The funding of CRC has to tackle with a number of particular challenges due to the specific nature of CRC. They are an organisational structure usually including basic and applied research and industry. Some CRCs have an own legal structure whereas others are managed by a host organisation. They carry out both research and management activities. Funding rules reflect these core characteristics:

 What will be funded?

• Funding of CRC management structures only
• Funding of CRC management structures AND project funding
• Funding of CRC management structures AND earmarking of money in other programmes.

Who is eligible for funding?

• Only universities (as host organisations)
• CRC as own legal body
• Research institutes and non-profit research organisations
• industry (both large companies, SMEs). Less frequently mentioned organisations that can receive
• funding are technological institutes, industrial organisations, start ups, governmental

 How is money distributed among the partners?

• Only CRC host organisation/ CRC legal body receives funding
• CRC management structures receive funding that will be redistributed among partners
• Individual partners of CRC

Funding quota

• Will there be 100% funding? Or decreasing funding quotas?
• Will funds be provided by industry partners? What is the share of these private funds? Will there be a differentiation between SMEs and industry?
• Is co-funding (through other national programmes or European sources) allowed? Which rules (f. ex. European guidelines) apply in this case?