Internal Funding Pool 

With the CENTRE STAGE (special call 2027) and PUSH (full proposal) funding lines, the Internal Funding Pool supports initiatives for potential lighthouse projects at the University of Bayreuth. These include large collaborative projects whose preparation involves significant organisational and personnel effort.

In the TALENT 5/5/5 funding line, we offer seed money for smaller research projects to promote scientific independence for postdocs up to 5 years after their doctorate.

Initiatives to promote science communication receive support through OUTREACH, to communicate research through e.g. participatory events, media formats and campaigns.

In order to place publications in high-ranking journals and with established publishers as well as to bring applications for relevant programmes of the major funding bodies into a convincing form, EDITING offers financing of an editing service for international publications and application texts.

IMAGE focuses on the visual communication and illustration of research topics for publications, applications or events. This includes, for example, graphical recordings or cover images for journals and monographs.

All researchers at the University of Bayreuth, starting from the postdoctoral phase, are eligible to apply for the funding measures of the Internal Funding Pool; in addition, the selection criteria and instructions in the respective programme lines apply.
Applications can only be submitted via the linked online forms. Please also note the binding application deadlines for the funding lines CENTRE STAGE, PUSH, TALENT 5/5/5 and OUTREACH.

The University Governing Board decides on funding under the leadership of the Vice President for Research and Junior Scholars, assisted by the Research Support Office. Funds can be reduced, applications can be rejected. The University Governing Board receives an annual report.

When planning your measures, please take into account that funds need to be spent by the budgetary deadline („Kassenschluss“) of the year of grant approval. All budgetary and public procurement regulations as well as the UBT's hospitality guidelines apply to the expenditure of funds.

CENTRE STAGE is a special call aimed at established and new research institutions at the University of Bayreuth. Through this initiative, the university aims to strengthen particularly high-performing existing research centres, research units and research institutions in collaboration with external partners, to catalyse productive networking among recognised research experts, and to enable consortia to submit coordinated joint applications. Funding is awarded at a rate of 10,000–15,000 EUR per project.

Formal criteria:

• A research institution with a proven track record of active research, involving at least 3 participating professorships from at least 2 faculties at UBT to ensure the interdisciplinary composition of the consortium; coordination lies with the governing body of the applicant research institution
• Specific positioning of the consortium within the relevant Research Networks of the University of Bayreuth and a convincing explanation of the strategic significance of this collaborative research for the University of Bayreuth
• Clear explanation of verifiable goals of the planned project
• Preliminary consultation on the application by the Research Support Office
• Clear justification for the timely utilisation of funds within the 2027 financial year
• Evidence of the use of internal funding within the current financial year; any remaining funds must be returned to the administration after the close of accounts

Application procedure:

• Deadline: 30 November 2026 (consultation phase from 1 October 2026)
• Online form summarising the project and explaining the scope and intended use of the required funding, including a breakdown of costs, the consortium’s position within the Research Networks, and the expected added value for the research centre
• Following pre-selection, a competitive pitch to the University Governing Board on 12 January 2027

PUSH – Start-up aid (€ after consultation) for large coordinated project proposals
The planned start-up aid for coordinated project proposals is intended to support initiatives for potential lighthouse projects at the University of Bayreuth. First and foremost, these are large collaborative projects whose preparation involves a significant organisational and personnel effort. Start-up funds can be used, for example, to hire a student assistant or for workshops to prepare applications.

The basic prerequisite for funding is contacting the Research Support Office to accompany the application process.

Coordinators can apply for start-up funds for projects in the following programmes, provided that the collaborative project is coordinated at the University of Bayreuth:

DFG

• Collaborative Research Centres and Transregios
• Research Training Groups and International Research Training Groups
• Priority Programmes (lead: UBT)
• Clusters of Excellence (Excellence Strategy)
• Research Units (lead: UBT)

EU

• all collaborative projects (lead: UBT)
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie-DN (Doctoral Networks) (lead: UBT)
• ERC Synergy Grants

Federal Ministries

• large coordinated federal research projects

Volkswagen Foundation

• all collaborative funding lines

   
Formal criteria:

