Please note that this is a translation for informational purposes only. The legally binding version is the German text in its latest version as published in the Official Notices of the University of Göttingen.

Bylaws of the Collaborative Research Centre CRC 1690
“Disease Mechanisms and Functional Restoration of Sensory and Motor Systems”

§ 1 Name, Host University and Tasks of the Collaborative Research Centre

(1) The Collaborative Research Centre 1690 “Disease Mechanisms and Functional Restoration of Sensory and Motor Systems” (hereinafter referred to as CRC) is an interdisciplinary, legally dependent research network, which is supported by the Georg-August University of Göttingen as the host university, with the University Medical Center Göttingen (hereinafter referred to as UMG) taking lead.

(2) ¹The CRC will work on interrelated research projects in the fields of sensory and motor neuroscience, physiology and biophysics, anatomy, biochemistry and structural biology as well as the restoration of sensory and motor function. ²It is divided into two project areas consisting of a total of 18 projects, as well as an infrastructure project, two central support projects and a central management project.

(3) The research network aims to promote interaction with other research institutions, the promotion of young scientists, equal opportunities for scientists and international cooperation.

§ 2 Membership; Affiliation

(1) The CRC includes voting members and non-voting affiliates.

(2) ¹Members of the CRC are all principal investigators of DFG-approved projects (hereinafter referred to as PIs) listed in the DFG proposal and any supplementary proposals as well as postdoctoral researchers who independently perform scientific work in the projects by participating to a significant extent in the preparation and/or implementation of proposals. ²If membership does not already exist on the basis of the DFG proposal (including supplementary proposals), an application by the researcher is required.

(3) Affiliates are all persons who are scientifically or administratively active within the framework of the CRC without being a member in accordance with paragraph 2.

(4) For scientists working on research topics of the CRC without being a member according to paragraph 2, affiliation can be applied for by a member of the CRC to the Executive Board, unless affiliate status already exists on the basis of the application, in particular for associated persons.

(5) ¹Membership shall expire:
a) if the member notifies the spokesperson in writing of his/her resignation from the CRC;
b) upon retirement, unless the continuation of the project or the representation of the professorship by the member concerned is made possible by contract;
c) upon termination of the project or the tasks provided for in the project. ²Membership shall be withdrawn if a member repeatedly or significantly fails to fulfill duties in accordance with Section 3 or other duties; the member shall be given the opportunity to comment beforehand, setting a reasonable deadline. ³The decision must be communicated to the member concerned at least in text form and reasons must be given.

(6) The Executive Board shall decide on the admission and withdrawal of membership, in the case of withdrawal with a majority of two thirds of the members present.

(7) ¹The provisions of paragraphs 5 and 6 shall apply accordingly to the status as a member. ²In the event of doubt as to whether a person is admitted as a member or as an affiliate, the Executive Board shall decide by a majority of two thirds of the members present.

§ 3 Rights and Obligations

(1) ¹Members are obliged to cooperate in fulfilling their reporting obligations, in particular to the DFG, to the extent of their own work at the CRC; this obligation remains unaffected by the end of membership. ²If circumstances arise that jeopardize the successful implementation of a project, the member responsible for the project must immediately inform the spokesperson; the spokesperson must immediately inform the Executive Board of the University Medical Center Göttingen if this threatens serious disadvantages for the University of Göttingen or its supporting foundation.

(2) The members are obliged to participate in the conceptual and organizational work, the promotion of young researchers, the promotion of equal opportunities for scientists with special consideration of the compatibility of work and family life, and the administration of the CRC in accordance with the DFG guidelines and these regulations.

(3) ¹The members are obliged to cooperate, advise and support each other. ²Common infrastructural resources as well as the SFB's funds may be used by all members within the scope of availability and the existing guidelines and resolutions on their use.

(4) The members are obliged to comply with all provisions applicable to the CRC, in particular the DFG guidelines, these regulations and the resolutions of the Executive Board issued on the basis of these regulations.

(5) The members are obliged to inform the CRCHead Office of any changes relevant to their membership.

(6) ¹The PIs are:
a) responsible for the proper implementation of the research project;
b) responsible for passing on information to the members and relatives of their project, insofar as the information is of importance for the implementation of the respective project;
c) responsible for the implementation of Bachelor's and Master's theses in their project;
d) responsible for the proper use of funds and for the documentation of proof of use, including the proof of use of the expenditure specified in the application for the basic equipment of the respective project;
e) obliged to submit a report after the end of a funding period or at the end of the project. e) to submit a report on the work in the project at the end of a funding period or at the end of the project; this obligation remains unaffected by the end of membership.
²If the membership of a PI ends due to departure from the University of Göttingen, the equipment and financial resources granted to the CRC for the project concerned cannot be taken along during the term of the CRC; deviating stipulations (e.g. taking along equipment) require the approval of the CRC Executive Board and the UMG Executive Board.

(7) Publications resulting from research work within the framework of the CRC must refer to funding by the DFG.

(8) The provisions of paragraphs 1 to 7 apply accordingly to members.

§ 4 Organs of the CRC

The CRC has the following organs:
a) General Assembly,
b) Executive Board,
c) Spokesperson.

