Call

Here you will find the details of the call for Innovation Grants for the natural and life sciences as well as for the humanities and social sciences.

Sciences and Life Sciences

Aim

Innovation Grants in the Sciences and Life Sciences make it possible to test the feasibility of translating research findings into applications (proof of concept). Junior researchers (postdocs, straight after completing their PhDs) are to be given the opportunity to translate the knowledge gained in their doctoral thesis into usable processes, services or products. Eligible projects must hold out the prospect that the results will be commercially exploited in the course of the funding. Cooperation with commercial institutions are welcomed as a possible exploitation option, especially since these can open up alternative career paths. However, a serious interest of the company in the proposed project should be documented here (e.g. Letter of Intent - LoI, ongoing cooperation negotiation, cooperation agreement). Projects that aim to conduct a clinical trial cannot be funded within the scope of this program. We explicitly point out that the focus of this funding program is on the economic exploitability and the scientific prospects of success are not primarily in focus.

Scope of Funding:

Innovation Grants are approved for a maximum of 24 months. After this period, the project must be completed or applied externally. Funding is provided both for the applicant's position and for a staff position or student assistants as well as material and investment funds.

Requirements:

Applications may be submitted no earlier than six months before or no later than three years after completion of the doctoral degree. The project must be started within six months after approval, otherwise the funding expires. As this is a postdoctoral funding program, funding can only begin after the doctoral procedure has been officially completed with the receipt of the certificate. The application must be supported by a professor in terms of content advice, accommodation and infrastructure. Doctoral candidates and postdocs who are members or affiliates of the university are eligible to apply, given that they are also based at the university^[1]. The Innovation Grants are a person-related and not a project-related funding program, i.e. if the funded person leaves the University of Tübingen, the Innovation Grant funding expires.

Your Application Must Include:

In 6 pages:

Cover page with title, name and institute, contact details
Detailed description of the project to turn research results into commercial exploitation (process, service, prototype, product). Possible external partners must be named and their expression of interest in the project must be documented (annex)
Objective of funding: long-term cooperation between companies, licence/patenting, company foundation, etc.
Schedule for the implementation of the project with milestones and financial planning
Indication of follow-up funding if applicable (e.g. external funding programs)

Attachments:

Abstract: project summary, action plan, market relevance, the project’s innovation potential (for publication – max. 1 page Arial 11, single-spaced), two versions: German and English
Resume and list of publications and applicant’s perspective for the future
Written confirmation from supervising professor of his/her support and confirmation that he/she will ensure the project has the necessary venue and infrastructure during the funding period
Assurance that in case of premature termination of the project, any non-scientific personnel hired will be taken over by the working group for the duration of the contract
One positive assessment from representatives of your discipline
One letter of support from external cooperation partners - documented serious interest in the project (e.g., Letter of Intent, ongoing collaboration negotiation, collaboration agreement)
The form "Declaration and Fact Sheet" (see application database) filled out and signed by the Dean's Office and the Institute Director.

If a commercial spin-off project is planned, a business plan of about 5 pages is required, which also belongs to the attachment. Notes for the successful development of a business plan can be found here: https://www.existenzgruender.de/DE/Home/inhalt.html or downloaded from the BIOPRP https://www.bio-pro.de/de/angebot/publikationen/. Furthermore, the Industry Liaison Office of the University of Tübingen offers consultation previous to applications: https://wirtschaftskoordination.de/en/. It is strongly recommended to make use of the consulting offer in advance. All applications are subject to a formal eligibility check by the Industry Liaison Office upon receipt. If the transfer aspect is not sufficiently considered in the application, the application will not be submitted for review.

Selection Process:

Applications will be appraised and approved by academic referees with input from industry consultants. The Grants will be awarded in a competitive process to ensure that the projects have innovative potential and a good chance of success. The award is made by the President´s Office. Please refrain from proposing reviewers for your project. Successful applications will demonstrate:

Clear innovative content and economic viability and feasibility,
Entrepreneurial ability and sustainability
Prospects for the realization and sustainability of the project,
Academic/scientific quality: relevance, originality and timeliness of the fundamental work

Application Process:

Applications can be submitted twice a year
The electronic application tool will be activated on February 1st, and August 1st
Deadline: February 28th and August 31^st

Please respect the deadlines: All required letters and forms with the original signatures should be available by the relevant date and, in addition to uploading in the application database, should be submitted to us in hardcopy form.

