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Das BMBF fördert die wissenschaftliche Datenauswertung der Arktis-Expedition „MOSAiC“ unter dem Dach des Forschungsprogramms der Bundesregierung „MARE:N – Küsten-, Meeres- und Polarforschung für Nachhaltigkeit“ im Rahmenprogramm „Forschung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (FONA3)“.
Der Kern von MOSAiC ist ein intensives einjähriges Beobachtungs- und Messprogramm, bei dem der Forschungseisbrecher Polarstern als Driftstation die Basis bildet. Ab Herbst 2019 werden Wissenschaftler aus 17 Nationen die Arktis im Jahresverlauf erforschen. Die Expeditionsergebnisse werden dabei neue Einblicke in die Austauschprozesse zwischen Ozean, Eis und Atmosphäre erlauben. Durch die Fortschritte in der Messtechnik wird es möglich sein, während der Expedition umfassende Datensätze zu generieren, die ein besseres Verständnis des Einflusses der arktischen Regionen auf unser Klima ermöglichen. Darüber hinaus soll durch die Maßnahme der Erkenntnisgewinn und der Nutzungsgrad der aufwändig gewonnenen Daten beschleunigt werden, um konkretes und zeitnahes Handlungswissen zum Klimawandel zu generieren.
Während der einjährigen MOSAiC-Expedition werden modernste Messverfahren eingesetzt. Das Rückgrat ist dabei der ganzjährige Betrieb des Forschungseisbrechers Polarstern. Um das Schiff herum wird in einem Abstand von bis zu 50 km ein mit dem Schiff driftendes Netzwerk von Beobachtungsstationen auf dem Eis errichtet. Dieses Stationsnetzwerk besteht aus autonomen und ferngesteuerten Instrumenten, welche mit Hilfe von Helikoptern regelmäßig vom zentralen Schiff aus angeflogen werden. Die deutschen Forschungsflugzeuge Polar 5 und Polar 6 werden die Messungen großräumig ergänzen. Bisher erhoben Wissenschaftler ihre Daten vor allem im arktischen Sommer. MOSAiC wird der Wissenschaft nun die Möglichkeit geben, dies auch im arktischen Winter zu tun. Es wird dementsprechend mit einem sehr hohen Datenvolumen gerechnet. Vor diesem Hintergrund soll im Rahmen dieser Fördermaßnahme die Auswertung der gewonnenen Daten und ihre Nutzung für Prozess- und Klima-Modellierung sowie für Fernerkundung unterstützt werden.
Der Fokus der Forschungsarbeiten soll auf der Auswertung der Messdaten der MOSAiC-Expedition in enger Zusammenarbeit mit dem MOSAiC-Konsortium liegen, z. B. mit Big Data – oder Künstliche Intelligenz-Methoden. Darüber hinaus können auch Projekte gefördert werden, bei denen die Messungen der MOSAiC-Expedition zu Studien mit modellierenden oder fernerkundlichen Methoden genutzt werden.

Das Antragsverfahren ist zweistufig. Projektskizzen sind zu folgenden Stichtagen vorzulegen:
31. Oktober 2019 - 31. Mai 2020 - 30. November 2020

FIAS could participate in the tender with its AI expertise, even if it is not yet part of the MOSAiC consortium. However, it is advisable to contact the Alfred Wegener Institute in advance to clarify the question of how the FIAS can obtain the data.

It is also advisable to contact the project management organisation by telephone in advance. The contact person is Dr. Susanne Fretzdorff, 0381 20356 288.

Further information

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The BMBF is funding projects on the topic "Universe" within the framework programme "Research into Universe and Matter - ErUM".

The thematic focus is on contributions to answers to the origin and development of the universe and its components, the nature of matter, energy, space and time, and to the fundamental laws in nature using synergies between astrophysics and astroparticle physics, as well as with particle physics, which is funded in other BMBF priority areas.

