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Statement by theDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
on the European Commission Green Paper "From Challenges toOpportunities: Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU
Research and Innovation Funding“

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Kennedyallee 40 · 53175 BonnTel.: + 49 228 885-1 · Fax: + 49 228 885-2777 · postmaster@dfg.de · www.dfg.deDFG

2Introduction
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) released inMarch 2011 a position paper on the future of research and innovation funding by theEuropean Union. The DFG voiced its opinion especially on (1) early career support forresearchers, (2) different approaches to funding collaborative research, and (3) the fundingof research infrastructures.
In response to the Green Paper, the DFG has once again asked select representatives of its
review boards (“Fachkollegien”) to give their assessments of the topics addressed therein.
Review board members are outstanding representatives of all research communities andhave been elected by all scientists and scholars working in Germany.
From the consultation of the review board members, seven key points have emerged. They
complement the previously submitted DFG position paper and should be taken into
consideration in the development of a joint strategy for EU funding of research andinnovation. Additionally, the paper's annex feeds into the discussion DFG's model to improve
women's participation in science.

1.

Excellence as Benchmark

The scientific quality should be the top selection criterion in all research funding
programmes. This should hold true for research projects in the same way as for the selectionof PhD candidates in doctoral programmes. Additional criteria can only play a subsidiary rolein programmes designed to promote highest excellence in research. Equally important asclearly defined criteria for project selection is a transparent selection of suitable reviewers.
Scientific qualification should be the guiding criterion here as well. Goals such as cohesion
and structural development, while important for the European Union, have no direct relation
to research and should therefore be pursued with suitable instruments outside any FP7
follow-up programme.

2.

Promoting Creativity

The creativity of scientists and scholars cannot be decreed, and it can be planned only to alimited extent. To unfold, it needs freedom and the right environment. For this reason,conditions must be established in all programmes to allow open or broadly formulated calls
for proposals that welcome unconventional, innovative project ideas as well. This does notpreclude the definition and prioritisation of certain grand challenges, as long as there is noattempt to micromanage the research agenda. Generally speaking, it should be assumed
that the creativity of Europe’s scientific communities is greater than that of any programmecommittee. Therefore, promoting curiosity-driven research is usually preferable to supporting
agenda-driven research.

33.

Innovation Needs Ideas

Any innovation in applications is based on innovative ideas. Therefore it is important topursue an integrated approach to research funding that honours all aspects of the value
chain. In particular, those aspects that could be classified as frontier research must befunded across all programmes more than in the past. Furthermore, the concept of “valuecreation through research” should not be limited to the industrial and business sector. The
social sciences and humanities make essential contributions to our ability to meet societal
challenges as well as to Europe’s cultural identity and intellectual appeal. They must
therefore be appropriately represented in future funding programmes, i.e. much morestrongly than they have been in previous framework programmes.

4.

Preserving Diversity

The realisation of the European Research Area is one of the top policy targets for the comingyears. It can only be achieved if the fragmentation of the European research landscape isovercome wherever it is scientifically detrimental. At the same time, the productive diversityof research, and of research funding, in Europe should be regarded as positive and nurturedmore effectively. Some degree of competition between regional, national and European, as
well as public, private and industrial, research funding should be welcomed. According to theprinciple of subsidiarity, the most suitable player should take charge at any given level.
Regional and national funding organisations have the advantage of being very close to aparticular research community and able to respond flexibly to its needs. At the Europeanlevel, research funding should focus on aspects that cannot, or cannot sufficiently, be taken
into account at the national level.

5.

Ensuring Open Access and Re-use

The most important prerequisite for enacting innovations is the dismantling of innovation
barriers along the value chain. Research findings should therefore be published in ways
which facilitate broadest access to and productive re-use of previous research.

6.

Expanding the ERC

The ERC has established itself as a brand within a short period of time. This has beenpossible thanks to a strict focus on excellence, strong involvement of the researchcommunity in the design and implementation of the programme, and a creativity-boosting
bottom-up approach with open calls. For the ERC’s success story to continue, theseprinciples must be maintained and the ERC’s budget increased. In particular, the role of the
Scientific Council as representative of the research community must be strengthened. The
principle of subsidiarity should apply also for the ERC.

47.

Continuing Support for Collaborative Research

Equally important as individual funding (currently especially under Ideas) is the funding oftransnational collaborative research projects (currently especially under Cooperation). It has
proven effective under past framework programmes and should be continued at least at acomparable volume. Funded projects should be manageable in scope. Large-scale
programme initiatives (JTI, Flagship Initiatives, etc.) can definitely not replace grants for
specific collaborative projects. In order to drive integration along the entire value chain,
frontier research should play a greater role also in the cooperation arena. Humanities andsocial sciences should be given more attention in this context. Furthermore, ERA-Nets
should be continued as they have accumulated valuable experience on issues concerning
the participation of large consortiums in programme development and on how tooperationalise wide-ranging topics into clearly defined calls for proposals. Here, it makes
sense to take advantage of this experience also for Joint Programming.

5Annex: Honouring Gender Equality
Many countries in the European Union can no longer afford to turn down a considerable
share of talents in research and innovation. Therefore, Europe has to do its utmost to attract
more women to science and to keep them there. In 2008, the members of the DFG — i.e.
most German universities, along with other research institutions — decided to introduce andimplement Research-Oriented Standards on Gender Equality. This approach is based on theunderstanding that important measures for increasing the presence of women in researchcannot be dictated from outside but are best undertaken in conjunction with universities,
research associations, and the researchers themselves. Developed by an independentcommission, the Research-Oriented Standards on Gender Equality formulate general criteria
for effective gender-equality measures in research institutions. It is up to each institution tospecify them according to its individual conditions. These independently developed andcustomised gender equality strategies can best honour the scientific, regional and structuralcharacteristics of any given institution; they stand the best chance of integrating all
stakeholders into the change process and firmly establishing gender equality standards
within an organisation. The assessments of the outcomes of gender equality strategies will
be publicised beginning in summer 2011 and linked to funding activities.