Connectionists: Bernstein Award 2008, Funding for Independent Research Groups in the are of Computational Neuroscience, in Germany

[Simone Cardoso de Oliveira]

Dear connectionists,

within the Bernstein Network for Computational Neuroscience, the German 
Federal Ministry of of Education and Research (BMBF) has once more 
announced a call for proposals for the 'Bernstein Award 2008'. This 
grant allows young researchers of any nationality to get fundig (up to 
1.25 M€, over a period of 5 years) for their own, independent research 
group, to be installed at any German University or research institution.

Please find the complete announcement on the webpage:
http://www.bernstein-zentren.de/en/551.php

or see below.
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Announcement
of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
from Regulations for the "Bernstein Award" Funding Initiative
within the framework of the
National Network for Computational Neuroscience

14.11.2007

1. Funding purpose and legal basis
1.1 Funding purpose

Computational Neuroscience is a very dynamic research discipline in the 
field of the neurosciences. With its interdisciplinary approach and 
systematic cooperation between biology, medicine, physics, mathematics 
and computer science, this research area promises the accelerated 
generation of new findings as well as major impetus for 
application-oriented fields such as health research, information 
technology and education.

The BMBF has established four "Bernstein Centres for Computational 
Neuroscience" (http://www.bernstein-zentren.de/en/index.php) within the 
framework of its "National Network for Computational Neuroscience" 
funding activity. These high-performing centres are the main structural 
elements of the National Network. This means that a new structure has 
been created which is necessary for developing a new quality in 
Computational Neuroscience, for networking this research area and for 
promoting its international visibility.

It is particularly important to attract excellent young researchers in 
order to lastingly establish and strengthen Computational Neuroscience 
as a field of research in Germany. The Bernstein Centres contribute 
substantially to achieving this goal with their concepts for supporting 
junior researchers by means of study programmes and postgraduate 
research groups. But there is also a great need to attract and support 
young researchers at the level of research group leaders, where they 
will be able to develop their own research profiles and attain greater 
scientific independence by establishing and heading their own junior 
research groups.

The "Bernstein Award" funding activity aims to support research projects 
in the field of Computational Neuroscience, thus enabling excellent 
young researchers working in this field to implement innovative project 
ideas in Computational Neuroscience in the German research environment. 
This is intended to promote the academic qualification of these 
outstanding young researchers, among other things. The projects 
supported under the "Bernstein Award" initiative will become an integral 
part of the National Network for Computational Neuroscience and give new 
impetus to scientific activities.

As announced in the funding regulations for the "Bernstein Award" 
initiative of 21 March 2006, the Federal Ministry of Education and 
Research intends to support one research project under this initiative 
in 2008.

1.2. Legal basis

Project grants can be awarded in accordance with the present funding 
regulations, the BMBF's standard terms and conditions for grants on 
expenditure or cost basis and the administrative regulations under 
section 44 of the Federal Budget Code (BHO). Applicants have no legal 
claim to a grant. The grant-awarding agency will decide freely after due 
assessment of the circumstances within the framework of the budget funds 
available.

2. Object of funding

Funding is provided for research projects which have been designed by 
German or non-German young scientists (post-docs) and which will be 
carried out by these young scientists at a German research institution. 
Researchers are expected to furnish evidence of extraordinary scientific 
achievements in the field of Computational Neuroscience. By realizing 
research projects which they have designed and will supervise themselves 
and by establishing their own junior research group, the young project 
leaders are to be given an opportunity to conduct independent research. 
The funded research projects are to be conducted at a German university 
or scientific institution (see section 3 below) within or outside the 
Bernstein Centres.

The funded projects of the young researchers are to be integrated in the 
National Network for Computational Neuroscience in order to strengthen 
this network. The young researchers should therefore participate in the 
annual workshops and status seminars of the Bernstein Centres. The 
purpose of the status seminars is to facilitate exchanges on the 
progress and results of research and to promote networking between the 
Bernstein Centres.

3. Grant recipients

Research proposals may be submitted by institutions of higher education 
and non-university research institutions based in Germany. Research 
institutions which receive joint basic funding from the Federal 
Government and the Länder can only be awarded project funding to cover 
their additional expenditure under certain conditions.

4. Prerequisites for funding

Funding under the "Bernstein Award" initiative is only provided for 
innovative research projects which have been designed by outstanding 
post-docs and will be conducted by them at a university or 
non-university research institution in Germany (see sections 2 and 3 
above). A project will only be eligible for funding if the university or 
research institution concerned employs the young researcher during the 
funding period. Furthermore, the host institution is expected to provide 
the working facilities required for carrying out the project (basic 
equipment in terms of laboratory space and other infrastructure) and to 
support the young researcher in all matters. A statement made to that 
effect by the host institution must be included with the project outline 
to be submitted in accordance with section 7.2.1 below.

In their own interest, applicants should familiarize themselves with the 
EU's Research Framework Programme in the context of the planned national 
project. They should check whether the planned project includes specific 
European components which make it eligible for exclusive EU funding. 
Applicants should also examine whether a supplementary application for 
funding can be submitted to the EU in the context of the planned 
national project. Applicants should briefly state the results of these 
investigations in their national application

5. Type, scope and rates of funding

Project funding may be awarded in the form of non-repayable grants.

