Since its founding in 2010, MERCUR has been supporting the collaboration among Ruhr University Bochum, TU Dortmund University and the University of Duisburg-Essen, which have been joined under the umbrella of the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) since 2007. The successful and well-established programme will continue in a slightly adapted form under the auspices of the UA Ruhr following the withdrawal of the Stiftung Mercator foundation.

With its project funding, MERCUR supports high-quality research projects that are designed to promote long-term collaboration and carried out by researchers from at least two of the UA Ruhr universities. Projects that run for up to two years and have a total project amount of up to €300,000 are eligible for funding. Early career researchers and newly appointed professors can apply for project funding of up to €100,000 in a separate funding line.

The structural funding component specifically supports the expansion of long-term structures and thus the further development of the UA Ruhr. A current call for proposals has not yet been published.

The application process for project funding comprises two stages: a project outline was to be submitted by 15 May 2025. MERCUR and the UA Ruhr’s vice-rectorates for research jointly evaluated the outlines submitted in terms of their strategic relevance for the UA Ruhr. On the basis of the strategic evaluation, MERCUR invited the applicants whose outlines received a positive review to submit a full proposal by 29 August 2025.

Independent expert opinions are used to evaluate the full proposals. The final funding decision is made by the Coordination Board of the UA Ruhr on the basis of the expert reports and a funding recommendation from the vice-rectorates for research.

Key documents:

• Guidelines
• Criteria for the strategic review
• Template application proposal
• Template CV

Further information about the process is available on the UA Ruhr website.