Cooperation between Germany and Ukraine in the areas of science, technology and innovation

Scientific and technological cooperation (STC) between Germany and Ukraine can look back on a long history and is becoming even more important thanks to Ukraine's key role in the European Union’s neighbourhood policy.

Intensifying bilateral relations in priority fields that are of mutual interest is an important element of the increasing internationalization of German institutions, the national funding programmes of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and cooperation under European funding programmes. On the German side, the priority subjects of the Federal Government’s High-Tech Strategy (http://www.hightech-strategie.de/) are of central importance.

This funding measure is part of Germany and Ukraine’s STC and has the aims of initiating and intensifying collaborations in the field of applied research and supporting scientist exchanges in joint research projects. Preference is given to application-oriented projects and projects that include the participation of industry partners, particularly small and medium-sized businesses. This has the aim of creating a basis for further submissions under current BMBF funding programmes, thematic priorities of the European Union’s 7th Research Framework Programme, and other EU programmes that are relevant to research.

This joint call for proposals focuses on cooperation in the field of health research, including medical technology.

The main fields of action include:

• The effective combat of diseases
• Research in the field of health protection
• Collaborations between industry and science in the field of health research (especially diagnostic and therapeutic agents and medical technology)

On the German side, the subject areas will be geared towards the Federal Government’s Health Research Programme (http://www.gesundheitsforschung-bmbf.de/en/index.php).

Under the regulations of this call, proposals relating to other subjects can also be submitted, provided that they correspond to the research policy priorities of both countries. This applies to the following fields in particular:

• Nanotechnology
• Optical technologies
• Biotechnology
• Information and communication technologies
• The environment and sustainability

The funding focuses on the following types of mobility measures for research groups consisting of at least one institution (see section 3 for details on eligibility) from Germany and one institution from Ukraine:

• The initiation and intensification of project-related or institutional collaborations
• Measures for the initiation and planning of projects and collaborations whose funding is to be applied for under a BMBF specialist programme or an EU programme

The integration of Ukrainian partners in ongoing BMBF- or EU-funded projects can also be supported.

Funding can be provided to cover the costs of preparatory fact-finding visits, project-related scientific exchanges, expert meetings and subject-specific project planning workshops. In well-founded exceptional cases, expenses for further material costs (e.g. the cost of events, special small-scale equipment for feasibility studies that are not part of the laboratory's basic equipment) and grants towards personnel costs can also be covered.

On the German side, research proposals may be submitted by institutions of higher education, non-university research institutions in collaboration with Ukrainian partner institutions, clinics that are active in the field of research, and commercial companies that are headquartered in Germany. Preference will be given to applications involving small and medium-sized enterprises.

On the German side, funding is awarded in the form of non-repayable grants, for example for

• Travel expenses for German experts travelling to Ukraine (primarily the provision of plane tickets)
• Cost of visits by foreign experts to Germany (currently at a rate of €82 per day; monthly rate starting on the 23rd day: €1,840; per diem for additional days in a subsequent month: €61)
• In well-founded exceptional cases: staff on the German side, for example for events and feasibility studies
• Cost of events (e.g. rental of venue, logistics)
• Material costs that are not part of the laboratory's basic equipment (no PC equipment or basic consumables) 

Measures for joint (partial) funding from both countries are currently being agreed between the BMBF and the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science. The German side assumes that these negotiations will result in complementary funding from the Ukrainian side.

In the first step, the maximum duration of the projects is 18 months. At the end of each calendar year, the German project leaders will be asked to submit a report on the progress of the project and an updated project plan for the subsequent calendar year.

Each proposal must be jointly submitted by at least one group of researchers in Germany and one group of researchers in Ukraine.

The German project leader should use the electronic web-based application form of the International Bureau (IB) of the BMBF, which is available at http://www.ewa.internationales-buero.de/?project_cat=3. It is to be expected that the Ukrainian side will provide appropriate information on the submission procedure for corresponding Ukrainian proposals in due course, for example on the website of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science (http://www.mon.gov.ua/).

Applications are accepted and processed continually. In principle, proposals should be submitted at least 3 months before the start of the planned project in order to ensure that a decision can be reached in good time. In exceptional cases, for example in the case of priority preparatory measures and special measures, the period between the submission of the proposal and the start of funding can be shortened.

Applications will be considered on the basis of the following criteria, among others:

• Inclusion of new cooperation partners
• Scientific quality of the work plan, originality of the approach
• Qualification of the involved institutions
• Quality of the collaboration and mutual benefit
• Added value compared with cooperation to date, synergies
• Applicability of the expected results / industry participation (particularly from SMEs)
• Support of young scientists
• The projects will be evaluated in consultation with experts in the relevant fields.

The submission of an application does not establish a legal claim to funding.

On the German side, the following organization is responsible for implementing this call:
Internationales Büro des BMBF
beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Heinrich-Konen-Straße 1
53227 Bonn
Contact partner:
Dr. Erich Rathske
Phone:  +49-228-3821 464
Fax:  +49-228-3821 444
E-mail:  erich.rathske@dlr.de
Internet: http://www.internationales-buero.de