From idea to innovation: Fraunhofer Attract Talented Scientists Support Program
The Fraunhofer Attract Support Program is an opportunity to realize your ideas in the framework of work in one of the 58 institutes of the Fraunhofer Society. Talented scientists and their small research teams (3-5 people) are provided with funding up to 2.5 million euros, as well as the possibility of using the equipment and laboratory facilities of the Fraunhofer Institute chosen.
The main goal of the Fraunhofer Attract program is to assist outstanding scientists in the development of their projects in the field of applied research. Scientific competence, personal and professional qualities of applicants, as well as the applied value of projects are key criteria in the selection of participants. Projects for financing are selected on a competitive basis. The winners of the competition form their own small research teams of 3-5 people (working groups). Within the framework of the program, the project manager can also, if necessary, involve employees of the Fraunhofer Institute, to which his working group is attached. The grant budget is 2.5 million euros and is designed for 5 years. It is assumed that at the last stage of the program, the working group can also receive income from the implementation of its own developments based on the created intellectual property.
At the end of the program, the most successful groups can stay at the Fraunhofer Institute and continue their activities on a contractual basis.
The Fraunhofer Attract program is an excellent environment for R&D and the development of a creative idea up to its direct implementation in practice. In addition, the program provides a unique opportunity for the career growth of a leader in applied research, industry or entrepreneurship.
The goals of creating the “Fraunhofer Attract” program:• attracting talented scientists, including those of foreign origin, who previously had no access to research at the institutes of the Fraunhofer Society;
• implementation of promising innovative projects;
• obtaining the qualification of a manager;
• development of new competencies and areas of activity in the institutions of the Fraunhofer Society;
• increasing profits in all priority areas (industry, income from licensing activities, establishment of subsidiaries (spin-off)); conducting preliminary research and creating its own intellectual property database of working groups;
• convergence of fundamental and applied research.
The applicant submits an application for funding together with the director of the selected Fraunhofer Institute. This requires a preliminary agreement with the management. For more information about Fraunhofer Society institutes and options, please contact the P3 department at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft central office.
Applicants (project managers) for a grant can be scientists with a doctorate or PhD degree, who have received significant scientific results of a fundamental or applied nature, which are presented in the form of monographs, dissertations, cycles of articles, etc. The application for participation in the competition must substantiate the scientific novelty and practical significance of the presented idea (project), as well as the reality of its implementation into a promising innovative market product.
Submission of applications: May 2009
Decision of the expert commission: July 2009
Submission of applications: October 2009
Decision of the expert commission: December 2009
Funding is allocated in accordance with the following framework conditions• Financing is carried out for 5 years.
The project is implemented in three stages: initiative, creation of a working group, development. After the first 3 years, a working group is evaluated with an emphasis on the results of fundamental research and the creation of intellectual property. The next 2 years are aimed at making a profit and gradually separating the working group (degressive financing).
• About 500,000 euros are allocated per working group per year (50% Fraunhofer Institute (250,000 euros) / 50% Fraunhofer Central office (250,000 euros), for a total of up to 2.5 million euros per working group for 5 years. Degressive financing is planned for 4-5 years of the group's existence, independent profit-making through the sale of innovative products and technologies is possible.
• The head of the group and 3-5 employees of his working group are funded, additional places are only due to growth (at the same time, employees of the Fraunhofer Institute can/should be involved in the project).
• At the end of the program, the working group can stay at the Fraunhofer Institute. The heads of the group receive the qualification of a leader. Alternatives: the creation of a separate organization or industrial structure (which is not the key goal of the program).
More detailed information about the Program is available on the website of the Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied ResearchPortal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru/