Contract research
Contents
Acceptance of research contracts
Contract research - defining the term
Calculation of payment for contract research, research supplement
Research with private third-parties
Acceptance of research contracts
If you intend to accept a research contract please inform the Research Division as early as possible using the form “Anzeige von Zuwendungen” (Notification of grants).
Research contracts addressed to university institutes are carried out in the course of duty, i.e. in the framework of the regular activity of the contracting institute at Heidelberg University. If a research contract is addressed to a particular scientist he or she must decide whether to perform it in the course of duty or as a sideline (secondary employment). The Research Division and the client must receive written notification of the decision.
If there are no objections to the research job, the prepared contract must be presented to the Research Division. The Vice-President for Finance and Personnel (Kanzlerin), or a designated deputy, is the only person who can sign it with legally binding effect.
Main duties and paid sidelines
Anti-corruption policy
The document is available for downloading. The Research Division can give further information.
Anti-corruption policy (PDF) (Ger)
Contract research - defining the term
If the university agrees contractually to render a certain service for a client this is called research for a third-party. Such services are e.g. expert opinions, reports on findings, and results of investigations. By contrast, general reports, proof of use, or obligations regarding open access publishing etc. are not understood here as services. Contract research, scientific services and cooperative research can be distinguished on the basis of the Research Division’s overview distinguishing forms of cooperation with third-party funders in the case of paid research activity.
Overview: Distinction of the cooperation with third parties (paid research activity) (PDF)
Regulations for Contract Research
Calculation of payment for contract research, research supplement
The payment to be calculated for the research contract must cover all costs (full costs) caused by the project (see also FAQ):
- all staff costs (including staff expenses), if additional staff is required,
- cost of equipment, materials and the other material expenditure (e.g. travel costs, use of IT equipment, etc.),
- cost of personnel paid from state funds and used during the introduction of the research contract,
- pro rata overheads costs, e.g. using rooms and equipment plus their management costs, pro rata expenditure for administrative staff, the computer centre, university library, etc.
Up-to-date examples for calculating costs are on the Research Division website. The Research Division will give further information if you need an exact calculation or advice on how to handle it in your budget. It may be possible to calculate a research supplement (see also FAQ).
Calculation examples (PDF) (Ger)
FAQ (e.g. on research supplement)
Regulations for Contract Research
Research with private third parties
Contract research, scientific services and cooperation research can be distinguished on the basis of a survey provided by the Research Division.
Overview: Distinction of the cooperation with third parties (paid research activity) (PDF)
Frequent questions on cooperation with private third parties
