1. BASIC INFORMATION

Can I apply in English?

Yes, the initial draft (project outline) for the conceptual phase (Sondierungsphase) can be written in English. The formal application (Antrag), which is submitted after the successful application, must be written in German, whereby the detailed description of the work plan (Vorhabenbeschreibung) may be written in English.

Is it possible to apply for the feasibility phase independently of the conceptual phase?

No, an application for the feasibility phase is only possible after successful funding in the conceptual phase. Projects in the conceptual phase can submit an application for the feasibility phase and go through another selection procedure. However, an application for the feasibility phase is not obligatory.

How many projects are funded each year in the conceptual and feasibility phases?

Depending on the quality of the project outlines and the budget available, around 30 to 40 projects are usually funded in the conceptual phase each year. Of these, around 30 percent are usually successful in the feasibility phase.

Where can I find the currently funded projects?

Projects GO-Bio initial

2. APPLICATION

How and by when can I apply?

You can submit the project outline in electronic form via the easy online portal by 15 February, 23:59. A signature and postal submission are not necessary!

Please follow the following menu selection in the "easy-Online" portal:

• Ministerium: BMBF or Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (accept terms of use if applicable)
• Fördermaßnahme: GO-Bio initial – Richtlinie zur Stärkung des Transfererfolgs in den Lebenswissenschaften

You can upload your project outline, CV and letter of motivation in PDF format.

The funding period is twelve months, always starts on 1 October of each year and runs until 30 September of the following year. Please enter your institution in "easy-Online" as ”Skizzeneinreicher/in“ and your name as the project coordinator/manager.

Can more than one person be named as project leader?

Unfortunately not. The system does not allow this. It is up to you to decide how this is handled within your team. However, the project leader should be the person who will play a key role in the further course of the project, e.g. in the event of a spin-off.

Which topics are (not) funded?

Funding is available for projects with a clear link to the life sciences that develop therapeutics, diagnostics, research tools or platform technologies. Projects that are clearly related to the bioeconomy are excluded.

Examples of topics that are not or only marginally suitable:

• Food supplements
• Cosmetics
• Optimisation of crops and livestock farming
• Smart home and/or wearable solutions for health monitoring, especially when it comes to the pure integration of existing sensors
• eHealth solutions to optimise healthcare provision
• eHealth solutions that serve exclusively to integrate, merge and analyse data

Is there a template?

No, but you should adhere to the following guidelines:

The formal criteria are: maximum 5 pages (excluding literature), DIN A4, Arial, font size 11 point, single line spacing, margins 2 cm, page numbering.

The structure includes:

1.     Description of the utilisation idea including title and short description (maximum two pages) with information on the key questions:

• What is the starting point of the exploitation idea?
• What possible exploitation prospects are currently seen?
• What is the state of the art (including competition)?

2.     Objectives in conceptual phase (maximum three pages):

• What goal should be achieved in the conceptual phase?
• Which open questions need to be addressed? (e.g. elaboration of different variants of the basic product idea; analysis of customer needs, willingness to pay, market and competitive situation; elaboration of a detailed development and implementation plan; preliminary technical investigations; clarification of the property rights situation; integration of additional expertise, composition of the team, etc.).

Project outlines that do not fulfil these requirements may be excluded from the evaluation and rejected without further justification.

What additional documents do I need to submit?

1. Short CV (maximum one page per team member, at least from the project manager)
2. Letter of motivation (one page per team member, at least from the project manager)
3. Only if the project outline is submitted via a legally independent technology transfer organisation funded by GO-Bio initial in the supplementary module: statement from this organisation on the conceptual project

Does the project outline have to be accompanied by a financial plan?

The financial plan does not have to be finalised for the submission of a project outline. However, you should indicate rough amounts as a guide: In the project outline itself (in brackets after the planned work packages) and/or in the easy online form (in the "Justification" field for the planned funding).

Do I have to have already patented my idea?

No, the funding measure is explicitly aimed at raw commercialisation ideas. Basic patents may exist, the IP strategy should be developed in the conceptual phase.

Can I submit several project outlines?

Yes.

Can I apply with an already funded project?

Yes, your transfer idea can follow a funded research project or complement it, but it should be clearly differentiated from your other funded projects and have an independent degree of novelty. It must be clearly recognisable why you cannot or could not implement the transfer idea with the existing funding.

Can I apply again?

Yes, if you have already gone through a conceptual phase but have another project idea, you can submit it. If you have received a rejection for your project outline, you can also apply again. However, projects can only apply for the feasibility phase once during an ongoing conceptual phase.

Who can submit an application for the feasibility phase?

Projects that are funded in the conceptual phase can apply for the feasibility phase. Both individual and collaborative projects are eligible. Universities and non-university research institutions are eligible as collaborative partners. Companies cannot be collaborative partners.

To apply, submit an application by 15 May during the running conceptual phase. Funded projects will receive further information and a template from the supervising project management organisation.

3. SELECTION PROCESS

Conceptual phase

What criteria are used to evaluate the projects?

The evaluation is based on five criteria:

1. Suitability for the subject area and objective of the funding programme
2. Novelty and originality of the exploitation idea (weighted twice)
3. Plausibility of the exploitation perspective shown
4. Solution orientation and realisation-oriented mindset of the idea provider and, if applicable, the team
5. Motivation of the idea provider and, if applicable, the team

When and how will I be informed of the result?

You can expect to be notified by e-mail after approximately eight weeks. Positively assessed projects will then be invited to submit an application by 15 May of the relevant year. The applications will then be re-examined formally and technically, but only in exceptional cases will they be excluded.

Feasibility phase

What criteria are used to evaluate the concepts?

Submitted applications are assessed by a panel of experts according to the following criteria in addition to formal suitability:

• Necessity and appropriateness of the requested funding
• Innovation level (scored twice)
• Realisability of the work plan
• Plausibility of the utilisation perspective presented (results of the conceptual phase, market/needs analysis, property rights strategy)
• Expertise of the team and partners

Please also note that applications that do not fulfil these requirements may be excluded from the evaluation and rejected or given a lower rating without further justification.

When and how will I be informed of the result?

Full proposals for the feasibility phase are submitted directly by 15 May. The best approx. 20 projects will be invited to a selection meeting where they can then present their concept. The meeting will take place approximately six weeks after submission of the applications and the invitation will be sent out at least one week in advance.

You can expect to be notified by e-mail approximately eight weeks after submission. For positively assessed projects, the application will then be reviewed.

Do collaborative partners have to conclude a cooperation agreement?

Yes, the partners of a specific collaborative project regulate their cooperation in a written cooperation agreement.

The points that must be included in the cooperation agreement can be found in the "Information sheet for applicants/grant recipients on cooperation between partners in collaborative projects (cf. BMBF form no. 0110, see BMBF forms cabinet).