Scientific Review

Text Box: SCIENTIFIC REVIEW

Each proposal is sent to both German and Israeli scientific referees for review and evaluation. When necessary, opinions of scientists from other countries are requested as well. On average, each proposal is evaluated by at least 4--5 reviewers. Applicants must add a list of recommended referees. Such a list should not include people with a possible conflict of interest, having close professional associations, joint publication, etc. Referees may not be affiliated to the applicants' institutions. The Foundation honors requests of P.I.s not to send their proposal to certain colleagues. In both cases, we can only relate to a list printed in English with full details (address, telephones, fax, e-mail). In analyzing the referees' evaluations and recommendations, the Foundation is assisted by German and Israeli scientific advisors with broad expertise in the areas covered by the proposals. These advisors are appointed by the Board of Governors. The following criteria are used in evaluating G.I.F. research proposals: scientific and technological merit, originality and importance, The manner of cooperation and the complementary elements between the investigators: do all groups involved make a real contribution to the project? anticipated benefits (scientific, social and/or economic), suitability of the investigators, suitability of equipment and facilities, support requested in relation to project objectives and time-table, participation of other funding agencies. Additional specific criteria will be employed in evaluating applied or interdisciplinary projects. After the peer review, excellently reviewed projects are sent to the relevant advisor’s committee for ranking. Each proposal is ranked by the one advisor responsible for the sub-area, who grades all excellent proposals in descending order according to scientific merit, cooperation, originality, benefits, etc. In case of renewal of an ongoing G.I.F. grant, the advisors also receive the last available scientific report. Young scientists (under the age of 40) receive special consideration during ranking. The number of grants allocated each year is determined by the availability of funds. In order to enable unsuccessful applicants to improve their project for a second submission, G.I.F. may provide them, upon request, with the general contents of the evaluations received (in edited form only, to preserve the anonymity of the Foundation's referees). Since this is pointless in cases where no specific, constructive criticism has been expressed, the G.I.F. will decide on each demand individually. The requests must be made in writing and reach the G.I.F. main office by 15 July 2010.

Cooperative Research

Principal Investigators

Project Period and

(Grant recipients)

Special Programs

Young Scientists' Pr.

Guidelines for Grant Recipients

Reviewers' Page

Grants-2009 Regular Pr.

Scientific Review

German-Israeli Foundation

Supported Areas of

Submission Cycles