Guidelines for the establishment of research areas, research platforms and research centres at the University of Innsbruck

Structures: Research Area, Research Platform, and Research Center

FSP, FP and FZ are networks of researchers who tackle a common problem using different theoretical approaches. The researchers involved pursue different tasks and work towards a common goal as a team. 

There are basically three types of specialisation:

Interfaculty Organizational Units: Head, Deputy Head, and Advisory Boards

FSP, FP and FZ are defined in the development plan of the University of Innsbruck. According to the organizational plan, FSP and FP are also interfaculty organisational units of the University of Innsbruck.

Research Centers are not considered organizational units within the meaning of § 20 para. 5 of the Austrian Universities Act (UG), but rather constitute formalized collaborations among academic members from several faculties or institutes. They may be established to enable a more effective coordination and consolidation of research activities across multiple institutes within one or more faculties. A spokesperson is appointed from among and by the members.

The appointment of the heads of interfaculty organizational units is regulated in the organizational plan. For the appointment of the heads of an interfaculty organizational unit, as well as for the term of office, dismissal, resignation, and reappointment, § 7 para. 3 (with the advisory board of the organizational unit holding the right to propose candidates), para. 4, para. 5 (with the advisory board of the organizational unit taking the place of the faculty council), and paras. 6 to 8 apply mutatis mutandis.

When submitting a proposal for appointment, a deputy head must also be proposed to the Rectorate in the event of the temporary absence of the head. The Rectorate appoints both positions from among the proposed candidates. For the appointment of a deputy, § 9 para. 3 of the organizational plan applies mutatis mutandis.

Advisory boards shall be established for interfaculty organizational units by the head. The advisory board advises the head of the interfaculty organizational unit. Upon request, external members of the university may be co-opted in a non-voting capacity. The advisory board shall be convened at regular intervals, at least once per year, for consultations. The head may not be a member of the advisory board. Regular consultations with the advisory board and the member of the Rectorate responsible under the rules of procedure form part of the duties of the heads of interfaculty organizational units. All other duties are set out in the organizational plan.

Criteria for the establishment of research priorities, platforms and centres

The Rectorate proposes the establishment of FSPs, FPs and FCs to the University Council (after consultation with the Senate) to be included in the development plan, following appropriate review by the Vice-Rectorate for Research and after consultation with the Senate. Proposals for the establishment of an FSP, an FP or an FC may be submitted to the responsible member of the Rectorate at any time, thereby ensuring responsiveness to the dynamic development of the research landscape at the University of Innsbruck.

An application for the establishment of a new Research Center shall clearly clearly and coherently set out at least the following substantive and structural elements:

• Brief description / scope: concise presentation of the research topic and its short-, medium, and long-term objectives.
• Research topic and key research questions: The central scientific questions that the proposed centre will address.
• Relevance of the topic: scientific, societal, and, where applicable, economic significance.
• Interdisciplinarity: with regard to both the research questions and the participating researchers.
• Added value of the new unit: rationale for establishing a dedicated Research Center, expected synergies and contribution to the university’s strategic profile.
• Planned activities: joint research projects, publications, conferences, summer schools, early-career support, international collaborations.
• Organization: proposed head, proposed deputy, and intended integration into the research focus system (assignment to a Research Area or Research Platform)
• Participating researchers: name, institute, faculty, and position (e.g., professor, postdoctoral researcher or doctoral candidate)

The above criteria also apply to the establishment of new Research Areas and Research Platforms. The first step is to hold discussions with the Vice-Rectorate for Research.

Quality assurance: target agreements

Target agreements are concluded individually between the Rectorate and each Research Area or Research Platform. This approach ensures alignment with the university’s strategic objectives while also allowing sufficient scope for the further development of the individual units.

The jointly agreed projects and objectives are defined for a period of three years and are accompanied by annual monitoring. Quantitative indicators, such as the number of participating researchers, academic and transfer-oriented publications, media contributions, and competitively acquired third-party funding, are taken into account as a data basis for the respective unit. These indicators serve to further develop the respective unit and are not used for comparative evaluations.