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Funding through the Zoonoses Platform

!Please note: The zoonoses platform is currently in a transition phase, therefore no project applications can be reviewed at the moment!

 

Call for proposals for projects and applications for 'Funding of Scientific Events' at the German Research Platform for Zoonoses


The aim of the German Research Platform for Zoonoses, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is to intensify the networking between the working groups from the fields of human medicine, veterinary medicine and infection biology that conduct scientific research on zoonoses at university and non-university locations in Germany. At the same time, research in cross-location and cross-topic projects and the improved usability of research results are to be promoted.

The four federal ministries - the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Defence - will continue to provide funding for the implementation of pilot and cross-sectional projects as well as for the funding of interdisciplinary PhD projects in the field of zoonoses.
Furthermore, funds are available for the implementation of scientific events.

Project applications for innovative pilot projects, networking cross-sectional projects and interdisciplinary doctoral projects can be submitted via the office of the National Research Platform for Zoonoses. The definition for pilot and cross-sectional projects can be found in the document on the procedure for awarding pilot and cross-sectional project funds. The definition for interdisciplinary doctoral projects can be found in the document on the procedure for awarding Interdisciplinary doctoral project funds.

A prerequisite for admission to the review process is that the project proposal can be thematically assigned to one of the topic areas mentioned in the Research Agenda.

To apply for a project or an application for funding of scientific events at the National Research Platform for Zoonoses, please use the appropriate form:

The application language is usually German. However, if required project application can also be submitted in English.

To ensure that the application procedure is as smooth as possible, please read carefully the procedure for the awarding of pilot and cross-sectional projects or for the awarding of interdisciplinary doctoral projects as well as the information sheet on the funding of scientific events. It contains valuable information on the projects and the project application procedure of the German Research Platform for Zoonoses.

A prerequisite for funding under the umbrella of the German Research Platform for Zoonoses is the fulfilment of the criteria listed in the above-mentioned documents.

Before submitting a project, you are welcome to contact our office in Münster for a non-binding consultation (email). Experience has shown that a prior consultation can increase the chances of a successful project application.

Information on currently running projects can be found here

Information on completed projects can be found here

Pilot and cross-sectional projects

All projects must contain an added value for zoonoses research. This includes concrete concepts on how the methods and infrastructures established in the project should be disseminated to other scientists (e.g. by training scientists in new techniques or methods), how samples or databases should be made available to the scientific community or how young scientists should be supported. Simply publishing project results in scientific journals does not provide sufficient added value to make a project eligible for funding through the National Research Platform for Zoonoses.

All applicants are requested to emphasize in particular the added value for zoonoses research, i.e. the benefit of the project or result beyond the project duration for more zoonoses researchers than the applicant alone. The publication of the project results is desired, but is not considered sufficient added value for funding under the umbrella of the National Research Platform for Zoonoses.

For pilot projects, special emphasis should be placed on the novelty or originality.

For cross-sectional projects, the successful and intensive networking of the applicant with other partners in zoonoses research should be particularly emphasised.

Further information on funding of pilot and cross-sectional projects

Application form pilot and cross-sectional projects

Interdisciplinary doctoral projects

The Zoonoses Platform traditionally attaches great importance to the promotion of young scientists. There is a need for interdisciplinary networking of young scientists in early stages of their careers and to train them with the awareness of a zoonoses researcher who is part of an interdisciplinary community. This is the only way to meet future needs in infection research (see G20 goals) through high-quality research work by scientists with a broad interdisciplinary spectrum. Therefore, the Zoonoses Platform supports interdisciplinary PhD projects in the field of zoonoses research:

Interdisciplinary PhD projects aim to qualify PhD students at a very early stage of their own scientific career in the sense of the One Health guiding principle. The interdisciplinarity of the project with relevance to zoonoses research must be demonstrated. For this purpose, at least two disciplines (e.g. veterinary medicine, human medicine, biology, climate research etc.) with relevance for zoonoses research must be involved in the project. As proof of qualification, the so-called One Health Certificate must be presented at the end of the project. In order to obtain this, the requirements according to the guidelines for obtaining the One Health Certificate apply.

