21 November 2012

1 Funding purpose and legal basis

1.1 Funding purpose

This joint German-Tunisian announcement aims at the internationalisation of science and technology and at intensifying the cooperation between Tunisia and Germany in the field of science and technology.
This joint announcement is based on the joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of science and technology between Tunisia and Germany of 10 September 1998.

1.2 Legal basis

On the German side, project grants will be awarded in accordance with the present announcement, the BMBF's  standard terms and conditions for grants on expenditure or cost basis and the administrative regulations under sections 23 and 44 of the German Federal Budget Code (BHO). Applicants have no legal claim to a grant. The funding provider will make a decision at its own proper and dutiful discretion and within the framework of the budget funds available.

2 Object of funding

The aim of this announcement is to develop and deepen bilateral scientific cooperation between German and Tunisian institutions. Thus, this announcement aims at supporting German-Tunisian cooperation in the fields of scientific research and technological development through funding

1. Joint German-Tunisian projects in the field of applied research and
2. Exploratory measures for the establishment of joint research partnerships.

Furthermore, support will be provided for the preparation of new project applications within the framework of the European Research Framework Programmes.

Project proposals will be accepted from the following research areas:

1. Renewable energy and energy efficiency,
2. Agriculture and resource management;
3. Information and communication technology (ICT),
4. Social sciences and the Humanities,
5. Entrepreneurship,
6. Innovation management, knowledge and technology transfer.

Particular importance will be attached to the participation of commercial companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs ).

3 Funding recipients

On the German side:
German universities, research institutions and commercial companies (particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)) are eligible for funding.
Research institutions that receive joint basic funding from the Federal Government and the Länder can only be granted project funding supplementary to their basic funding to cover additional expenditure under certain preconditions.

On the Tunisian side:
Tunisian research institutes or centres and universities are eligible for funding (with the possibility of the socialization of SMEs).

4 Funding prerequisites

On the German side:
Funds can be granted through project funding as non-repayable subsidies.
Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves - in their own interests - with the EU's Research Framework Programme in the context of the planned national project. They should examine whether the planned project includes specific European components which make it eligible for exclusive EU funding. Furthermore, they should examine whether an additional application for funding can be submitted to the EU in the context of the planned national project. The outcome of this check should be described briefly in the national application.
Grants for commercial companies are calculated on the basis of the eligible project-related costs, which are generally financed up to 50% depending on how practically oriented the project is. The BMBF's policy requires that these companies contribute at least 50% towards the eligible costs incurred.
Grants for universities, research and science institutions and similar establishments are calculated on the basis of the eligible project-related expenditure (grants for Helmholtz centres and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG) are calculated on the basis of the eligible project-related costs) that can be funded up to 100% in individual cases.
The European Commission's Community Framework for State Aid for Research and Development must be taken into account when calculating the respective funding ratio. This Community Framework allows a differentiated bonus arrangement for collaborative projects involving applicants in the new German Länder and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which may result in a higher rate of funding.

The total funding applied for on the German side for

1. Joint German-Tunisian application-oriented research projects with a maximum funding duration of 24 months should not exceed € 200,000 per project (including the lump-sum allowance (20%) for universities and university hospitals);
2. Exploratory measures for the establishment of joint research partnerships with a maximum funding duration of 24 months should not exceed € 20,000 per measure (including the lump-sum allowance (20%) for universities and university hospitals).

On the Tunisian side:
Funds can be granted through project funding in the form of non-repayable subsidies.
The total funding applied for on the Tunisian side for:

1. Joint German-Tunisian application-oriented research projects with a maximum funding duration of 24 months should not exceed € 200,000 from each side for all projects that will be selected for 24 months.
2. Exploratory measures for the establishment of joint research partnerships with a maximum funding duration of 24 months should not exceed € 20,000 per measure.

5 Type, scope and amount of funding

On the German side, the following expenditures will be eligible for funding:
For

1. Joint German-Tunisian application-oriented research projects, the expenditures specified from 1) to 6) will be eligible for funding.
2. Exploratory measures for the establishment of joint research partnerships, the expenditures specified under 1), 2) and 6) will be eligible for funding.

1. The following applies to the funding of travel expenses for German project scientists:
   Travel expenses (air tickets: Economy Class) to and from the location of the project partner will be covered by the sending country, whereas daily allowances will be paid by the host country.
   The foreign project partner is principally responsible for the granting of daily allowances for German experts abroad.
2. The following applies to the funding of travel expenses of foreign project scientists:
   Daily allowances and project-related domestic travel expenses: as a rule, a fixed lump-sum of €104 per day and/or €2,300 per month will be paid for stays of up to 3 months per year in Germany by the German funding agency. These lump-sums also cover contributions to health insurance and, if applicable, other types of insurance, which must therefore be paid by the recipients themselves.

