Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft German Research Foundation Funding Ranking 2003 Institutions – Regions – Networks DFG Approvals and Other Basic Data on Publicly Funded Research With the support of Contacts: Dr. Jürgen Güdler (Conceptual design and project management) Dr. Jürgen Breitkopf (Project and data management) DFG project team, Information Management Section: Holger Hahnen Markus Jagsch Josef Kleinhans Michael Koch Thomas Lieser Izabela Paluch Dominik Sack Lisa Hoppe (Translation coordination) In cooperation with: Martin Beck, German Federal Statistical Office Dr. Helmut Buchholt, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Dr.-Ing. Martin Grabert, European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations (KOWI) Heinz-Werner Hetmeier, German Federal Statistical Office Dr. Wolfgang Holl, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) Dr. Lothar Krempel, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne, Germany Frank Sack, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Advisory board: Dr. Ulrike Albrecht, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) Dr. Enno Aufderheide, Helmholtz Association (HGF) Dr. Stefan Echinger, Max Planck Society (MPG) Christoph Fischer, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG) Dr. Rolf Hoffmann, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Dr. Wolfgang Holl, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) Dr. Michael Klein, Leibniz Association (WGL) Bernhard Lippert, Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions in Germany (HRK) Prof. Anthony van Raan, Leiden University, Netherlands Dr. Heide Radlanski, Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities (SV) Marion Scheuer-Leeser, Helmholtz Association (HGF) Dr. Friedrich Tegelbekkers, German Science Council (WR) Dr. Ekkehard Winter, Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities (SV) Dr. Bruno Zimmermann, German Research Foundation (DFG) This report may be ordered from the DFG’s Press and Public Relations Office, Heike Klebe (+49 (0) 228 885-2109 or e-mail [email protected]). The online version, which includes more detailed analyses, can be found at http://www.dfg.de/en/ranking/index.html. Despite great care being taken in the compilation of this report and the data on which it is based, it cannot be ruled out that isolated errors may not be noticed until after going to print. Information on any such errors may be found on the DFG website at http://www.dfg.de/en/ranking/service/errata.html. The production of this report was carried out with the kind support of the Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities (SV). Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Kennedyallee 40 · D-53175 Bonn · GERMANY Postal address: D-53170 Bonn · GERMANY Tel.: +49 (0) 228 / 885-1 · Fax.: +49 (0) 228 / 885-2777 E-mail: [email protected] · Internet: http://www.dfg.de Editing and design: Lemmens Verlags- & Mediengesellschaft mbH 2 Graphics: neo design (content), brighten the corners (cover) Production: Courir-Druck GmbH Translation: SciTech Communications GmbH Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft German Research Foundation Funding Ranking 2003 Institutions – Regions – Networks DFG Approvals and Other Basic Data on Publicly Funded Research 3 4 Foreword Competition has been a characteristic element search Foundation) and the Association of in science and the humanities for centuries, Universities and Other Higher Education both for those directly involved in research Institutions in Germany (Hochschulrektoren- and for their institutions. It has taken on new konferenz, HRK) have made this concern their forms in the last few decades, and in doing so own. Based on the statistics which the DFG has also gained a new quality, certainly in uses for its own reports and for internal analy- Europe and especially in Germany. In connec- sis, they have published two reports present- tion with the establishment of the “European ing the distribution of the financial resources Research Area”, the concept of benchmarking of the DFG to the institutions in which has gained in prominence; this refers to meth- research is conducted, differentiated by ods and techniques which are intended to research area, as an indicator of academic identify, using a clear and transparent method, activity and its quality. This was and is justi- the best research institutions in their respec- fied because the financial resources of the tive fields and to help determine best prac- DFG are awarded only to those scientists and tices. Ranking lists have for some time been in academics who, with their projects, join in the great demand in Germany: New efforts to ever-intensifying competition between the rank excellence are continually coming to the best ideas and in some programmes also market. Even in the terminology that is used between the best structures for research and one can see signs of that “Americanisation” of the training of young researchers. academic life which Max Weber diagnosed as The third report, which is now available, early as 1919. Be that as it may, however, the confirms a tradition that is coming into being identification of institutions and centres of aca- and extends the time series of published fig- demic excellence has also become a fixed ures. But it also undertakes to expand the base component of science policy in Germany, a data and to include new, revealing aspects of condition which will not likely change in the the world of research – internationalism, net- foreseeable future. work building and the international resonance It is therefore all the more important for of academic publications – in the analysis. the evaluations, which ultimately take the This is not intended to bring the discussion of form of ranking lists and make it possible to the evaluation of research, of the best-suited discuss them publicly, to define best practices, methods and indicators, to a close, but rather to make the methods and base data reliable to place it on a broader basis. and to find reference characteristics which We commend this report to the attention actually say something meaningful about the of all who are interested in science policy. And prime parameter “excellence”. The Deutsche to all who have been involved in its develop- Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Re- ment, we offer our thanks. Professor Dr. Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker Professor Dr. Klaus Landfried President of the President of the Association of Universities and Other Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Higher Education Institutions in Germany (German Research Foundation) (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) 5 Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................15 2. Data Basis and Methodology 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................18 2.2 Data Basis................................................................................................................18 2.3 Subject Classification of Data ..................................................................................20 2.4 Institutional Classification of Data............................................................................22 2.5 Scale Factor Reference Values..................................................................................23 2.5.1 University Staff ........................................................................................................23 2.5.2 DFG Approval Groups..............................................................................................24 3. DFG approvals 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................26 3.2 Data Basis and Methodology....................................................................................26 3.3 General Significance of Third Party Funding Income to Universities ..........................29 3.4 Third Party Funding University Income According to Origin ......................................32 3.5 A Comparison of DFG Approvals and Third Party Funding Income at Universities ....35 3.6 Approvals to Universities..........................................................................................39 3.6.1 Approvals by Scientific Discipline and Research Area................................................39 3.6.2 Changes in Ranking Over the Course of Time..........................................................42 3.6.3 Approvals per Scientific Post....................................................................................44 3.7 Approvals to Non-University Research Institutions....................................................48 3.8 Regional Distribution of DFG Approvals ..................................................................51 4. Networked Research in DFG Coordinated Programmes 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................55 4.2 The DFG’s Coordinated Programmes........................................................................56 4.2.1 Programme Objectives.............................................................................................56 4.2.2 Participation in Coordinated Programmes by Research Area ....................................57 4.2.3 Participation in Coordinated Programmes by Institution...........................................58 4.3 Cooperation in Networks of DFG-funded Coordinated Programmes ........................60 4.3.1 Comments on the Methodology..............................................................................60