All applicants are asked to emphasize the added value for zoonoses research, i.e. the benefit of the project or the result beyond the project duration for more zoonoses researchers than the applicant alone. The publication of the project results is desired, but is not considered sufficient added value for funding under the umbrella of the National Research Platform for Zoonoses.

For interdisciplinary PhD projects, the relevance of the topic for zoonoses research and the interdisciplinary nature of the project should be particularly emphasised.

Further information on funding of interdisciplinary doctoral projects. Please make sure to include the "Willensbekundung" to your project application.

Application form doctoral projects

 

Scientific events

The National Research Platform for Zoonoses promotes scientific events that serve to initiate new cooperations and projects in the field of zoonoses research. Funding is provided for events in Germany that have a high degree of networking between human and veterinary medicine and are of an inter-institutional nature.

Details on funding of scientific events can be found in the leaflet "Funding of scientific events".

In addition, strategic events can also be applied for at the Zoonoses Platform.

All projects must contain an added value for zoonoses research. This includes concrete concepts on how the methods and infrastructures established in the project should be disseminated to other scientists (e.g. by training scientists in new techniques or methods), how samples or databases should be made available to the scientific community or how young scientists should be supported. Simply publishing project results in scientific journals does not provide sufficient added value to make a project eligible for funding through the German Research Platform for Zoonoses.

Projects should not be applied for if they fall within the remit of sovereign services of the applicant. Projects whose sole aim is the sequencing of genomes will only be funded in exceptional cases.
 

Cross-sectional projects:

Cross-sectional projects serve to establish structures and sustainable networks that are accessible and usable for all scientists working with zoonoses at the latest after the end of funding.

pilot projects:

The new method or groundbreaking finding for zoonoses research resulting from the project is the added value that results from pilot projects.

Projects should not be submitted for work which falls within the remit of the applicant's official services.
Projects whose sole aim is the sequencing of genomes will only be funded in exceptional cases.
Further exclusion criteria are:

  • projects on topics which have no identifiable zoonotic link
  • projects whose aim is the completion of a project already started or a doctoral thesis
  • projects whose sole aim is the sequencing of genomes
  • Tasks falling within the sovereign remit of the applicant or a project partner
  • projects whose only added value is a publication
  • the development of services that are offered commercially elsewhere
  • Closing of budget gaps or increase of a basic budget
  • Supplements to existing subsidies (= double subsidies)
  • travel grants, printing subsidies and similar grants as sole project content

All members of the German Research Platform for Zoonoses are eligible to apply. This call is also explicitly addressed to young scientists!

Project applications are accepted by e-mail or post at any time without any specific submission deadlines and are processed in the order of their arrival and reviewed by the Internal Advisory Board. You will be invited to the next possible meeting of the Internal Advisory Board to present your project proposal. However, due to the time available per meeting day, it cannot be guaranteed that all submitted proposals can be included in the next meeting. You will be informed in good time of the date on which you will be invited. Please do not forget to sign the application form if it is submitted exclusively electronically!

The next meeting of the Internal Advisory Board will take place on  22. September, 2022.
Project applications for this meeting must reach the office by 07. September 2022 at the latest.

We will be happy to advise you in advance of your application without obligation. Please contact the office.

The call for project applications ends when the maximum funding volume is reached.

  1. Submission of the project application to the National Research Platform for Zoonoses Münster. A prior consultation is recommended (email). 
  2. Review by the Internal Advisory Board
  3. Submission of the formal application and final review by the project executing agency or the funding ministry

In the case of publications on a pilot or cross-sectional project, or an interdisciplinary doctoral project, reference should be made to the funding under the umbrella of the Zoonoses Platform:

This project (funding code) was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research* / Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture* / Federal Ministry of Health* under the umbrella of the National Research Platform for Zoonoses.

This project (promotional reference) has been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research* / Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture* / Federal Ministry of Health* within the network of the German Research Platform for Zoonoses.

* Please select / please select  

 You will find contact persons in the office.