As part of its research programs, the German Federal Government provides funding for foundational technologies that advance developments in central fields of application, thereby encouraging growth in several sectors. Research funding provided by the German government seeks to find solutions to global challenges, increase Germany’s competitiveness and secure sustainable jobs.
Project applications are selected and approved in a competitive procedure on the basis of specific calls for applications from various Federal Ministries.
Research projects at FAU
FAU receives the most funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) as well as from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).
Some of the most significant projects are listed and described briefly below:
MIRACUM – Medical Informatics in Research and Care in University Medicine is one of four consortia that receives funding from the BMFTR as part of the Medical Informatics Initiative (MII).
From 2018 to 2022, the focus was on establishing data integration centers at university hospitals in Germany.
From 2023 onwards, these data integration centers started to be connected to regional hospitals and further medical care centers outside the university hospitals. This expansion phase of MII also led to increased consolidation of the consortia.
MIRACUM has led to six new junior research groups. Furthermore, the MII also provides funding for “Digitale FortschrittsHubs Gesundheit” (Digital progress hubs for health), with four of the six hubs originating from the MIRACUM consortium.
During the new funding phase, researchers will collaborate across sector boundaries in eight clinical and three methodological use cases. MIRACUM is participating in all of these use cases.
FAU and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen have received almost 8.2 million euros of funding from 2023 to 2026. Further funds of around 4.5 million euros are expected to be granted for clinical and methodological application projects in the MII.
The consortium is led by Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Prokosch, Chair of Medical Informatics, FAU.
The project is funded by the BMFTR, funding references 01ZZ1606H, 01ZZ1801A and 01ZZ2301A from August 1, 2016 to December 31, 2026.
The aim of Software Campus is to provide training for doctoral candidates working on a research project funded by the BMFTR (microproject) at a participating R&D institution in cooperation with a partner in industry.
Software Campus is geared towards doctoral candidates with excellent grades and references and a creative entrepreneurial spirit, who are ideally at the beginning of their doctoral degree in computer science. Doctoral candidates from other subjects relevant to computer science can also be considered if they have a strong interest in IT and possess the relevant fundamental skills.
Building on participants’ subject knowledge, this program teaches the most important core skills for managers in corporate and innovation processes, including market interrelationships, corporate functions and strategies, planning and innovation processes in technology, project management and the fundamentals of HR.
The project is funded by the BMFTR, funding references 01IS17045 and 01IS23071, from November 1, 2017 to December 31, 2027.
The Advanced Clinician Scientist (ACS) Program iIMMUNE_ACS supports outstanding clinicians who carry out research after they have completed their specialist medical training. It is an extension of the Clinician Scientist program at the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IKZF) for physicians who are completing specialist training. The ACS Fellows who receive funding have the opportunity to carry out a research project in the field of immunomedicine during the course of 6 years and to prepare for a clinical and scientific management position in an in-depth interdisciplinary training program. i<IMMUNE_ACS ensures that the specialists who receive funding are guaranteed that 50% of their time is set aside for research and receive additional funding for research. An individually appointed team of mentors provides support to the ACS fellows in achieving their defined goals.
iIMMUNE_ACS is part of a nationwide ACS program that the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding at a total of 8 locations in Germany. The collaboration of these ACS programs across locations and joint events offers all ACS fellows a wide variety of opportunities to exchange information and network with others and participate in the training provided at other locations.
iIMMUNE_ACS is based at Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI).
The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, reference number 01EO2105, from May 1, 2022 until April 30, 2028.
This project focuses on implementing scalable quantum memory nodes for creating a “distributed quantum computing network”. Quantum memory nodes such as these can be created in a solid state body via an optically active quantum system and controllable nuclear spins. Silicon vacancy centers (color centers) in 4H-SiC are being used as a quantum system for implementing the research project. Silicon vacancy centers in 4H-SiC are optically active quantum systems that are suitable for such applications due to their spectral stability and a coherent controllable electron spin. The aim is to implement addressable, scalable and robust quantum memories using 13C and 29Si nuclear spins. The aim of this research project is to demonstrate a distributed quantum computer network comprising two quantum memory nodes and six nuclear spin qubits (three per node).
The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, reference number 13N16264, from January 1, 2022 until December 31, 2026.
The aim of PERCOLATE is to set up a diagnostic test panel that is quick and easy to use to make an objective diagnosis of long Covid (LC) and Post-Vaccination Syndrome (Post-VAC). The diagnostic concept is based on the detection of functionally active autoantibodies targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR-fAAb) in combination with a quantification of in vivo and in vitro GPCR-fAAb-mediated ischemia-reperfusion pathologies.
Within a longitudinal observational study, conducted by a translational and interdisciplinary consortium, methods of diagnosis will be used to quantify pathogenetic GPCR-fAAb-mediated ischemia-reperfusion pathologies in the eye as a representative for systemic microcirculation.
In addition, an “essential Autoimmune Laboratory Test Panel” (eALT) will be integrated as a simple and fast diagnostic tool for GPCR-fAAb as well as an Advanced Laboratory Test Panel (ALT) for individual profiling. Statistical and AI-based models will provide support with finding diagnoses.
PERCOLATE will establish a fast-track test panel that can be utilized for making diagnoses, in after-care and in therapy monitoring for LC and Post-VAC patients.
Following this funding, the intention is to continue the PERCOLATE concept as part of the establishment of a “Center for Advanced Post-Infectious Autoimmunity” (CAPIA) and to integrate it into the German healthcare system as personalized patient care.
The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Health, reference number 2524FSB048, from November 1, 2024 until December 31, 2028.