Recognition of the Rules of Procedure for Dealing with Scientific Misconduct (VerfOwF)

Proposal submission phase

1. By submitting a proposal to the DFG via the DFG elan portal (electronic proposal submission), natural persons (researchers) agree to adhere to the principles of good research practice and accept the Rules of Procedure for Dealing with Scientific Misconduct on a binding basis. This obligation is confirmed both on the elan form and by the applicant’s signature on the compliance form which is sent to the DFG Head Office.

2. In connection with proposals submitted to the DFG by higher education institutions and non-HEI research institutions, the Rules of Procedure for Dealing with Scientific Misconduct are applicable vis-à-vis persons with a high level of research responsibility. This group of individuals is defined in the relevant programme guidelines. Such individuals are not party to the funding contract with the DFG, but they agree to adhere to the principles of good research practice and accept the Rules of Procedure for Dealing with Scientific Misconduct as binding based on a so-called Declaration of Obligation of Compliance (DFG form 80.02). In elan and on the compliance form, the individual(s) and the HEI/non-HEI administration(s) submitting the proposal confirm that the persons who are to assume a high level research responsibility under the funding proposal being submitted have signed the relevant declaration. The declarations must be kept for ten years after the end of the last funding period.

Draft proposal phase

1. In the case of Research Units, only the designated spokesperson signs the compliance form at the draft proposal stage. For this reason, the latter must obtain a Declaration of Obligation of Compliance from the designated project leaders in advance and retain this for ten years after submission of the draft proposal to the DFG.

2. In the case of Priority Programmes, only the designated coordinator signs the compliance form at the draft proposal stage (the other project leaders involved will not yet have been determined at this point). The latter must first obtain a Declaration of of Obligation of Compliance from the members of the programme committee (persons with a high level of research responsibility) and retain this for ten years after submission of the draft proposal.

3. When HEIs and non-HEI research institutions submit draft proposals, the individual(s) and the HEI/non-HEI administration(s) submitting the proposal confirm with their signatures – both in elan and on the compliance form –that all those with a high level of research responsibility acknowledge the content of the Rules of Procedure for Dealing with Scientific Misconduct as legally binding based on submission of the Declaration of Obligation of Compliance along with the draft proposal. The declarations are to be kept for ten years after the submission of the draft proposal.

Details of the Declaration of Obligation of Compliance (DFG form 80.02)

1. In connection with draft proposals or full proposals submitted to the DFG by HEIs or non-HEI research institutions, the declarations may be saved centrally at the applicant HEI/institution or at the participating institution at which the persons with a high level of research responsibility are employed.

2. Such declarations must always be kept up to date for the relevant funding proposal or project, i.e. they must reflect any changes that occur in terms of the group of applicants, the funding recipients or the persons with a high level of research responsibility.

3. In suspected cases of research misconduct, the relevant declaration is to be sent to the DFG Head Office on request.