Grants for universities, research and science institutions and similar 
establishments will be calculated on the basis of the project-related 
expenditure eligible for funding (grants for Helmholtz centres and the 
Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG) will be calculated on the basis of the 
project-related costs eligible for funding); in individual cases, up to 
100 per cent of this expenditure/these costs can be funded.

The European Commission's Community Framework for State Aid for Research 
and Development must be taken into account when fixing the rates of 
funding. The Community Framework allows differentiated rules on extra 
percentage points for collaborative projects proposed by applicants from 
the new German Länder and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 
which may result in a higher rate of funding.

Under the "Bernstein Award" initiative, funding will be provided for one 
research project per year to the extent that this is possible within the 
confines of relevant medium-term fiscal planning. The maximum funding 
period for each individual project is five years. Funding for each 
individual project can amount to up to €1.25 million over the entire 
project period.

During the project period, funding can be provided for the salary of the 
young project leader (up to salary group E14 TVöD or Ib BAT), for up to 
two positions for further scientific staff (E13 TVöD or IIa BAT), and 
for the required technical personnel in accordance with the relevant 
collective agreements. Funding cannot be provided for posts which are 
financed from public funds. Equipment and investment costs will be 
reimbursed in accordance with the other terms and conditions which are 
applicable (see sections 6 and 7 below, for example).

6. Other terms and conditions for awarding funds

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

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

7. Procedure
7.1. Involvement of a project management organization and request for 
documents

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research has commissioned the 
following project management organization to implement the funding 
activity:

Projektträger PT-DLR - Projektträger Gesundheitsforschung
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
Germany
Tel.: + 49 (0)228-3821 210 (Sekretariat)
Fax: + 49 (0)228-3821 257
Internet: 
http://www.dlr.de/pt/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-4270/6848_read-6936/

The contact is Dr. Krüger (Tel.: + 49 (0)228-3821 296).

Application forms, guidelines, information for applicants and the 
auxiliary terms and conditions are available here or can be obtained 
from the project management organization. Applicants are strongly 
advised to use the electronic application system "easy" for drafting 
formal applications.

7.2 Two-tiered funding procedure
The funding procedure is two-tiered.

7.2.1 Submission and selection of project outlines

In a first step, written project outlines must be submitted by post to 
the project management organization (PT-DLR) by 2 June 2008 at the 
latest. If necessary, further selection rounds will be carried out on 
the basis of these funding regulations. The deadlines for the submission 
of project outlines will be published on 
http://www.gesundheitsforschung-bmbf.de/en/175.php in due course.

With a view to the international evaluation procedure, it is recommended 
that the project outlines be submitted to the PT-DLR in English. The 
deadline for submission is not a cut-off deadline. However, it may prove 
impossible to consider project outlines which are received after that date.

Young German and non-German researchers who meet the criteria set out in 
this announcement (see section 4 above) are entitled to submit project 
outlines in agreement with the host university or research institution.

The project outlines must include a description structured along the 
following lines:

* Name of the young researcher, full office address, contact details 
(phone, fax, e-mail).
* A meaningful CV (up to five pages, Arial 11 pt) which includes 
achievements in Computational Neuroscience (e. g. supervision of young 
researchers, national and international cooperation, raising of external 
funds, invitations to or hosting of conferences, membership of editorial 
boards of relevant scientific journals, expert opinions, other activities)
* List of publications
* Preliminary project description for the research programme of the 
entire proposed junior research group, including all planned scientific 
and technical staff members (up to ten pages Arial 11 pt) and a 
financial plan
* Statement from the university or research institution at which the 
research programme is to be carried out confirming that the young 
researcher will be provided with the working facilities needed to 
perform the project (basic equipment in terms of laboratory space and 
other infrastructure) and will be supported in all matters.

Applicants are requested to submit 10 copies of their outlines.

No legal claims can be derived from the submission of a project outline.

The evaluation of the project outlines received will involve external 
experts and be based on the following criteria:

1. Previous achievements of the young researcher in the field of 
Computational Neuroscience
* Scientific work including publications
* Supervisory activities
* International activities
* Other activities (raising of external funds, etc.)
2. Quality of the proposed research programme
* Scientific and methodical quality
* Scientific expertise of the applicant
* Innovative potential
* Relevance to the research focuses of the host institution

A suitable project idea will be selected for funding on the basis of the 
evaluation. The applicants will be informed in writing about the result 
of the selection procedure.

7.2.2 Submission of formal applications and decision-making procedure

In a second step, applicants whose project outlines have received a 
positive evaluation will be invited to submit (within six weeks of the 
invitation) a formal application of the institution where the research 
project is to be carried out; a decision on this formal application will 
be taken after the final evaluation.

The approval, payment of and accounting for the funds as well as proof 
and examination of proper use and, if necessary, the revocation of the 
award and reclaiming of the funds awarded are governed by the 
administrative regulations pertaining to section 44 of the Federal 
Budget Code (BHO) and sections 48 to 49a of the Administrative Procedure 
Act (VwVfG) unless deviation is allowed under the present funding 
regulations.

8. Entry into force

These funding regulations will enter into force on the date of 
publication in the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger).

Berlin, 29 October 2007
Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Dr. Christiane Buchholz
Molecular Life Sciences Division

-- 
Dr. Simone Cardoso de Oliveira

Bernstein Coordination Site of the
National Network Computational Neuroscience 
Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg
Hansastr. 9A
79104 Freiburg, Germany
phone: +49-761-203-9583
fax:   +49-761-203-9585
cardoso at bcos.uni-freiburg.de