Aims and Mission

 

The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) offers funding to motivated individuals for R&D projects in the field of biomedicine and clinical research.  Our aim is to support the commercial development of research innovations to a stage where they can be developed further by the market. We support the translation of applied and inventive research into new entrepreneurial activities (e.g. spin-off)

 

Who Can Apply?

 

Researchers from Germany and abroad seeking an opportunity to work independently and creating synergies with existing research groups at the UKE. Previous experience in leading a research group is assumed.

 

Scope of Funding

 

Up to 4 successful proposals will be funded at € 500.000 per year each for the maximal duration of up to 4 years. There will be a reappraisal after 2 years with the aim to verify the chances of meeting and fine-tuning the set goals. Funding is available as of July 2007.  Funded researchers will have the opportunity to set up their group in state-of-the-art facilities in the new research campus building with access to core facilities. In the later stages of the funding, access to existing network and coaching for spin-off activities will be provided.

 

Procedure of Application and Selection

 

The proposal should include a short CV with statement of career goals, a list of relevant publications and a research plan (no longer than 5 pages) adressing the following items:

-                     topic and innovative potential

-                     methods and resources required to reach goal

-                     milestone planning

-                     clinical application / commercial exploitation strategy

-                     IP situation (patents / freedom-to-operate)

 

Please submit proposals no later than April 30, 2007 (although outstanding proposals may be considered after this date) to the following address:

 

University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

- UKE Ideenfonds -

Attn: Prof. Dr. Guido Sauter

Martinistrasse 52

D-20246 Hamburg

Germany

 

Proposals may also be submitted electronically to g.sauter@uke.uni-hamburg.de

 

A jury will evaluate the proposals submitted and make a first selection. The selection criteria include not only scientific excellence but explicitly also technological expertise as well as project and science management experience and entrepreneurial potential. It would be highly desirable to demonstrate proof-of-principle / proof-of-concept.

Proposers will be informed about the result of the evaluation. In a second step, the selected proposers may be invited to submit a formal detailed proposal. The UKE is sensitive to potential concerns about intellectual property and sharing of information and will provide appropriate arrangements and safeguards for proposers.

 

The submission of a proposal does not establish a legal claim to funding. Severely handicapped applicants with equal qualifications will be considered preferentially.