Travel expenses to and from the location of the project partner will be covered by the sending country.

3) Workshops:

Workshops with already known partners or workshops aimed at opening up new cooperation potential can be supported in the following ways:
Grants will be provided towards material expenses incurred in the organisation of bilateral workshops in Germany, including the accommodation of foreign guests, transfer within Germany, the preparation of the workshop, entertainment and the rental of the venue. The amount of the grant depends on the size of the workshop and the number of foreign guests. No daily allowances (cf. 2) will be paid in such cases.

4) Equipment:

Project-related subsidies will be granted for equipment (expendable items, devices, business needs, transportation expenses, literature, rents, orders, etc.) in duly justified exceptional cases and on a limited scale.

5) Staff:

Project-related costs for student, administrative and/or scientific staff are eligible for funding.

6) Lump-sum for projects (20 %) for the benefit of universities and university hospitals

https://foerderportal.bund.de/easy/easy_index.php?auswahl=easy_formulare&formularschrank=bmbf#t1

In principle, costs for basic equipment are neither covered nor eligible for funding; this includes:

• expenditure on e.g. office stationery or communication
• laboratory and computer equipment

On the Tunisian side:
On the Tunisian side, the following expenditures will be eligible for funding:

• Exchanges of experts and young scientists:
  Financial support for the approved projects is usually provided for exchange visits by project team members. In exchanges of project researchers and student researchers, the sending party covers the costs of international travel and the receiving party meets the boarding and lodging expenses. The financial coverage of the expenses of the visiting project researchers by the receiving party will consist of the following:
• • Accommodation and food or a daily allowance of €75 for researchers
  • €400 per month will be paid for student researchers.
• Mutual participation in scientific activities held in both countries such as workshops, seminars, exhibitions, etc.
  Workshops with already known partners or workshops aimed at opening up new cooperation potential can be supported in the following ways:
  Grants will be provided towards material expenses incurred in the organisation of bilateral workshops in Tunisia, including the accommodation of foreign guests, transfer within Tunisia, the preparation of the workshop, entertainment and the rental of the venue. The amount of the grant depends on the size of the workshop and the number of foreign guests. No daily allowances will be paid in such cases.
• Equipment:
• • Joint use of research and development facilities and scientific equipment of laboratories and research units,
  • Project-related subsidies will be granted for equipment (expendable items, devices, business needs, transportation expenses, literature, rents, orders, etc.) in duly justified exceptional cases and on a limited scale.

In principle, costs for basic equipment are neither covered nor eligible for funding; this includes:

• Expenditure on e.g. office stationery or communication
• Staff:
  Project-related costs for student, administrative and/or scientific staff are eligible for funding.

6 Procedure

6.1 Implementation

On the German side:
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has commissioned the International Bureau with implementing the funding measures:

Internationales Büro des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (IB)
im Projektträger beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
Internet: http://www.internationales-buero.de/

Scientific officer at the International Bureau:
Stephan Epe
E-mail: Stephan.Epe@dlr.de
Phone: +49(0)228-3821-1904
Fax: +49(0)228-3821-1490

Administrative contact at the International Bureau:
Lydia Bartuli
E-mail: Lydia.Bartuli@dlr.de
Phone: +49(0)228-3821-1828
Fax: +49(0)228-3821-1490

On the Tunisian side:
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (General Directorate of Scientific Research)

Address: Avenue Ouled Haffouz - 1030 Tunis, Tunisia.
Tel : +216 71 835 351
Fax: +216 71 835 351
E-mail: awatefsoltane@gmail.com; awtef.soltane@mes.rnu.tn

6.2 Submission of formal funding applications and decision-making procedure

On the German side, the funding procedure consists of two stages.

In the first stage, a draft proposal is to be submitted in English by 15 February 2013 at the latest, using the electronic system PT-Outline (https://www.pt-it.de/ptoutline/application/STC_TUNGER_2012).
A German summary must be be included.
The legally binding signed draft proposal is to be sent to the International Bureau by 28 Febuary 2013, at the latest (as evidenced by the postmark). Please indicate the project ID number, which is issued after the completion of the submission of the project proposal via pt-outline, on all documents.

The draft proposal consists of two parts:

1. Information for administrative purposes in PT-Outline
2. An individual, call-specific project description in English, with the following structure:
3. 1. Abstract (in English and in German)
   2. Project objectives
   3. State of research and technology
   4. Project implementation
   5. Cooperation
   6. Need for the funding
   7. Annexes
      This project description (Part B) must be uploaded as a single document in PT-Outline (zip-archive or pdf-document).
      The draft proposal is the basis for the scientific and content-specific evaluation of the project. The project description should therefore contain comprehensive evidence regarding all positions of the outline (see structure for project description above). The description should not exceed 15 pages (Arial Font Size 11, 1.5 line spacing, and 2 cm margin, without list of publications and other annexes).

