Selection processes
Decisive for the selection of funding projects are the fit in terms of content and the scientific quality of the applications.
Transparent and comprehensible selection processes are of great importance to us. We are supported in this by independent scientific experts and selection committees. Their recommendations form the basis for our funding decisions.
Selection in competitive procedures:
The vast majority of funding decisions are made in the context of call for applications. This involves a multi-stage selection process based on excellence criteria.
- Applications are reviewed by the office according to formal criteria
- At least one written report is requested from an expert
- At a selection meeting, applicants present their project in person and discuss technical issues with the committee members. The selection committees are chaired by a chairperson from among the members of the selection committee.
- On the basis of the applications, the respective expert reports and the applicants' presentations, the selection committee makes a funding recommendation to the foundation.
- The Foundation makes the final funding decision on the basis of this recommendation.
The funding decision is based on the scientific excellence of the submitted application. Depending on the objectives of the program, additional criteria may be included in the assessment.
Our reviewers:
Reviewers and members of the Foundation's selection committees are proven experts in the disciplines we fund and have scientific leadership experience.
They work according to the rules of good scientific practice and are selected from various universities, institutes or non-university research institutions in accordance with the specialist requirements of the call for proposals.
In order to avoid conflicts of interest, they generally work outside the Foundation's three funding countries. If reviewers consider their own bias to be possible, this must be reported to the Foundation immediately.
During their support of the Foundation in project selection, they cannot work together with applicants or be active in the advisory committees of an applicant university in the thematic area of a call for proposals.
Approval rates:
As the number of funded projects depends exclusively on the scientific quality of the submitted funding application (also in comparison to the other applications submitted), no statement can be made in advance about the approval rate of a call for proposals.
Due to the confidentiality of funding applications, written reviews and consultations within selection committees, it is generally not possible to provide feedback on the content of individual funding applications (e.g. in the event of a negative funding decision).
We therefore ask you to refrain from making such inquiries.