The fact that funding is oriented to actual research programmes makes it possible for scientists to enter into collaborations that go beyond the boundaries of individual institutions and disciplines. At the same time, our programme-oriented funding promotes competition for funding among the 16 research centres (as of 2010) and our individual programmes. Programmes are financed over a period of five years, with the level of funding based on the results of strategic reviews. This approach helps to make costs and staff capacities within the Helmholtz Association more transparent.

Promoting new approaches to research

Additional funding for so-called non-programme-linked research is made available to Helmholtz centres so that they can address new scientific questions, pursue new research approaches, expand know-how and prepare for significant strategic projects. The level of this funding is tied to the success of the centres in the review process and amounts to 20 percent of the total programme funding acquired. If centres choose to use this funding to advance innovative approaches within existing research programmes, it is calculated as part of the cost of the respective programme. If centres use these resources to initiate new projects and develop new thematic fields, they are reported separately as costs of non-programmelinked research.