FAQs

The Bavaria - Queensland Collaborative Research Program is a joint initiative between the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (DETSI) and the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts - Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (StMWK).

The objectives of the program are to help build Queensland and Bavaria’s international reputation and capacity in research and development, support the growth of businesses to deliver new products and services into global markets, and support new industries that will provide future jobs.

The program aims to:

• support the development of long-term strategic research alliances between higher education organisations and industry between Queensland and Bavaria.
• facilitate joint efforts and outcomes that exceed what an individual research organisation or project can expect.
• build research and development capacity and boost Queensland and Bavaria’s international scientific impact and reputation.
• boost collaboration between researchers and industry and maximise the application and commercialisation of research outcomes.

The grants shall promote research relations between Queensland and Bavaria by funding joint cooperation projects by at least one Bavarian higher education institution and at least one Queensland higher education institution in specific priority areas.

In addition to start-up funding for initial research contacts on selected project ideas (“Seed Grant”, funding period 12 months), the implementation of a joint research project (“Development Grant”, funding period 24 months) can also be funded.

Applications are invited in the following priority areas:

• Additive manufacturing
  • Multi-Material Printing
  • Supply Chain Certification and Trust
  • Human-centred Design and Engineering
• Aerospace
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Societal Impact of AI
  • Machine Learning Tools for Sustainable Energy
  • Data Management and Algorithmic Engineering

• Cleantech and emission reduction technologies
  • Circular Economy
  • Smart Cities and Mobilities beyond Urban Spaces
  • Ending Plastic Waste
• Energy (including green hydrogen, synthetic fuels and energy storage)
  • Hydrogen Production, Transport, Utilisation and Storage
  • Waste Utilisation for Fuels and Energy Materials
  • Hybrid Processes for Renewable Fuel Production

• Health, life sciences, biomedical research and bioeconomy
  • New Treatments for Infections and Wound Care
  • Healthy Ageing and Chronic Diseases
  • Smart Wearables
  • Biofabrication
  • Waste Utilisation for Food and Polymeric Materials
  • Low-cost and Scalable Processes for Biomass Utilization at Distributed Sites
  • Resilient Crops for more Sustainable Agriculture
  • New Products from Underutilized Plants
• Quantum technologies
  

Researchers (postdocs or higher academic staff) from state universities and state universities of applied sciences funded by the Free State of Bavaria, including KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Evangelische Hochschule Nürnberg and Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München, are eligible to apply for the funding of projects in corporation with a partner in Queensland. If the main applicant fulfills this requirement, other research institutions / companies may participate in the project. Only projects that address one or more of the identified priorities are eligible.

If an industry partner is involved, potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed in the application portal (for example, involvement of an industrial partner from whose economic success a researcher would benefit).

All projects must have a Bavarian and a Queenslander project partner; the Bavarian partners must submit their application via the Move-On portal; the Queenslander partner submits its application to SmartyGrants (https://science.desi.qld.gov.au/industry/funding/queensland-bavaria).

Note: In case your project is successful, each project partner will enter into a grant agreement with their respective funding agency (BACU/DETSI); clarify in advance whether your university/the university of your project partner needs an additional agreement between the two partner universities linked to further conditions.

The Call for Applications contains all important information. The Coordination Units in Bavaria and Queensland will help with specific inquiries (see contact details at the bottom).

The closing dates/times for submitting are:

• Seed Grant – 14. May 2025, 13:00 Uhr
  
• Development Grant – 18. June 2025, 13:00 Uhr
  
• Late applications will not be accepted!
  

We strongly encourage applicants to work collaboratively with their counterpart in Queensland. Due to differences in processes, priorities and the distribution of funding, certain aspects of the application form will look different in Bavaria and Queensland. However, as this is a joint project which will be assessed independently by both respective parties, the information needs to be as consistent as possible. 

It is expected that the project title, abstract and research area are identical; responses to the assessment criteria should be corresponding (allowing for localised information) across both applications. Minor deviations in the detailed project description (e.g. in the wording of your own project components) will not have a negative impact on your application as long as the descriptions do not contradict each other in terms of content.