In the second stage, applicants whose draft proposals have been evaluated positively will be invited to submit - in coordination with the designated project coordinator - a formal application for funding on which a decision will be taken after a final evaluation.
Applicants must use the BMBF's electronic application system "easy" to draft formal applications for funding. Forms for funding applications, guidelines, instructions, information and terms and conditions can be found under
https://foerderportal.bund.de/easy/easy_index.php?auswahl=easy_formulare&formularschrank=bmbf&menue=block
or can be obtained directly from the project management organisation.
The application is to be sent to the following address (taking into account the deadline for submission):
Internationales Büro des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (IB)
im Projektträger beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Stephan Epe and Lydia Bartuli
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn

In case of technical questions regarding application via PT-Outline (but not in case of content-related questions referring to the announcement), please contact:
Internationales Büro des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (IB)
im Projektträger beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Martina Lauterbach
E-mail: Martina.Lauterbach@dlr.de
Phone: +49(0)228-3821-1734

The deadline for submission is not a cut-off date. However, applications received after this date may be not be considered.

On the Tunisian side:
On the Tunisian side the funding procedure consists of two stages:
In the first stage:

• The researchers of both countries are to form a research team in a selected research field. To initiate a project, scientists from both countries will form a joint research team and prepare a research proposal in English. Each team of the JRP will be led by one Tunisian principal investigator and one German principal investigator.
• The Tunisian principal investigator should submit a proposal to Tunisia while the German principal investigator should submit a proposal to Germany. When submitting the research proposal on the Tunisian side, the Tunisian administrative focal point should indicate the project ID number issued after the completion of the submission of the project proposal via PT-Outline on the German side. The latter will be sent by the German side to the Tunisian side.
• The Parties will decide the priorities for the submitted research projects through domestic evaluations and make the final selection on the basis of discussions between the Parties.

Proposals must be:

• Duly completed relevant application forms distributed by MHESR and available on the websites www.mes.rnu.tn in Tunisia which are approved by the heads of the institutions of the coordinators.

Submission:

• Tunisian Principal Investigators should submit proposals to MHESR (1 hard copy + 1 digital copy); electronic submission by the same deadline is also accepted,
• The deadline for the submission of proposals is 15 January 2013,
• Only jointly submitted proposals will be considered. Proposal submitted by one side only may not be considered

In the second stage:

• The projects which are to be jointly selected will be the subject of a research agreement between the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the project coordinator.
• This agreement contains several articles relating to budget, project duration, and submission of a mid-term report prior to the end of the annual period in project execution and final reports within one month/two months of the effective end of the whole project.
• The agreement is attached to the table of the distribution of funds, which includes a breakdown of the budget allocated for the project.

6.3 Evaluation criteria

The project proposals received will be evaluated by independent and external experts on the German as well as on the Tunisian side.
The following criteria will apply for

1. Joint German-Tunisian application-oriented research projects:
2. • Compliance of the project with content-related focus areas
   • Scientific excellence and originality of the project
   • Quality of the planned utilisation of the results
   • Potential scientific impact
   • Prospects for the realisation of the aspired objectives
   • Quality of cooperation
   • Initiating new partnerships and promoting young / female scientists
   • Appropriateness and necessity of funding applied for
3. Exploratory measures for the establishment of joint research partnerships:
4. • Compliance of the project with content-related focus areas
   • Quality and originality of the proposal
   • Qualification of the applicants
   • Utilisation of the project results
   • Added value of the cooperation
   • Appropriateness and necessity of funding applied for

Funding decisions will be made after a final review of the applications based on the evaluation criteria mentioned above. Only applications that are approved by both sides will receive funding.
Applicants will be informed in writing about the result of the selection process.

7. Other grant regulations

The General Auxiliary Conditions for Grants Provided for Projects on an Expenditure Basis (ANBest-P) and the Special Auxiliary Terms and Conditions for Funds provided by the BMBF for the Promotion of Projects on Expenditure Basis (BNBest-BMBF98) will form part of the agreement governing grants on an expenditure basis. The Auxiliary Terms and Conditions for Funds provided by the BMBF on a Cost Basis (NKBF98) will be part of the agreement for grants on a cost basis.
The BMBF reserves the right to stipulate regulations in the grant agreement which deviate from paragraph 7 and 8 of the BNBest-BMBF 98 or paragraph 12 and 13 of the NKBF 98 when transferring the rights of use of the research results.

8. Entry into force

This announcement will enter into force on the date of publication in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger).

Bonn, 21.11.2012  
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (General Directorate for Scientific Research)
On behalf of

Peter Webers