Cooperative Research Funds

Guidelines for the GUC Funded Cooperative Research Projects

• Program Objectives & Strategic Alignment
  This funding initiative aims to initiate and consolidate bilateral research cooperation between the German University in Cairo (GUC) and German universities or research institutions. Additionally, it aims to strategically align collaborative projects with GUC's established research clusters, the founding institution's excellence initiatives, and key industry sectors in both Egypt and Germany, thereby creating measurable bilateral impact.

1. Research Cluster-Aligned Objectives
   Projects should directly contribute to and expand upon GUC's core research publication clusters. Funding priority will be given to proposals that explicitly demonstrate how they advance the GUC’s research strategy.
2. Partner Institution Engagement Objective
   To proportionally strengthen GUC's network with different tiers of German research ecosystems. The program will aim for a balanced portfolio that for example engages with the following options (but also others are possible):
   • German Universities:For high-impact, fundamental research projects.
   • Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen):For applied research, prototyping, and solutions-oriented projects with direct industry pathways.
   • Non-University Research Institutes:For partnerships with major German research organizations (e.g., Max Planck, Fraunhofer, Helmholtz, Leibniz Associations) to access large-scale facilities and interdisciplinary programs.
   • Industry Collaboration: To translate research cooperation into tangible benefits. Proposals with the following elements will be prioritized:

2.0 Eligibility Criteria

• Principal Investigators (PIs): Applications must be submitted jointly by a minimum of one PI from GUC and one PI from a state or state-recognized German higher education or research institution (as outlined in 1.0 B). Each designated PI must hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) or equivalent qualification.
• Project Team: Strong encouragement is given for the active involvement of early-career researchers (doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, M.Sc. researchers) from both sides in the project team and planned mobilities.
• Partnership Principle: Projects should demonstrate a clear structure of equal partnership, mutual benefit, and balanced intellectual contribution from all involved institutions.
• Formal Commitment: A signed commitment letter from all partner institutions, referring to the joint proposal, is mandatory. A lead coordinator must be designated for each partner institution.

3.0 Funding Details & Scope

• Duration:
• One-Year Projects: February 15^th, 2026, to December 31^st, 2026.
• Two-Year Projects: February 15^th, 2026, to December 31^st, 2027.
• Maximum Funding:€10,000 per project per year
• Funded Activities & Detailed Cost Structure:
  Funds are primarily granted as lump-sum contributions to cover:
• Travel:Economy class flights or train fares.
• Accommodation & Living Expenses: Hotel rate is €120 per day or equivalent
• Event Support:Costs for organizing workshops or summer schools (catering (subject to prior approval of event details), venue, materials).
• Insurance:It is mandatory for all funded mobilities to have adequate health, accident, and liability insurance. Applicants must confirm this coverage in their budget plan.

Non-Eligible Costs: Funding can only be used for the purchase of durable equipment (e.g., laptops, lab devices) if approved by the fund management. Non-eligible costs include staff salaries or overheads for the host institution.

4.0 Application Process & Required Documents
Applications must be submitted in English as a single PDF file to: fund.submission@guc.edu.eg and via the designated online portal by the announced deadline.

The mandatory application documents must include:

• Completed Online Application Form.
• Joint Research Proposal(max. 10 pages), including: Abstract, State of the Art, Objectives, Methodology and Work Plan (possibly with Gantt Chart).
• Detailed CVs and Publication Lists(max. 2 pages each) for all key team members (PIs and early-career researchers).
• Budget Planwith justification, clearly itemizing requested funds according to the cost structure above.
• Commitment Letters:Signed letters from the Heads of Department/Deans of all participating institutions, endorsing the project and the involved personnel.
• Ethical Issues Declaration:A signed statement confirming the project complies with ethical standards, especially relevant for projects involving human subjects, personal data, or biological materials.
• AI Usage Disclosure (if applicable):A brief statement declaring the responsible use of AI tools in preparing the application, confirming the applicant's final responsibility for all content.

5.0 Evaluation & Selection Process

• Selection Committee ("Projects Panel"):A committee will be formed for the evaluation and ranking of the received proposals. The panel will be composed of independent, honorary experts. It includes the Chair (a professor), four/ five faculty representatives from different faculties.
• Selection Stages:

1. Administrative check: for completeness and eligibility.
2. Desk Review:The Projects Panel assesses all valid proposals against the rubric.
3. Final Decision:The panel makes a final ranking based on total scores and available budget.
4. Notification: via decision letters with brief feedback.

6.0 Post-Award Management & Obligations

• Funding Agreement:Successful applicants must sign a grant agreement before funds are disbursed.
• Reporting:

• Annual Progress & Financial Reports are mandatory for all projects and are a precondition for the release of the second year's funding for two-year projects.
• A Final Scientific and Financial Report must be submitted within three months of project completion.
• Acknowledgment: Any publication, presentation, or output resulting from the project must explicitly acknowledge the support of the "GUC Funded Cooperative Research Projects."

Cooperative Research Projects – Application Forms

Please submit the completed forms as a single PDF in this order: