:

HR resources:

• Funding for a 25 percent to 35 percent increase in working hours per week (at 13 TV-L salary level) for project coordination
• Temporary contracts for student assistants

Travel and accommodation expenses:

• Travel and accommodation expenses for (early career) researchers at Universität Hamburg are paid pursuant to the Hamburg travel expenses act (Hamburgisches Reisekostengesetz, HmbRKG)
• Travel and accommodation expenses for (early career) researchers from partner institutions traveling to Universität Hamburg are paid pursuant to the Hamburg travel expenses act (Hamburgisches Reisekostengesetz, HmbRKG)
• In justified exceptional cases, expenses for joint workshops at third locations can be covered, but Universität Hamburg must play a seminal role in these events
• Travel and accommodation expenses for research stays lasting longer than one month by early career researchers at the partner institutions (for researchers from Universität Hamburg) or at Universität Hamburg (for researchers from partner institutions) will be based on German Research Foundation (DFG) guidelines or DAAD rates (see link to visiting scholar status)

Equipment and materials:

• Catering, welcome dinner, organizational costs up to 15 percent of the entire funding amount
• Guest speaker fee

 Funding amount:

• As a rule, maximum funding amount of €60,000 p.a. for 3 years

Cofunding from partner institutions:

The following expenses are examples of cofunding from partner institutions:

• travel and accommodation expenses
• working hours of project participants
• costs for catering
• etc.

Expense claims (academic staff Universität Hamburg)

• At Universität Hamburg, applicants manage the funding in consultation with the Department of International Affairs.
• Funding for travel on the part of Universität Hamburg staff must be claimed as work-related travel.

Reports and PR:

• Annual interim report on activities, milestones achieved, and use of funds
• Final report after funding ends
• Successful applicants will be asked to participate in public relations activities (interviews, press releases, etc.).