I. Development and construction of innovative instrumentation

II. development of new research techniques and methods

III. development of key components and basic technologies

One-step application procedure. Formal funding applications must be submitted by 1 November 2019.

Further information

(Call text only available in German)

As part of the Federal Government's strategy to internationalise education, science and research, the BMBF has published Bridge2ERA EaP, the guideline for the funding programme Integration of the Countries of the Eastern Partnership into the European Research Area.

The aim of this funding measure is to involve German applicants and their partners in the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) more closely in the current and next Research Framework Programmes through joint research and innovation projects, thus enabling intensive and long-term cooperation.

Support will be provided for staff exchanges, the coordination of international cooperation and the organisation of events/project workshops.

The subject of funding is the preparation of applications for research and development projects.

Project proposals must be submitted by 6 December 2019.

Furter information/Call text

(Call text available only in German)

The BMBF supports projects within the framework of the 7th Energy Research Programme of the Federal Government "Innovations for the Energy Turnaround".

Funding is provided for research and development of innovative energy technologies in the basic field that can make a significant contribution to the success of energy system transformation. Priority fields of action are in this context:

* Continuation of the Kopernikus projects in a second funding phase with greater application relevance,
* Research on the transformation of the heat sector with a focus on heat supply, utilisation and efficiency,
* Research for climate-friendly mobility: new and synthetic fuels, use of hydrogen in the transport sector,
* Large-scale production of hydrogen from renewable energies; transport and safety of hydrogen; industrial processing,
* Systemic and energy-efficient integration of renewable energies into the existing energy system, especially for mobility and transport,
* Materials research in all fields of application of energy system transformation: Energy efficiency and energy generation, networks and storage, CO2 technologies and modified manufacturing processes and techniques,
* Industry- and sector-specific funding projects for structural change in industry: German key industries and core industries, e.g. steel, chemicals, aluminium, are to be made future-proof, especially for energy-intensive processes,
* Research for structural change in the lignite regions,
* Further development of successful projects from previous initiatives, above all on networks, storage facilities, energy-specific materials research and energy-efficient and climate-friendly municipalities/cities/quarters,
* Exploiting the potential of digitisation for energy system transformation,
* Projects for the implementation of sector coupling in the energy system transformation through the targeted use of CO2 on an industrial scale, e.g. for the storage and transport of renewable energies.

The application procedure consists of two stages. In the first stage, project outlines must be submitted.

Further information

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The BMBF awards grants for nuclear safety research and radiation research as part of the 7th Energy Research Programme of the Federal Government.

The funding is intended for fundamental research work in the fields of reactor safety, waste disposal and radiation research with the aim of targeted promotion of young scientists in order to maintain competence at German universities, research institutions and in companies and public authorities. The promotion of young scientists within the framework of this announcement is intended in particular to maintain and expand radiation biological, medical and physical, epidemiological as well as radiochemical and nuclear competence in Germany.

The application procedure consists of two stages. Applications can be submitted at any time as long as the funding guideline is valid.

This funding guideline is valid until 30 June 2021.

Further information

(Call text only available in German)

Die Bundesregierung fördert die Angewandte nichtnukleare Forschungsförderung im 7. Energieforschungsprogramm "Innovationen für die Energiewende".

Schwerpunkte:
I. Energienutzung (Gebäude und Quartiere, Industrie und Gewerbe, Energiewende im Verkehr sowie Brennstoffzellen,
II. Energiebereitstellung (Windenergie, Photovoltaik, Bioenergie, Geothermie, Wasserkraft und Meeresenergie sowie Thermische Kraftwerke – solar und konventionell, III. Systemintegration (Stromnetze, Stromspeicher sowie Sektorkopplung und Wasserstofftechnologien, ) und
IV. Systemübergreifende Forschungsthemen der Energiewende (Technologieorientierte Systemanalyse, Technologien für die CO2-Kreislaufwirtschaft, Digitalisierung der Energiewende, Ressourceneffizienz sowie technologiebegleitende Forschungsarbeiten zu gesellschaftlichen Fragestellungen der Energiewende.

