Equal opportunity is a decision-relevant criterion that can directly affect the approval or disapproval of research funds by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Applications can be denied on the basis of an insufficient description or by a total lack of equal opportunity safeguards in a project proposal – as has happened in the past.

To support applicants for grant funds (as part of the university’s statement towards the DFG’s “Research-Oriented Standards on Gender Equality”) the university’s executive board decided to create consultation opportunities for grant applicants with a specific focus on the consideration of equal opportunity factors when submitting research proposals (such as for collaborative research centers, graduate schools, etc.). The consultation offers include:

• Information about the possibility of applying for additional funding to ensure equal opportunity;
• Consultation on developing Equal Opportunity Concepts (EOCs) tailored to a specific proposal;
• Advice on the implementation of those concepts.

More information on the topic of “equality between women and men in scientific and academic communities” can be found on the DFG’s website under “Promoting Equal Opportunity”.