IWH EXplore

Competitive Funding for Research Projects with External Involvement at IWH

IWH EXplore gives scientists the opportunity to acquire supplemental funding, in addition to the basic funding identified in the programme budget, for the development of innovative re­search approaches as part of a competitive process.

Please direct your project applications and inquiries about IWH EXplore to   explore@iwh-halle.de

– Call 2024 –

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IWH Explore enables the innovative research ap­proaches of strong researchers, which are aimed at establishing new areas of research or sub­stantially developing existing areas of re­search and which expect to receive follow-up financing, particularly from third party funds, to be funded during an early development phase. A prerequisite for funding is the involvement of at least one re­searcher who has exper­tise in the respective research field and who is working at an external research institution or university at home or abroad.

Two funding lines are currently available to fund projects in which external scientists are involved:

  • Speed Projects
  • Seed Fund

In accordance with a respective commitment set out in the Institute’s present Total-E-Quality Action Plan, IWH EXplore serves as a mechanism for promoting young female researchers. Consequently, female researchers are explicitly encouraged to submit project outlines in the frame of the two funding lines. In the event, there has to be a selection amongst equally fundable applications with a similar scientific merit due to the limited availability of funds earmarked for IWH EXplore, the attainment of the objective to promote female researchers shall be taken properly into account.

Speed Projects

List of Speed Projects

The IWH Speed Project grant supports scientists in developing project ideas in cooperation with external scientists. These ideas can then form the basis for joint third party funding ap­plications, research pro­gramme projects or Seed Fund projects. Innovative project ideas are preferred which have the potential of expanding the IWH research programme in the medium term. This supports the creation of new or, from a content or budget perspective, enhanced research groups or junior research groups

Speed Projects run for a maximum of six months. They are approved by IWH’s Executive Board. If required, the Executive Board can obtain an expert opinion.

The maximum funding volume for a Speed Project is 10,000 euros. Eligible costs include for example licensing of scientific data, travel expenses, hiring of student or scientific support staff, visits by IWH scientists to external research institutions or guest visits by external researchers to IWH.

Data acquired or generated as part of a Speed Project is to be made accessible via the IWH data centre to third parties for research purposes. Reasons for deviating from this regulation are to be stated in the pro­ject application.

With the exception of financing research stays at IWH, costs incurred by external researchers, research institutes or universities are only refundable if attributable to the outcome of com­missioned research conducted by the respective external partner in the frame of a joined IWH EXplore project. Overheads cannot be reimbursed.

There are three deadlines for applications in 2024: 1 June, 1 September and 1 December. The applications should contain a minimum of the following:

  • a brief account of the research question and reference to the IWH Research Pro­gramme, max. of two pages
  • reasons for selecting the external cooperation partners or reasons for working together with IWH from the perspective of the external partner
  • CV, list of publications and, if applicable, a brief account of the relevant preliminary work of the participants
  • objective of the Speed Project (joint publication, cooperation consolidation, development of a detailed project outline, application for third party funds etc.)
  • financial plan

The application process is open to all IWH postdoctoral scientists and postdoctoral scientists working at national and international research institutes or universities. Applications must be completed and submit­ted jointly by the project partners.

The project leaders shall submit a two to three page report to the Executive Board on the pro­gress and results of the project no later than three months after completion of an IWH Speed Project. This report shall also contain proof of the utilisation of the allocated funds.

Seed Fund

List of Seed Fund Projects

Start-up funding through the IWH Seed Fund supports scientists in investigating new ideas in collabora­tion with external cooperation partners. The funding can be used e. g. to finance the positions of PhD stu­dents (50% pay group 13), scholarships, visits by guest scientists to IWH, visits by IWH scientists to ex­ternal research institutes, the organisation of joint workshops and conferences, data or special software.

PhD students who are financed by the Seed Fund are to be given the opportunity to work at the research institute of the participating external scientists as part of the funded project.

Seed Fund Projects usually run 6 to 18 months. They are approved by IWH’s Executive Board. If required, the Executive Board can obtain an expert opinion. The maximum financing volume for a Seed Fund Project is 70,000 euros. Seed Fund Projects can be converted into IWH Research Programme pro­jects.

With the exception of financing research visits to IWH, costs incurred by external researchers, research institutes or universities are only refundable if attributable to commissioned research conducted by the respective external partner in course of a joined IWH EXplore project. Overheads cannot be reimbursed.

The aim of Seed Fund Projects is to develop new collaborations with top external researchers and to expand the network of partners at cooperating universities and non-university research insti­tutes. They are to be led by an IWH scientist and an external scientist. The projects should be suitable for producing high-level specialist publications and have the potential to receive follow-up financing through third party funding. It is ex­pected that, during the term of the project, a project-related workshop is be carried out where the project findings are presented and discussed.

Selection criteria include project originality, a topic in line with the IWH Research Pro­gramme, the value placed on cooperation in the project, inclusion of young scientists, the project’s potential to contribute to the further development of the IWH Research Programme, the prospect of high-level specialist publica­tions, third party funding potential and the appli­cants’ professional qualifications.

Data generated or acquired within the framework of a Seed Fund Project shall be made accessible via the IWH data centre to third parties for research purposes. Reasons for deviating from this regulation are to be stated in the project application.

The application process is open to all IWH postdoctoral scientists and postdoctoral scientists working at national and international research institutes or universities. One of the applicants may be close to com­pleting their PhD, however, this must be completed prior to the intended commencement of funding.

Applications must be completed and submitted jointly by the project partners. Funding applications may be no longer than ten pages (Arial, 11pt, 1.5 spacing) and should contain:

 

  • project partners and leaders at the external institute and at IWH
  • CV, list of publications and, if applicable, a brief account of the relevant preliminary work of the partici­pants
  • a summary (½ page)
  • description of the research project (research question, methodology, expected results, contribution to the IWH Research Programme)
  • current state of the literature
  • work plan
  • financial plan
  • opportunities for further development of the project after termination of the Seed Fund funding, especially further possibilities for financing for the doctoral candidates being em­ployed in the project

     

Applications must be made in English. There are three deadlines for applications in 2024: 1 June, 1 September and 1 December.

Project leaders shall submit a report on the progress and findings of the project to the Execu­tive Board no later than three months after completion of an IWH Seed Fund Project. This report shall also contain proof of the utilisation of the allocated funds. An interim report (two to four pages in length) shall be submitted no later than one month after the end of the first project year for projects with a term of more than one year.

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