Gefördert werden Vorhaben in den Bereichen
I Energiewende in den Verbrauchssektoren
II Energieerzeugung
III Systemintegration
IV Systemübergreifende Forschungsthemen
V Weitere Maßnahmen

Das Antragsverfahren ist zweistufig. Die Einreichung von Skizzen und Anträgen ist jederzeit möglich (die Einreichung muss jedoch innerhalb des Geltungszeitraums dieser Bekanntmachung erfolgen).

Weitere Informationen

There has been remarkable progress in AI research in recent years. The progress of AI brings a tremendous opportunity, though at the same time it can potentially violate individual privacy and the right to informational self-determination. The three countries participating in this joint programme share the same values. Based on the added value obtained through the collaboration of the three countries, the aim is to present the direction of future digital economy and society through technical progress in AI research to strengthen trust, transparency and fairness as well as improving performance and investigating AI methods.

This call is intended to finance research projects in AI, in the broad sense, on methodological advancement in core AI technologies and emerging AI technologies.
Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the ANR proposal preparation requirements by 25 October 2019, 10:00 CEST (17:00 JST).

Further information

At its meeting in December 2018, the Steering Committee of the German Research Foundation (DFG) decided to add the Walter Benjamin Programme to its portfolio of personal funding programmes. The new programme is aimed at scientists who want to carry out an independent research project at an early stage in their career following their doctorate. The aim is to support the mobility relevant in this phase and, if necessary, to promote the further thematic development of the research.

The research projects can be carried out in Germany or abroad. Particularly in the case of funding in Germany, it is expected that the host institution at which the project is to be carried out will provide financial and structural support for the project on the one hand and support the applicant's career development on the other. Applicants must select a researcher at the host institution for this purpose.

In the Walter Benjamin Programme, researchers can apply for a position (or rotation position) in Germany or a fellowship abroad. In addition, a monthly lump sum is granted for material and travel expenses as well as publication costs.

New applications for research fellowships can be submitted until 31.10.2019 on a transitional basis.

Further information (only available in German)

These joint proposals in the fields of chemistry, mathematics and physics have to be based on a close interaction between the German and Indian research teams and should present joint project goals and a joint work plan with balanced contributions from all project partners.

DST and DFG particularly wish to encourage early career researchers to participate in this international funding opportunity, though the call is open to researchers of all career stages.

For administrative reasons, it is necessary that an Indo-German team of researchers wishing to respond to this call submit two proposals in parallel: the Indian partner to DST, the German partner to DFG. Each proposal must follow the regulations of the respective agency; proposals failing to fulfil all formal requirements will be rejected. Funds to be used by the Indian side must be requested from DST; funds to be used by the German side must be requested from DFG.

Submission Deadline
The deadline for the submission of proposals in response to this call is Wednesday, 20 November 2019 (Midnight, Berlin time).

Further information

Considerable progress has been made over the past years in the understanding of auditory cognitive processes and capabilities – from perception, attention and memory to complex performances such as scene analysis and communication. To this aim, well controlled but often unrealistic stimulus presentations were used, involving simple instances of virtual environments. With recent developments in hard- and software technologies, audiovisual virtual reality (VR) has reached a high level of perceptual plausibility that may overcome many of the limitations of simple laboratory settings. Applying interactive VR technology is expected to help understand auditory cognition in complex audiovisual scenes that are close to real life, including acoustically adverse situations such as classrooms, open-plan offices, multi-party communication or outdoor scenarios with multiple sound sources. In particular, VR enables controlled research on how acoustic and visual components and further contextual factors affect perception, cognition, and interaction.

AUDICTIVE brings together researchers from different disciplines – acoustics, cognitive psychology, and computer science/virtual reality – by encouraging joint research efforts to enhance the understanding and competence in the field of auditory cognition in interactive virtual environments, as a proxy to the real world. Up to now, these research efforts have been performed mostly separately within single scientific research communities, using stimuli that often lack the realism of real-life complex scenes.

