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.

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.