BMBF Verbundprojekt: how to apply as a research-industry consortium

BMBF publishes Förderrichtlinien (programme guidelines) on specific themes - quantum technology, biotech, mobility, AI, climate, materials. Each has its own deadlines, target consortium size, and budget. The Förderberatung des Bundes (the federal funding helpline) is a free first contact to identify the right call for your idea.

Typical mix: 1 university (basic research), 1-2 research institutes (applied research - Fraunhofer, Helmholtz, Leibniz, DLR), 1-3 SMEs or large industry partners, optionally 1 end-user organisation. The consortium leader (Konsortialführer) carries the administrative burden and is usually the partner with the strongest BMBF track record.

The Projektskizze is the gatekeeper. 10 pages: scientific-technical objectives, state of the art, work plan with rough work packages, consortium composition with each partner's role, indicative budget split, exploitation concept. Only ~30% of Skizzen are invited to submit a full proposal - so this is where the judgment happens, not in the full proposal.

If invited, the full proposal expands the Skizze: 40+ pages, detailed work-package descriptions per partner (each partner writes their own AP block), Gantt chart, budget tables per partner with cost categories, exploitation plan, risk analysis. Total time from call publication to project start: typically 10-14 months (3-4 months Skizze prep, 2-3 review, 3-4 full proposal, 2-3 approval).