The basic principles of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft

The re-organisation led to strategic principles being defined which constitute a basis for setting up and running Ludwig Boltzmann Institutes. This applies in particular to all Institutes formed through calls for proposals as these basic principles are part of the guidelines of the calls for proposals which are aimed equally at applicants, financing bodies and partner organisations, experts, jury members and evaluators.

1. Subject areas.
The humanities, the social and cultural sciences, and medicine with adjacent subject areas and interdisciplinary research as bridge building between these disciplines.

2. Research programme.
The execution of high-grade and larger research programmes orientated to the longer term and pitched at international levels.

3. Size.
The building up of larger institutes with 15 employees1 in medicine and 10 in the humanities and the fields of cultural and social science as a target.

4. Partnerships.
The creation of synergies through the building up, operation and finance in the form of partnerships between organisations or institutes that traditionally carry out research and organisations or institutes that traditionally apply research.

5. Duration.
Long-term setting up of institutes but time-limited to 7 years;
Possibility of a second phase linked to a subsequent take-over by partners

6. Finance.
100-% finance orientated to the long term and guaranteed by the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft and the partner organisations.

7. Management.
Research management by full-time institute managers, personnel recruitment and development as essential prerequisites for the institute’s efficiency.

8. Competition and quality assurance.
Assurance of quality through competition and evaluation.