• Coordination lies with the UBT applicant (professors.
• Contact the Research Support Office Funding to accompany the application process
• Briefing with President and Chancellor, presentation in the UBT Governing Board and, if necessary, in the UBT Senate
• For structure-building funding programmes: initial assessment of the funding body within a foreseeable period of time (e.g. advisory phase for SFBs/TRRs)
• Convincing presentation of the strategic importance of collaborative research for UBT
• Clear argumentation for the timely submission of the application to the funding body
• Clearly argued justification for the timely use of funds in the current financial year
• Evidence of use of internal funding with deadline for use in the current financial year; remaining funds are transferred back to the administration at the end of the financial year

Application:

• Deadlines: 30 November 2026
• Online form with a summary of the project and a statement on the scope and use of the required funds with an account of the costs, also confirmation of submission of the pre-proposal, if required by the funding body or, in the case of CRC proposals, proof of the consultation meeting or the agreed timeline with the DFG – important: the grant can only be awarded with the call for a full proposal.

TALENT 5/5/5 – 5 grants/year, €5,000 per application, for postdocs up to 5 years after doctorate (taking into account parental leave according to DFG guidelines)
Seed money for smaller research projects to promote scientific independence for postdocs; open-topic, all disciplines, competitive selection; 5 grants.

Formal criteria:

• Publication, preparation of a third-party funding proposal or event with relevant scope and impact
• Applicant without their own budget
• Proof of use of internal funding with deadline for use in the current financial year
• Please note funding within the TALENT 5/5/5 may be only granted once to a single applicant. Once TALENT funding has been granted, no further applications are possible

Application:

• Deadline: 30 November 2026
• Online form with description of the planned research project
• Clear argumentation for the significance of the funding for the applicant‘s own scientific independence
• Clear argumentation for the timely submission of the publication/proposal or the implementation of the event to the funding body
• Clear argumentation for the timely use of the funds in the current financial year

OUTREACH – funds (max. €3,000 /application) for the knowledge transfer measures
For communicating individual and collaborative research, there are already various actions in place, including City Talks, Girls‘ Day or entrepreneurial dialogues. These tried and tested formats are to be supplemented by new formats. These include e.g. Citizen Science, policy advice, science communication through participatory event formats, media content, campaigns.

Formal criteria:

• In-advance consult with the Service Centre Unit Press, Marketing & Communications
• Proof of use of internal funding

Application:

• Deadline: 30 November 2026
• Online form with convincing presentation of the overall measure with objectives and expected effects
• Clearly defined target groups and communication goals of the overall measure
• Clear argumentation for the timely use of the funds in the current financial year

EDITING – Proofreading for international publications and for applications in key programmes of major funding bodies (max. € 500/application)
A language check of English-language manuscripts is designed to help our researchers put their international ‘high impact‘ publications (journal articles, monographs and project outlines for monographs) and their applications for key programmes of major funding bodies into a convincing shape.

Formal criteria:

• Applications all year
• Commission of an external professional proof reading service
• Funding does not apply to the procurement of software
• University of Bayreuth must be named as affiliation
• Publication: Acceptance of the manuscript by a journal/publishing house relevant to the subject; corresponding author is a member of UBT and the sole corresponding author
• Application: Key programmes of the major funding bodies, final text version must be available
• Approval is granted after cost estimate, payment only on the basis of the actual invoice, with 50% own contribution

Application:

• Application all year
• Online form with a short statement on the intended publication (author(s), journal or publisher and their reputation) or the planned application, as well as a statement on the editing required
  
• Final version of the manuscript or proposal (publications)
• Clear argumentation for the timely submission of the proposal to the funding body (applications)
• Clearly argued justification for the timely use of funds in the current financial year

IMAGE - Innovative Visual Representations of Research (max. €1,000/application).
Funds for the production of visual content and formats to illustrate research topics for publications, proposals or events, e.g. graphical recordings, animated graphics, videos (e.g. necessary for Momentum funding), cover images.

Formal criteria:

• Publication: Submission to a journal or publisher relevant to the subject. Outstanding papers that have already been accepted and can subsequently benefit from additional graphic design are eligible for funding
• Application: Key programmes of the major funding bodies.
• Events: Applicants take an active part and thereby place UBT prominently.
• Approval is granted after cost estimate, payment only on the basis of the actual invoice

Application:

• Applications all year
• Online form with convincing presentation of visualisation measure with goals and expected effects
• Clearly defined target groups and communication goals of the overall measure
• Clearly argued justification for the timely use of funds in the current financial year.