Announcement by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK)

1. Funding purpose and legal basis

1.1 Funding purpose
The aim is to intensify cooperation between German and Turkish representatives of science and industry by means of 2+2 projects. The term "2+2 projects" refers to R&D projects with the participation of at least one German and one Turkish research institution or university as well as one German and one Turkish industry partner. Over a period of 3 years, the funding will enable these institutions to lay the foundations for a lasting R&D partnership. It will be provided jointly by the BMBF and TÜBITAK.

1.2 Legal basis
For German applicants:
Project grants can be awarded in accordance with the present funding regulations, the BMBF's standard terms and conditions for grants on an expenditure or cost basis and the administrative regulations under section 44 of the Federal Budget Code (BHO). There is no legal entitlement to a grant. The provider of funding will decide freely after due assessment of the circumstances and within the confines of the budget funds available.

For Turkish  applicants:
The projects can be funded by TÜBITAK in accordance with the Law Concerning Establishment of Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK), and its own funding regulations and within the limits of the budget available.

2. Object of funding

Against the backdrop of the situation described above, this call for proposals has the aim of supporting joint research projects in the area of applied research and development in the fields of :

• Energy research
• Health
• Food

The joint research projects should make a contribution towards achieving the BMBF's and TÜBTAK's objectives and/or those of the EU's 7th Research Framework Programme.

Under this call for proposals, funding can be provided for joint projects that are expected to produce insights and exploitable research results leading to new technologies, products and/or services. The benefits for Germany and Turkey should be clearly identifiable.

3. Recipients of funding

Research organizations, state and non-state institutions of higher education, non-university research institutions, and commercial companies, each with their headquarters in Germany or Turkey are eligible to submit applications.

For German applicants: Research establishments which receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can be granted project funding to cover additional expenditure under certain conditions only. For commercial companies, the restrictions described in the supplementary sheet on travel expenses apply.

For Turkish applicants: For universities, the restrictions described in the Rules of TÜBITAK 1001 Programme apply. For commercial companies, restrictions described in the Rules of TÜBITAK 1509 Programme apply.

4. Prerequisites for funding

R&D projects that include the participation of at least one German and one Turkish research institution/university as well as one German and one Turkish industry partner ("2+2 projects") is a prerequisite.
The German and the Turkish partners must submit the jointly formulated proposal simultaneously to the IB of the BMBF and the TÜBITAK, respectively. Unilaterally submitted proposals will not be considered.

Before any funding is provided for the joint research project, all project partners must formalize their cooperation by concluding a cooperation agreement.
In their own interest, applicants should familiarize themselves with the EU's Research Framework Programme in the context of the envisaged project. They should check whether the planned project includes specific European components which make it eligible for exclusive EU funding. Furthermore, they should check whether an additional application for supplementary funding can be submitted to the EU for the proposed national project. The results of these enquiries should be described briefly in the project application.

5. Type, scope and rates of funding

Funding is provided in the form of non-repayable grants amounting to € 150,000 - € 450,000 per project and country. The duration of the projects generally will be up to three years. However, after the second year the project will be evaluated and funding for the third year approved. The university and company should have equal shares of the overall funding. An allocation of 35-65 % for the university (or company) is acceptable. The Projects may also use additional funds from external sources. All types of expenses necessary in order to develop the partnership are eligible. This can include the cost of events, work contracts, consumables, travel expenses, personnel and investments. (For German applicants: costs that are part of the applicant's basic equipment and basic running expenses can not be supported).
Funding will be carried out in accordance with the existing legislation and regulations in both countries. For further information, please contact the TÜBITAK and IB staff at contact details given below. Grants for universities, research establishments and similar institutions are calculated on the basis of the eligible project-related expenditure or, in the case of the Helmholtz centres and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG), on the basis of the eligible project-related costs.
Grants for Turkish universities are calculated on the basis of rules and principles of the Programme 1001 of TÜBITAK.

For Industry/companies  applicants:
Grants for commercial companies are calculated on the basis of the project-related costs eligible for funding, up to 50% of which can as a rule be covered by grants, depending on the project's orientation towards application. The EC policy requires the applicants to make an appropriate contribution - at least 50%, as a rule - towards the eligible costs incurred. The European Commission's Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development must be taken into account when determining the rates of funding. The Community Framework allows differentiated bonus arrangements for collaborative projects proposed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which may result in a higher rate of funding.
Grants for Turkish companies are calculated on the basis of rules and principles of the Programme 1509 of TÜBITAK.

