Internal research funding
The Freie Universität Berlin provides budgetary resources for the initiation of research projects and third-party funding applications as well as for the incubation of new research topics. It hopes to facilitate interdisciplinary research groups, particularly within small teams, with a particular emphasis on supporting the next generation of researchers in pursuing a career in academia.
The Research Committee provides the Executive Board with recommendations regarding financial support for research projects via the START and TEAMS funding lines. The Research Committee is a joint commission appointed by the Academic Senate and the Executive Board of Freie Universität Berlin.
START Funding Line
Objective:
This program provides financial support for any necessary preparatory work and the development of third-party funding applications for new research projects.
- Information sheet (download)
- Application form (download)
- Teaching cover (download)
- Research assistants (download)
TEAMS Funding Line
Objective:
This program is designed to create networking opportunities among researchers at Freie Universität Berlin to test out new concepts and conduct innovative, higher risk projects. While the potential success of the project is important, creativity and risk-taking are the main priorities. At the same time, the researchers are generally expected to strive toward obtaining third-party funding at a later stage.
CONNECT Funding line
Objective:
Network building among FU researchers and capacity building to develop a joint proposal for a collaborative research project.
STRUCTURE Funding line
Objective:
Preparation of a proposal for a Collaborative Research Center, a Cluster of Excellence or similar funding schemes. The funds serve to conduct preliminary studies supporting the proposal and for proposal writing itself.
Applications for the funding lines CONNECT and STRUCTURE can be submitted any time. The Executive Board will make the final decision based on a funding recommendation by the Excellence Council.
For advise concerning the application, please contact the department of research: forschung@fu-berlin.de.
TRANSFER Funding line
Objective:
This program provides financial support for any necessary preparatory work and the development of third-party funding applications for new research projects in the field of applied science or for starting an own start-up.
Applications can be submitted at any time. There are 3 meetings of the Transfer Committee per year.
Information Sheets on Expenses Eligible for Funding
- Basis information sheet (download)
- Personnel information sheet (download)
- ERC information sheet (download)
- Coaching information sheet (download)
Application Deadlines and Research Committee Meeting Dates (START and TEAMS)
|
Application Deadlines |
Research Committee Meeting Dates |
| Friday, January 17, 2025 | Monday, February 10, 2025 |
| Friday, April 25, 2025 | Monday, May 19, 2025 |
| Friday, June 20, 2025 | Monday, July 14, 2025 |
| Friday, September 19, 2025 | Monday, October 13, 2025 |
Application Deadlines and Research Committee Meeting Dates (TRANSFER)
|
Application Deadlines |
Research Committee Meeting Dates |
| Sunday, March 9, 2025 | Tuesday, March 25, 2025 |
| Sunday, July 6, 2025 | Tuesday, July 22, 2025 |
| Sunday, November 9, 2025 | Tuesday, November 25, 2025 |