Flexi Funds

The Research Campus of Central Hessen aims at strengthening regional collaborations in research and the support of early career researchers. It creates future-oriented structures focused on promoting cutting-edge research. Flexi Funds is a funding format of the Research Campus to support this goal.

Flexi Funds serve as start-up funding for joint research initiatives by researchers of Justus Liebig University, Philipps-Universität Marburg, and Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences.

 The funding period prepares researchers to successfully develop and apply for a third-party funded joint research project in the near future and consist of consortia of researchers from at least two of the three universities in Central Hessen.

From 2017 to 2021, a total funding amount of EUR 250,000 per call was available for two calls a year (plus one additional third call in 2021) for proposals for projects with a maximum duration of two years. The duration and amount of funding depended on the scope of the planned  third-party funded project.

In the previous eleven calls for application since 2017, the Steering Committee of the Research Campus Central Hessen has selected 36 projects for funding after assessment and recommendation by the Research Council. Altogether, a total of 86 Flexi Fund applications have been submitted.

As part of the start-up financing, material, travel and/or human resources were allocated, e.g. for guest stays, workshops, network meetings and additional short-term resource reinforcement. (Major) devices could also be applied for if they were necessary for a successful application for a third-party grant.

Information for grant recipients

The approval of an application is linked to the condition that four weeks after the end of the approval period, one reports on the development of the project, in particular the submission to the notified third-party funding agency, and provides an account of the use of the funds. By accepting the funding, the applicants also declare their willingness to take part in evaluation measures (e.g. interim discussions).

The funding commitment includes the naming of the supporting institution "Research Campus Central Hessen" in publications and the use of the FCMH logo on flyers, posters, etc. that are created as part of or in connection with the funding by the Research Campus Central Hessen.