German-Russian research group at KIT receives three-year funding

The Helmholtz Association and the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) have selected the first six joint research groups for their "Helmholtz-RSF Joint Research Groups" program. Among them is the Karlsruhe-Russian Astroparticle Data Life Cycle Initiative, which is coordinated by Dr. Andreas Haungs of KIT.

In astroparticle physics, scientists have to be able to exchange their highly detailed observations with one another in order to investigate and better understand complex processes in the universe. The aim of the Karlsruhe-Russian Astroparticle Data Life Cycle Initiative is to make a wide range of data of high-energy cosmic radiation available to the public. The participating researchers at Lomonossov University Moscow and KIT will build a joint data portal of two independent observatories for this purpose. Contact at KIT is Andreas Haungs, spokesman for the "Matter and the Universe" program at KIT.

The "Helmholtz-RSF Joint Research Groups" are based on a partnership between the Helmholtz Association and the Russian Science Foundation. One focus of the joint research groups is the promotion of young scientists in both countries. For a term of three years, the groups receive a subsidy of up to 130,000 euros per year from the impulse and networking fund of the Helmholtz Association and a subsidy amount of the same amount from RSF.

The first of a total of three tendering sessions took place in the two areas "Biomedicine" and "Information and Data Science" (press release). Three rounds are planned. Six bilateral projects are selected. The application deadline for the second round of tenders will end on 30 November 2017 and cover the two topics "Climate Research" and "Energy Storage and Grid Integration". The last call for tender in 2019 is to cover the topics "Materials and Emerging Technologies" as well as "Structure and Dynamics of Matter".