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Application: Funding line 2

Seed funding for third-party funded projects with civil society participation (participatory research)

A total of 75,000 euros is available. The funds can be used for projects in the period from 1 January  to 31 December 2025. The aim of the current call is to support the acquisition of participatory third-party funded projects at HHU through seed funding. In addition to citizen science (focus on knowledge generation and citizen participation), the broad field of participatory research also includes transdisciplinary research (solving practical problems through collaboration between several disciplines and members of civil society) and transformative research (science and members of civil society jointly initiate change processes). Further information on the participatory research landscape can be found here, for example.

You can apply for project funding both for preparing an individual project with a participatory approach and for a participatory sub-project of a larger collaborative project (e.g. CRC). The application must clearly explain how the project applied for under the “Bürgeruniversität in der Forschung” (Citizens’ University in Research) programme serves to acquire an independent participatory third-party funded project. Research projects without the prospect of external third-party funding will not be funded. Funding is open to all subject areas and disciplines.

You can apply for a maximum of 25,000 euros per project with a duration of at least 3 months and a maximum of 12 months (depending on the project planning and any external submission deadline). The funding can be used flexibly for all costs associated with the external funding proposal (personnel and material resources). On the one hand, it can be used for the preparation of a third-party funding proposal for an external funding organisation. However, it can also be used, for example, to carry out pilot studies and other specific preparatory work (e.g. data collection, development of research instruments/tools, networking and cooperation with members of civil society) for a third-party funding proposal for a participatory research project.

A prerequisite for funding is that members of civil society (with the appropriate degree of participation for the specific project) are already involved in the preparatory project that is receiving seed funding. This can be realised, for example, in the design of the research questions and the application (“co-design”), but also through the participation of citizens and/or civil society organisations in preparatory pilot studies (e.g. with regard to data collection/analysis, communication or in an advisory capacity). The Public Engagement Unit would be pleased to advise you on the planning and implementation of projects. Please contact Dr Julia Stiebritz-Banischewski (julia.stiebritz-banischewski(at)hhu.de).

Current external calls for funding for participatory research projects

From a science policy perspective, research with civil society participation is relevant for funding. Various external funding agencies have therefore integrated the topic into their funding activities. For example, participatory research with citizens and/or civil society organisations is presented by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as a welcome approach across all programmes. German (federal) ministries (German only) and the EU also regularly publish calls for proposals in which participatory approaches are either mandatory or are considered particularly eligible for funding. Finally, additional funding is offered by various foundations (currently mainly the Hans Sauer Foundation (German only), the Volkswagen Foundation with “Change!” and “Transformational Knowledge on Democracies under Change”, and the German Federal Foundation for the Environment (DBU)) as well as the annual citizen science competition “Auf die Plätze!” (“Take your marks!”, German only). A list with an overview of current calls for proposals can be requested from Dr Julia Stiebritz-Banischewski (julia.stiebritz-banischewski(at)hhu.de).

Call for proposals opens: October 2024

Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis from 14 October.

Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, i.e. applications will be reviewed promptly in the order in which they are received in full. Once the funds have been exhausted, no further applications or project funding will be possible for the duration of the funding round.

Without exception, the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025 is planned as the (maximum) project duration. Successfully obtained funds must be spent during this period (1 January – 31 December 2025).

In connection with the minimum project duration of 3 months (see below, “Scope and duration of funding” section), this means that final funding commitments are only possible until approx. 8/2025. Applications under the current call for proposals should therefore be submitted by the beginning of June 2025 at the latest.

HHU researchers with a Ph.D. The applicant must be in an employment relationship with HHU at the time of application and for the entire duration of the project.

A maximum of 25,000 euros can be applied for per project with a duration of at least 3 months and a maximum of 12 months (depending on the project and planned or external submission deadline).

The funds can be spent in the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025, i.e. funding commitments are only possible until approx. 8/2025.

The funding period ends at the latest with the submission of the third-party funding proposal (one-stage application) or – where applicable – the on-site assessment or otherwise the submission of the full proposal (two-stage application).