6. Other terms and conditions for the awarding of grants

For German applicants:
The Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen auf Kostenbasis des BMBF an Unternehmen der gewerblichen Wirtschaft für Forschungs- und Entwicklungsvorhaben (Auxiliary Terms and Conditions for Funds Provided by the BMBF to Commercial Companies for Research and Development Projects on a Cost Basis - NKBF 98) will be part of the notification of award for grants on a cost basis.

The Allgemeine Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen zur Projektförderung (General Auxiliary Conditions for Grants Provided for Projects on an Expenditure Basis - ANBest-P) and the Besondere Nebenbestimmungen für Zuwendungen des BMBF zur Projektförderung auf Ausgabenbasis (Special Auxiliary Terms and Conditions for Funds Provided by the BMBF for the Promotion of Projects on Expenditure Basis - BNBest-BMBF 98) will form part of the notification of award of grants on an expenditure basis.

7. Procedure

7.1 Involvement of TÜBITAK and the International Bureau (IB) of the BMBF (Handling, specialist information and advice for applicants)
On the Turkish side, the following department has been entrusted with the implementation of the funding activity:
TÜBITAK
International Cooperation Department
Bilateral and Multilateral Relations Division
Atatürk Bulvari No:221
06100 Kavaklidere/Ankara
I Internet: www.tubitak.gov.tr/uidb/ikili
 
It is recommended that Turkish applicants contact TÜBITAK prior to submitting the application if they require further information or specialist advice. The contact person is:
Hale Hacaloglu
Phone. + 90 312 427 50 39
Fax: + 90 312 427 74 83
E-mail: uidb@tubitak.gov.tr

On the German side, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has entrusted the following organization with the implementation of the funding activity:

International Bureau of the BMBF (IB)
c/o German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
D-53227 Bonn
Internet: www.internationales-buero.de

It is recommended that German applicants contact the IB prior to submitting the application if they require further information or specialist advice. The contact person responsible for this call for proposals is
Akin Akkoyun
Phone: +49 228 3821-470
Fax: +49 228 3821-444
E-mail: akin.akkoyun@dlr.de

7.2 Submission of funding applications
Application form can be downloaded from TÜBITAK and IB websites. The German and the Turkish partners must submit the proposal in English simultaneously to TÜBITAK and BMBF/IB. Unilaterally submitted proposals will not be considered.

On the Turkish side, 3 hard copies and 1 CD of the applications need to be submitted to the International Cooperation Department of TÜBITAK. The 2 + 2 Application Form should be filled by both partners from the university and the industry and should be submitted to TÜBITAK as a single proposal.

On the German side one hard copy and an electronic version of the applications need to be submitted to the International Bureau of BMBF. Additionally Part A of the application has to be submitted online at http://www.internationales-buero.de/de/3177.php

7.3 Selection and decision-making procedure
All proposals received are peer reviewed and processed independently by both sides (TÜBITAK and BMBF / IB). Funding will only be provided if both the TÜBITAK and the IB agree to support the project.
Essential for funding are the expected scientific progress and the potential for realization and success in accordance with the objectives of this call.

Applications will be considered on the basis of the following criteria:

• Innovation, originality and plausibility of the approach 
• Sustainability of the project; long-term strategy of the partnership. 
• Commercial exploitability of the expected results 
• Human resources development (assessment based on the involvement of graduate or PhD students and scientists in the early stages of their careers) 
• Prospects for success (assessment based on availability of human resources and infrastructure, quality of project management and workplan) 
• Relevance for the EU integration process (assessment based on association with multilateral networks, experience with EU Framework programmes). 
• Scientific excellence and qualification of the applicant 
• Scientific impact

The applicants will be informed in writing about the results of the evaluation. The International Bureau at the DLR and TÜBITAK will conclude separately a funding contract under private law with the selected German and Turkish coordinator, respectively.

The partners of the selected projects will submit a cooperation agreement between the partners prior to the conclusion of the funding contract. A draft cooperation agreement will be made available on the web sites of the International Bureau at the DLR and TÜBITAK after the evaluation procedure is finalised.

7.4 Deadline for Applications
Proposals must be submitted no later than 01.05.2009 (postmark) to IB and TÜBITAK. The submission of an application does not establish a legal claim to funding. Project funding is expected to start on 1 October 2009.

8. Entry into force

These funding regulations will enter into force on the day of their publication on the Bundesanzeiger  and the TÜBITAK's website.

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¹Turkish-German Scientific and Technological Cooperation is based an the Cooperation Agreement between TÜBITAK and  FZ Jülich GmbH in 1997 and the Minutes of Meeting of the Working Group Science, Research and Technology.