All Bavarian applications must be submitted via the MoveOn portal. Please provide all the information requested in the application form and enclose the following attachments:

Attachments for the Seed Grant application:

• CV of the project lead and other persons involved (max. 2 pages each, including reference to max. 5 relevant research activities/publications)
  
• Budget planning (see template in the application portal; further information follows in FAQ 7)
• Detailed project description (see template in the application portal; max. 2 pages, including illustrations if applicable)
• Letter of Support from your university management (see template in the application portal; addressee is the applicant)
  

Attachments for the Development Grant application:

• CV of the project lead and other persons involved (max. 2 pages each, including reference to max. 5 relevant research activities/publications)
  
• Budget planning (see template in the application portal; further information follows in FAQ 7)
• Detailed project description (see template in the application portal; max. 10 pages, including illustrations if applicable)
• Letter of Intent from a local industrial partner (applications with a Bavarian industrial partner will be given priority in the selection process. See template in the application portal; addressee is the applicant)
• Letter of Support from your university management (see template in the application portal; addressee is the applicant)
  

Note: The brief description of your project should in particular address its purpose (outcome) and the way in which the project will be carried out, as well as the importance of cooperation between the project partners (quality of collaboration). The attachment “Project Description” does not replace the online application form, but offers applicants the opportunity to go beyond simply answering the evaluation criteria and to visualize the description with graphics and illustrations. Please note that the page limit according to the respective template must not be exceeded.

For the budget calculation, use the provided templates (for Seed Grant / Development Grant).

In the “Budget” table, indicate as precisely as possible how you would use the funding if your project is selected.

Only project-related expenditure incurred during the funding period is eligible for funding.

For travel expenses to Queensland up to one week, you can estimate a maximum amount of € 4,000 per person (including flight). This sum is made up of a mobility allowance of € 2,500 for flights (return; irrespective of the length of stay) as well as € 1,500 for overnight stays and a daily allowance for one week. For trips of more than seven days, you can calculate travel expenses from the eighth day onwards in accordance with the foreign travel expenses announcement linked in the template (€ 47 daily allowance and € 173 overnight allowance).

The Seed Grant, which is primarily intended to initiate research activities between Bavaria and Queensland, can include travel costs as well as costs incurred for project-related events (such as online or on-site workshops) and project-related consumables. However, investments in the university's own equipment as well as expenses for personnel costs should be avoided. Only items that are spent within the funding period and do not exceed the total funding amount are eligible.

The Development Grant supports the implementation of research projects. In addition to travel costs, salary costs for project staff (must be verifiable as project-related!), project-related consumables/purchases and other project-related activities can also be funded in the Development Grant. Only items that are spent within the funding period and do not exceed the total funding amount are eligible.

Please note that the budget calculation templates also include a table for “In-Kind Contributions” (Tab 2). You may enter any contributions to the project by your university or, if applicable, your industry partner. Possible categories are included in the template. (Personnel costs specified as In-Kind Contribution do not have to be separately verifiable for accounting purposes; a calculatory reference to existing positions is sufficient).

Note: Please refer to the cost-benefit ratio of your investment portfolio in your project description. The calculation you provide should reflect as realistically as possible how you would use the funding. Minor changes in the budgeting will be possible at a later stage in consultation with the Bavaria-Australia Coordination Unit (contact below).

All applications from within Bavaria are evaluated by an independent selection committee, which assesses and ranks the applications according to the evaluation criteria in the Call for Applications.

In the Development Grant, depending on the research field and requirements, the applications may be evaluated by further independent experts on the basis of the defined criteria. This evaluation is taken into account by the selection committee when drawing up a ranking list. 

In Queensland, a ranking list is also drawn up by an independent selection committee. Based on these two lists, the commissions decide in a joint meeting which projects will receive funding. 

Although it is desirable to allocate funds to different research areas, the actual allocation of funds will depend on the quantity and quality of applications received.

Note: Make sure that your project description in the Bavarian and the Queensland application match up - if only one of the two versions is convincing, this will reduce your chances of being selected for funding.

• Seed Grants – max. € 10.000
• Development Grants –max. € 70.000

Note: The funding amount in Queensland may be subject to additional conditions for Australian applicants (e.g. mandatory industry partners, contribution of home university). Please refer to the website of the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (DETSI) for further information on the application conditions in Queensland: 

https://science.desi.qld.gov.au/industry/funding/queensland-bavaria

Successful projects should be initiated within six months upon approval.

Bavaria - Bavaria Australia Coordination Unit

• Web
• Mail
• Phone: +49 921 55 5267
  

StMWK:

• Web
  

Queensland - Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (DETSI)

• Web
• Mail
• Phone: +61 7 3516 0484