Formal criteria

  • The applicant must have a Ph.D. and be the intended project leader of the planned participatory third-party funded project (citizen science, transdisciplinary research, transformative research, etc.).
  • The applicant must be employed by HHU at the time of application and for the entire duration of the project.
  • Implementation of the project for which funding is being requested from the Public Engagement Unit in the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025.

Content criteria

  • Scientific quality of the project
  • Suitability of the participatory approach or degree of participation: conclusive involvement of members of civil society (both in the preparatory project and in the planned externally funded project)
  • Added value of the chosen participatory approach for the research and the members of civil society involved
  • Promising prospects for acquiring external third-party funding
  • Communicative orientation and expected social impact
  • Adequate and plausible time and cost planning for the project

The funding can be used flexibly for all costs related to the application, i.e. for personnel resources (academic staff, assistants) and/or material resources.

On the one hand, the funds can be applied for to support the preparation of a third-party funding proposal for an external funding organisation. However, they can also be used, for example, to carry out preparatory pilot studies and other specific preliminary work for a third-party funding proposal for a participatory research project (e.g. data collection, development of research instruments/tools, networking and cooperation with members of civil society).

The funding includes both seed funding for individual projects with a participatory approach and participatory sub-projects in collaborative projects, such as CRCs (in the case of a two-stage application procedure: either for the outline or full proposal phase). The funding period ends at the latest with the submission of the third-party funding proposal (one-stage application) or – where applicable – the on-site assessment or otherwise the submission of the full proposal (two-stage application).

  • Applications are reviewed promptly in the order in which they are received in full.
  • The most important criteria for funding are
    • Formal admissibility (completeness of the documents and compliance with the formal “Funding criteria”, see above)
    • Convincing presentation of the project in accordance with the content criteria (see above, “Funding criteria” section)
    • Adequate time and cost planning for the project
    • The Rectorate decides on funding with the involvement of the Vice President for Research and Transfer and the Public Engagement Unit

Please use the Public Engagement Unit’s template for your application (including a detailed cost breakdown). The English version of the template can be requested from Dr Julia Stiebritz-Banischewski (julia.stiebritz-banischewski(at)hhu.de).

You can find more information on the application documents to be submitted, the review process and links to further materials in our FAQ document.

A short final report (max. 4 pages) on the course of the project must be submitted no later than eight weeks after the end of the project period. You can use the template provided by the Public Engagement Unit for the report.

Please send your application using the standardised template provided by the Public Engagement Unit by e-mail in both PDF and Word format to the Public Engagement Unit (buergeruni(at)hhu.de). The English version of the template can be requested from Dr Julia Stiebritz-Banischewski (julia.stiebritz-banischewski(at)hhu.de).

Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis from 14 October 2024. In order to ensure the most flexible funding possible (submission deadlines of external funding agencies, etc.), funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, i.e. applications will be reviewed promptly in the order in which they are received in full. Once the funds have been exhausted, no further applications or project funding will be possible for the duration of the funding round. The funds can be used for projects in the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025. Any remaining funds that are not spent during this period will lapse. In connection with the minimum project duration of 3 months (see above, “Scope and duration of funding” section), this means that final funding commitments are only possible until approx. 8/2025. Applications under the current call for proposals should therefore be submitted by the beginning of June 2025 at the latest.

If you have any further questions about the application process and submission or to obtain a list of suitable current third-party funding calls, please contact Dr Julia Stiebritz-Banischewski (julia.stiebritz-banischewski(at)hhu.de).

The Public Engagement Unit offers applicants two online consultation sessions on the current call for proposals. These will take place on Wednesday, 13 November 2024 (12 noon – 1 p.m.) and on Monday, 2 December 2024 (11 a.m. – 12 noon). For the access link, please contact Dr Julia Stiebritz-Banischewski (julia.stiebritz-banischewski@hhu.de) by e-mail, stating the desired date.