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New funding lines for research in the Ruhr area: Apply now!
The UNI TU Dortmund supports aspiring researchers with project financing for innovative collaborations until May 15, 2025.
New funding lines for research in the Ruhr area: Apply now!
The support of research projects by the Mercator Research Center Ruhr (MERCUR) is being continued significantly, as a new funding line for postdoctoral researchers from the Ruhr University Alliance (UA Ruhr) is being launched. As the Technical University of Dortmund reports, the project funding aims to intensify cross-university collaborations and support special initiatives by Early Career Researchers (ECR). They can apply for start-up funding for their own projects, which are to be carried out in collaboration with partners from neighboring universities.
Applications for the “Project Funding” funding line are now open. Researchers can apply for up to 300,000 euros for projects with a maximum duration of two years. What is particularly noteworthy is that ECR and new appointees can even raise up to 100,000 euros in the “ECR project funding”. Features of the new funding line include a two-stage application procedure: After an application outline has been submitted by May 15th, an assessment will be carried out by the Vice Rectors for Research. Successful applicants will then be invited to submit a full application.
Details on how to apply and deadlines
The first round of calls for project funding begins on April 1, 2025. Interested parties can submit their complete applications by August 29, 2025. The process from submission of the outline to the funding decision takes around seven months. The applications are evaluated by MERCUR and the Prorectorate for Research at the UA Ruhr, with the final funding decision being made by the Coordination Council on the basis of independent expert reports.
Applications are submitted exclusively electronically. Applicants must use the sketch form provided and send their documents by email to the UA Ruhr office. The contact person for questions is Dr. Hans Stallmann and Dr. Kathrin Kraushaar, who can provide further advice to potential applicants.
Importance of the MERCUR program
The MERCUR program, which was initiated in 2010 by the Mercator Foundation and the three universities of the UA Ruhr, has played a central role in promoting research collaborations in the Ruhr area over the last 15 years. So far, over 300 projects have been supported with a total volume of around 60 million euros. Even if the Mercator Foundation withdraws from the cooperation in November 2024, funding from the UA Ruhr universities will continue.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) also offers framework conditions that support young scientists in the area of graduate colleges, which underlines the importance of structured programs in the field of research. Doctoral students and postdocs in these centers can not only acquire additional qualifications through their project work, but also benefit from a comprehensive project infrastructure DFG.