New Call Launched for Regional Competence Centres for Labour Research in Germany
BMBF support the establishment of centres of competency that bring together partners from research, industry and civil society to develop new approaches for the work environments of the future.
As part of the its framework programme ‘Future of Added Value: Research on Production, Service and Labour’ Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF – Federal Ministry for Education and Research) provides funding for the establishment of regional competency centres on labour research.
The aim of the programme is to support businesses and employees in harvesting the potential of transformation processes in the world of work that promote health and innovation. Regional centres of competency are intended to bring together partners from research and industry as well as civil society to develop innovations for the improved design of work environments. The centres also create suitable strategies for the transfer of research results into practice at businesses and organisations, as well as testing and validating these strategies. A key role in the consortium is held by institutions of higher education who are asked to implement application-oriented research results directly into higher education offerings.
2022 Call for Proposals: Health Leadership and the Circular Economy
The second funding round of the programme is dedicated to the topic of healthy work environment design as well as innovative leadership culture and competencies associated with the transition to a circular economy.
Funding is provided for competency centres in the following thematic areas:
- Flexible working and design concepts for the prevention of illness.
- Implementing Innovative Leadership Culture in Businesses.
- Developing Competencies for the Circular Economy.
In order to fulfil the overarching objectives of the regional centres of competence, a balanced participation of partners from science, industry and civil society is expected.
Eligible for funding are research consortia consisting of the following types of organisations in Germany:
- Public and private institutions of higher education (Hochschulen).
- Commercial businesses.
- Associations and chambers.
- Non-educational research institutions.
The participation of SMEs is encouraged. Likewise encouraged is the participation of universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen).
Funding is provided in the form of a project grant on the basis of project-related eligible costs. The maximum funding period is five years. Institutions of higher education and non-commercial research institutions are generally eligible for full funding.
The scheme comprises a two-stage application process. Initially, interested parties are asked to submit an outline proposal. In the case of a positive review, this is then followed by the submission of a full, formal funding application.
The submission window for outline proposals for the 2022 call closes on 31 May 2022.
(This report was the subject of a RESEARCHconnect Newsflash.)