The aim of the call is to support scientific research networks at public scientific institutions. These are to be established beyond the boundaries of departments and institutions in order to combine the two pillars of the innovation strategy of the Free State of Saxony RIS3 "intelligent specialisation" and "diversification".

Complex, cooperative and value-adding research networks with a high sustainability value and very high innovation and future potential will be funded.

In addition to strategic cooperation and improving the visibility of the research results of the participating institutions and of Saxony as a science location, the research networks also aim to develop breakthrough innovations in order to improve the ability to obtain third-party funding.

• Universities and research centers pursuant to the Institutions of Higher Education Act in the Free State of Saxony
• Non-university research institutions receiving institutional funding from the Federal Government and/or the State of Saxony with a research facility in the Free State of Saxony
• Non-profit research institutions with the status as an affiliated institute pursuant to the Institutions of Higher Education Act in the Free State of Saxony
• State-run academies of the Berufsakademie Sachsen pursuant to the Saxon Vocational Academies Act
• University alliances with research and transfer as their mission who neither pursue an aid-relevant nor an economic aim.

********************************

• The number of participations in networks is limited to three per institution (TU Dresden AND Medical Faculty of TU Dresden are considered as spearate institutions) when applying for funding.
• Each institution can only apply for funding as a coordinator in one network and as a partner in a maximum of two other networks; additional participations can only take place as an associated partner without funding.

In terms of content

• There are no or only weakly developed network structures in the selected research area.
• The planned networks must be thematically, temporally and financially defined and represent additional projects of the applicants.
• The project can be linked to at least one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
• The network addresses a new or novel field of research, covers a broad thematic category (NACE Rev. 2 at "Group" level or higher provides guidance on the level of abstraction) and involves all relevant stakeholders in the Free State of Bavaria.
• The network and the scientific topic pursued by the network must be of high scientific quality, consolidate the special position of the research location in accordance with the regional innovation strategy RIS3 of the Free State of Saxony and be of particular interest to the Free State of Saxony in terms of research policy.
• In the funding decision, special consideration will be given to networks that have a supra-regional representative function for the Free State of Saxony, both thematically and in terms of actors.

Network partners

• Networks must consist of at least six partners, including at least one university, one university of applied sciences and one non-university research institution. In addition, the participation of other supra-regional universities and research institutions eligible for funding under the Guidelines should be sought.
• A maximum of three beneficiaries per network will be funded to carry out the tasks of network management.
• Other partners may join the network during the funding period in order to further develop the network. New partners will not be funded.

Formal

• The terms and conditions of a network must be agreed in writing by the network partners, subject to funding (condition precedent).
• all follow-up costs after the end of the eligibility period are the responsibility of the applicant

Project funding as partial funding in the form of a grant.

The total duration of the project is initially 36 months. Following a successful evaluation and subject to the availability of funds, there is an option to extend the programme for a further 24 months at a later date.  

We assume that projects will be able to start from 1 September 2024.

• the funding rate is up to 100%
• the maximum funding amount of 1.5 million euros per year and network may not be exceeded
• a total budget of up to 22.5 million euros is estimated for approval as part of the funding call

• Expenses for project specific equipment (no research equipment),
•  other material costs, such as consumables,
• Expenditure on external services,
• Staff costs for network activities/management,
• expenditure on the registration or acquisition of intellectual property rights,
• indirect costs (overheads) at a flat rate of 25 % of the eligible direct costs for personnel, equipment, property rights and other material costs.

Personnel costs are recorded as unit costs in the project. For staff paid according to the Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder (TV-L) or the Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst der Länder (TVöD), a monthly flat rate is charged according to the salary group and salary level, the project-related job share and the actual hours worked.

Due to the monthly flat rates (WiMa) and hourly rates (assistants), financial shortfalls (underfunding) in personnel costs may occur in individual cases, which must then be financed from the professorship's own funds.  The extent of any underfunding can be determined by us in the project proposal; the availability of funds must also be confirmed at the latest with the full proposal.

(a) Project proposals with participation as lead beneficiary

For project proposals with participation as lead funding recipient, please send a digitally signed letter of intent with the subject "ERDF Research Network Coordinator" by email to by 29 February 2024.

In the context of the required selection of only two project proposals (for TUD and for the Medical Faculty of TUD) for submission by the Rectorate, the following information is requested in the letter of intent:

• Does the project contribute to the further development of the three new Cluster of Excellence initiatives and/or the existing Clusters of Excellence?
• Statements on compatibility with the call for proposals, in particular with regard to an innovative/disruptive field of research that is not yet or only weakly represented by a network structure in the Free State of Saxony.
• Information on the other, at least five planned partners of the network
• Information on the planned financial framework per partner, including flat-rate overheads
• Confirmation that, if selected, a project proposal will be prepared for submission to the SAB by 26th April 2024 and that the submission has been bindingly agreed with the partner institutions.

Following the Rectorate's decision, the selected networks (for the proposals of TUD and Medical Faculty of TUD) can prepare the project proposal for submission to the SAB by 26 April 2024. It must be ensured that the partners who are to receive funding for the network in addition to the TU Dresden also submit a formally correct project proposal to the SAB by the aforementioned deadline!

(b) Project proposals with participation as a funded (non-lead) partner

For project proposals with participation as a funded partner, please send the following documents with the subject "ERDF Research Network Partner" by email to by 5 April 2024.

• Project proposal according to the SAB outline including attachments in PDF format and with signature/digital signature of the coordinating professorship (Project proposal outline)
• Budget (in Excel and PDF format)
• Project proposal information (in Excel and PDF format)

In the course of the required selection of four project proposals (TUD and Medical Faculty of TUD) for submission by the Rectorate, the following criteria are of particular importance

•  Contribution to the further development of the potential and/or excellence cluster areas/initiatives of the TU Dresden
• Suitability for the call for proposals

Following the Rectorate's decision, the selected networks of TUD and the Medical Faculty of TUD may have to further qualify the project proposals for submission to the SAB by 26 April 2024. 

The EPC accompanies the projects of the TU Dresden according to the communication of the Vice Rector for Research 2/2023 and must be involved in the application process. The EPC advises on funding conditions and the application process, is authorised to provide the SAB with legally binding signatures and has central access to the SAB's funding portal for the legally binding submission of project proposals.

Please download the relevant documents here*:

• FAQ "Research Networks" (SAB)
• Project proposal structure
• Calculation template new
• Project proposal template
• Evaluation criteria SAB/SMWK
• Link Press release on the success of the Excellence Strategy
• Link Application for the Excellence Strategy "Synergy and beyond"
• Short overview of the innovation strategy
• Innovation Strategy RIS3 of the Free State of Saxony
• Guidelines FRL EFRE/JTF InfraProNet 2021-2027
• Call for Proposals for Research Networks at Public Scientific Institutions
• Announcement of the Vice-Rector for Research 02/2023
• Announcement of third party funding
• TUD_EPC Privacy Policy

Official website: https://www.sab.sachsen.de/efre-jtf-forschung-infrapronet-2021-bis-2027