Submit Your Application to:

Applications are to be uploaded into the electronic application tool (https://www.antraege-zv.uni-tuebingen.de/). In addition, one copy is to be submitted on paper to: Dr. Nora von Ameln, Zentrale Verwaltung, Div. II, Rümelinstr. 32, E-Mail: Wirtschaftskoordination@uni-tuebingen.de 07071 29 76812. Any queries about applications can be addressed to the Industry Liaison Office (Wirtschaftskoordination).

Here you will find a brief introduction to the currently funded projects:

https://wirtschaftskoordination.de/en/innovation-grants/current-projects/

[1] According to §7 and §8 of the Fundamental Order of the University at Tübingen: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/443

Humanities and Social Sciences

Aim:

nnovation Grants give junior researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences the opportunity to transfer their research results to practical applications, thus suggesting alternatives to an academic career path within the University. The goal is to apply results attained from doctoral studies to the creation of innovative techniques, services and products through collaboration with extramural partners. This would enable a transfer of theoretical knowledge to the public sphere.

Examples of possible projects:

Web tools in the context of digital humanities
Museum programs, digital exhibitions
Pedagogic concepts, e-learning materials, concepts for adult education, schoolbooks, teaching modules for intercultural competence
Concepts for refugee aid
Concepts for policy and business consultancy (benchmark analysis, case studies, communication plans for specific target groups etc.)
Concepts with societal relevance

At the end of the funding period a concrete result is expected in the form of a tool, software, an education plan, a consulting or guiding concept etc. which has been developed in collaboration with e.g. industrial companies, public institutions or volunteer societies.

Scope of Funding:

Funding is available for junior research positions, student assistants and consumables for 24 months maximum. After this time the project must be finished or have secured external funding.

Requirements:

Your application must include:

In 6 pages:

Cover page with title, name and institute, contact details
A detailed description of the project as well as its envisaged practical applications. Please give a precise definition of the project’s goal and emphasize the relevance and the benefits. Please list possible external partners.
A timetable for the implementation of the project including milestones
A financial plan
Indication of follow-up funding if applicable (external funding programs…,), further perspectives of the project

Attachments:

CV and publication record
Summary of the project, planned procedures, innovative potential of the project; this is for publication - please submit both, German and English
Letter of support signed by the supervising professor confirming that he/she will ensure the project has the necessary venue and infrastructure during the funding period
One positive assessment from representatives of your discipline
One letter of support from external cooperation partners
In case of collaborations with companies, documented serious interest in the project (e.g., Letter of Intent, Letter of Support, ongoing collaboration negotiation, collaboration agreement)
Please note that signatures of the Dean and the institute’s director are required for the form “Declaration and fact sheet” (Innovation Grant Tool https://www.antraege-zv.uni-tuebingen. de/).

If a commercial spin-off project is planned, a business plan of about 5 pages is required, which also belongs to the attachment. Notes for the successful development of a business plan can be found here: https://www.existenzgruender.de/DE/Gruendung-vorbereiten/Businessplan/inhalt.html or downloaded from the BIOPRO https://www.bio-pro.de/angebot/publikationen. Furthermore, the Industry Liaison Office of the University of Tübingen offers consultation previous to applications: http://www.wirtschaftskoordination.de/home-en. It is strongly recommended to make use of the consulting offer in advance. All applications are subject to a formal eligibility check by the Industry Liaison Office upon receipt. If the transfer aspect is not sufficiently considered in the application, the application will not be submitted for review.

Selection Process:

Applications are reviewed by academic referees and evaluated according to the selection criteria mentioned below. To guarantee that the projects are innovative and feasible the applications will be subjected to a highly competitive selection procedure. The allocation is made by the President´s Office.

Selection criteria:

Level of innovation
Perspectives for the realization and economic exploitability
Applicability and sustainability of the envisaged project
Scientific quality: Relevance, originality and topicality of the project

Application Process:

Applications can be submitted twice a year
There are two application deadlines per year: February 28th and August 31st
The electronic application tool will be activated on February 1st, and August 1st

Funding begins no later than 6 months after approval by the Research Committee and the Rectorate.

Submit Your Application to:

Applications are to be uploaded into the electronic application tool (https://www.antraege-zv.uni-tuebingen.de/index.php). In addition, one hardcopy is to be submitted to: Dr. Nora von Ameln, Zentrale Verwaltung, Div. II, Rümelinstr. 32, E-Mail: wirtschaftskoordination[at]uni-tuebingen.de, Phone: 07071-29 76812.

Any queries about applications can be addressed to the Industry Liaison Office (Wirtschaftskoordination)

Here you will find a brief introduction to the currently funded projects:

https://wirtschaftskoordination.de/innovation-grants-2/current-projects/

[1] According to §7 and §8 of the Fundamental Order of the University at Tübingen: https://uni-tuebingen.de/de/443