Proposals and CVs must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 4 December 2019.

Further information

DBT and DFG expect that proposals submitted under this funding initiative describe ambitious projects of curiosity-driven research, which do not just benefit from but essentially require international collaboration to achieve the defined objectives. The basis for this funding initiative is the Programme of Cooperation signed by the two agencies on 25 October 2012.

On the German side, the regulations governing the funding opportunity, including the eligibility criteria, proposal and submission procedures, follow the funding line “Sachbeihilfe/Research Grants” (see the DFG guidelines 50.01). This also includes the duty to cooperate (“Kooperationspflicht”) within Germany for members of publicly funded non-university research institutions with permanent positions.

Submission of proposals under this funding opportunity will be possible at any time starting immediately. The funding opportunity shall remain open until 31 December 2019.

Further information

One of the most exciting recent discoveries in astronomy is the existence of a huge variety of extrasolar planets orbiting other stars, including numerous multi-planet systems. Exoplanets can be very different to those found in our Solar System, and range from the so-called “Hot Jupiter” and “mini-Neptune” gas planets to large rocky planets (“super”-Earths). The Priority Programme aims to explore such diversity and understand its origins. The programme wants to make substantial contributions to answering the following fundamental questions:

- What does the diversity of exoplanets tell us about their formation processes and the evolution of planets and planetary systems?

- What can we learn about the astrophysical conditions necessary to harbour life and are these conditions common in our Milky Way?

To understand the diversity and complexity of exoplanets requires combined efforts across disciplines, linking observational planet detection and characterisation to theory.
Proposals must be written in English and submitted to the DFG by 13 January 2020 via DFG’s secured portal “elan”.

Further Information:

The ERA-NET Cofund Initiative BiodivERsA is expected to publish a call for proposals on "Biodiversity and Climate Change" on 2 September 2019.

The initiative pursues the goal of sustainable biodiversity research and this year invites submissions in the following areas:

- Consequences of climate change on biodiversity and nature's contributions to people

- Climate-biodiversity feedback processes

- Potential of nature-based solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change

- Synergies and trade-offs between policies on biodiversity, climate and other relevant sectors, and the role of agents of change

The submission deadline for project outlines is expected to be 05 November 2019.

Further information

On 23 July 2019, the ERC Synergy Grants 2020 (SyG) call was opened in the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal.

The Synergy Grants are aimed at two to four emerging or established researchers who bring their skills and resources together in a project to jointly address scientific issues that will lead to scientific breakthroughs and new results. The deadline for submissions is 5 November 2019. A Synergy Grant can cost up to 10 million euros for a project duration of up to six years.

Further information

Twinning: Partnerships of research organisations

Partnerships shall aim to substantially strengthen a given research area in an emerging institution through links with at least two leading international institutions in that area. This will support a comprehensive package of measures to strengthen this link, such as staff exchanges, expert visits, short-term on-site or Internet training, workshops, participation in conferences, organisation of joint activities in the form of summer schools, dissemination of information and public relations.

This year's Twinning Call (WIDESPREAD-05-2020) opened on 24 July 2019. The last call of this kind within the Horizon 2020 framework has a budget of 69 million euros. The deadline for submissions is 14 November 2019.

Further information

The call for proposals "Innovative Training Networks (ITN)" with the variants "European Training Networks (ETN)", "European Industrial Doctorates (EID)" and "European Joint Doctorates (EJD)" was opened on 12 September 2019. The deadline for submission of applications is 14 January 2020.

The application documents (Guide for Applicants, Work Programme 2018 - 2020 etc.) are available on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

The Guide for Applicants 2020 contains some changes to the previous Guide, including the provision of a template for the Letter of Commitment of the partner organisations, a modified implementation requirement for the FDJD and revised definitions of the academic and non-academic sector.

Further information: