NFDI4Microbiota Flex Funds Calls


2025 Flex Funds call is open from June 10th to August 7th 2024 August 14th 2024

Extended due to requests.

Aim of the NFDI4Microbiota Flex Funds

The NFDI4Microbiota consortium aims to realize the dynamic adaptation of services and support of further data types, development of new training programs, and improvement of the ability to react to unforeseen technical challenges. Therefore, within the NFDI4Microbiota project work, flexible funding (so called ‘Flex Funds’) for small projects within the research community are available for the years 2023 to 2026. To implement a dynamic system that stays on track with new trends in the field, the Flex Funds will support small projects and active Use Cases from the community as they arise over time. In the following, a guideline regarding the application and allocation process is provided.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible projects must be related to the field of microbiology, infrastructure, and must contribute to the objectives of NFDI4Microbiota. Projects must be related to one of the eligible topics (described below) and the work program of NFDI4Microbiota. Details of the NFDI4Microbiota work program can be found in the project proposal.

Purely scientific research projects without the described infrastructure components are not eligible!

Eligible topics

Applications must address topics related to the NFDI4Microbiota proposal. This could include, but is not limited to, the following topics:

Prerequisites to receive funding

Certain administrative and financial requirements must be met to be eligible for funding.

Administrative:

All documents can be requested in advance from the NFDI4Microbiota Administration Unit via contact@nfdi4microbiota.de.

Financial:

General Procedure

Timeline

timeline

Application process
  1. The call opens 2024-06-10 and closes August 7th 2024 August 14th 2024 (Extended due to requests). By then, applicants can send the filled files to contact@nfdi4microbiota.de. This includes:
    • the Application Form Application Form
    • the Budget Calculation Budget Template and
    • a Data Management Plan DMP Template (if applicable)
    • If an active NFDI4Microbiota Use Case applies, please also hand in a recommendation letter by your supervisors at NFDI4Microbiota (contact Maja Magel, RWTH Aachen).
    • If you address the topics ‘Infrastructure/Services’ and ‘Data storage and workflow execution’ a letter of support by the respective measure is required. Please write to contact@nfdi4microbiota.de for the contact mediation under indication of the respective measure number. All measure work programs and goals are found in the project proposal.
  2. Projects are evaluated and ranked by the NFDI4Microbiota Project Review Board (PRB) based on a set of predefined criteria until 2024-10-31. These criteria are as follows (each one is rated by reviewers on a scale of 0-5 (5 being the most)):
    • Linked to the NFDI4Microbiota proposal (Objectives and task areas/measures)
    • Related to NFDI4Microbiota topics
    • Synergies with consortium activities
    • Relevance and benefits
    • Quality of the proposed work
    • Approach, work plan and feasibility
    • Overall evaluation These criteria may be further refined and modified in subsequent calls. In the case of a conflict of interest of a reviewer, they will be excluded from the process.
  3. The NFDI4Microbiota General Assembly and/or the Board of Directors will select eligible projects for funding. Results of the review process will be communicated until 2024-11-04.
  4. Funded projects and their personnel are expected to take up their work immediately with the beginning of their funding period.

Selection procedure

The Flex Funds will be awarded annually through a process with external peer reviewers with a diverse background on the topics NFDI4Microbiota addresses. For this purpose, a Project Review Board (PRB) – an external body whose members were selected based on suggestions made by the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) – was implemented. It consists of renowned scientists in changing compositions, based on the topics required for review and excluding members with potential conflicts of interest. The PRB will: • be convened as needed to review proposals for innovation and implementation projects, and • provide an unbiased review of innovation and implementation projects. Based on these reviews, the NFDI4Microbiota General Assembly and/or Board of Directors will select projects that best serve the overall mission of NFDI4Microbiota.

Reporting and controlling

After a project time of approx. six months, the work and progress of the funded projects have to be presented to and discussed with the NFDI4Microbiota consortium. A final project report (max. 5 pages, template will be provided) needs to be handed in by January 31st of the following year. Financial controlling will be specified in the funds transfer agreement.

Contact details

In case of further questions you can get in touch with the administrative unit of NFDI4Microbiota via contact@nfdi4microbiota.de. Your contact person is Barbara Götz.

Files for download:

  1. Download 2025 Flex Funds Call (.pdf) NFDI4Microbiota 2025 FlexFunds Call

  2. Download 2025 Flex Funds Application Form (.docx) Application Form

  3. Download 2025 Flex Funds Budget Template (.xlsx) Budget Template

  4. Download 2025 Flex Funds DMP template (.docx) DMP Template