§ 5 General Assembly

(1) ¹The General Assembly has the following tasks and competencies:
a) Proposals for the resolution on the regulations and their amendment;
b) Resolution on the overall funding application;
c) Appointment and dismissal of the members of the Executive Board in accordance with the provisions of § 6 para. 2;
d) Receipt of the annual report of the spokesperson;
e) Right to comment on the work of the Executive Board in matters of fundamental importance.
²Decisions according to sentence 1 letters a) and e) require an absolute majority of the members entitled to vote.

(2) The meetings of the General Assembly shall take place as often as the business situation requires, but at least once a year, as well as at the request of five members.

(3) Requests for the inclusion of items on the agenda must be submitted in text form at least two weeks before the date of the meeting to the spokesperson, who shall set the agenda and send it to all members at least one week before the date of the meeting, at least in text form.

(4) Relatives may participate in the General Assembly in an advisory capacity.

§ 6 Executive Board

(1) ¹The Executive Board consists of seven members: the spokesperson, the deputy spokesperson and five other members. ²At least four of the members of the Executive Board must belong to the university lecturers' group.

(2) ¹The members of the Executive Board are appointed for the duration of a funding period by open vote. ²Substitutes must also be nominated for the five other members of the Executive Board. ³PIs of the CRC can be appointed; the spokesperson is the PI of the central management project, but does not have to lead a scientific project. ⁴The General Assembly may dismiss a member of the Executive Board by appointing a successor with a majority of two thirds of its members. ⁵The Administrative Coordinator and the Scientific Coordinator of the CRC participate in the meetings of the Executive Board in an advisory capacity.

(3) ¹The Executive Board is responsible for all matters that are not assigned to another body by these regulations. ²In particular, its tasks include:
a) Developing the scientific program and monitoring the implementation of research projects during the application period;
b) Preparing the overall funding application, internal preliminary review of project applications and deciding on changes to financial aspects of project applications (e.g. termination for substantive reasons). e.g. termination or start-up funding of a project for substantive reasons);
c) Development of strategies for follow-up applications;
d) Decisions on the inclusion of new projects during the funding period;
e) Decisions on reallocation applications of more than 10. 000 euros;
f) Personnel matters; in particular participation in the hiring and dismissal of employees by the UMG or participating institutions who are paid from SFB funds;
g) Decisions on the admission of members and affiliates as well as on the withdrawal of membership or affiliate status;
h) Adoption of guidelines, in particular in the following areas: Use of funds, specification of obligations to retain primary data, utilization of research results;
i) Coordination with the Executive Board of the UMG on questions of basic equipment and appointment issues;
j) Advice on the application for and procurement of equipment used by several projects;
k) Implementation of scientific events of the CRC;
l) Initiation of interdisciplinary publications;
m) Advice on and resolution of measures to promote young scientists as well as equality, diversity and family friendliness.
³A directive according to sentence 1 letter h) requires the approval of the Executive Board of the UMG

§ 7 Spokesperson and Deputy Spokesperson

(1) The Spokesperson represents the CRC externally within the framework of the statutory provisions.

(2) If the spokesperson is unable to attend, he/she shall be represented by the deputy spokesperson.

(3) ¹If the spokesperson or the deputy spokesperson resigns prematurely, a general meeting shall be convened immediately for the purpose of appointing a new spokesperson until the end of the term of office. ²If both members leave at the same time, the invitation shall be issued by the oldest member of the Executive Board in terms of age, who shall then also act as acting spokesperson.

(4) ¹The spokesperson shall be bound by the resolutions of the General Assembly in accordance with these regulations and shall be accountable to the General Assembly for his/her decisions. ²He*she reports to the General Assembly on the work of the Executive Board.

(5) ¹His*her*her duties include:
a) Monitoring the administration and accounting of funds;
b) Deciding on reallocation applications up to and including 10,000 euros;
c) Convening meetings of the Executive Board and the General Assembly;
d) Informing members and relatives;
e) Managing the “Z-Project: Central Tasks”.
²He*she is responsible for the day-to-day business of the Executive Board.

§ 8 Procedure for the Allocation of Centrally Administered Funds

¹Only members of the CRC may submit applications for central funds of the CRC. ²Central funds are available for the following purposes:
a) Business trips;
b) Costs for visiting researchers;
c) Publications, provided it can be proven beyond doubt that the publication was produced as part of a CRC research project;
d) Personnel;
e) Flat-rate funds (includes the start-up and program for early career researchers);
f) Gender equality measures.
³The application must be submitted to the spokesperson based on the requirements specified in the DFG proposal. ⁴The Executive Board shall decide on the application within the framework of the funds available; in the case of business trips and guest researcher costs, the application should be received at least two weeks before the start of the trip or guest stay.

§ 9 Whereabouts of Resources

(1) Resources and unused funds of the projects shall generally revert to the CRC; the CRC Executive Board shall decide on exceptions in consultation with the UMG Executive Board.

(2) ¹The Executive Board shall be informed of the exact location of CRC devices and equipment immediately upon acquisition. ²Sentence 1 applies accordingly in the event of a change of location.

§ 10 General Principles of Procedure

(1) ¹The meeting of the General Assembly or the Executive Board is convened and chaired by the spokesperson. ²The General Assembly of Members and the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum if the meeting has been duly convened and, in the case of the General Assembly of Members, at least 40 percent of the members are present; in the case of the Executive Board, at least half of the members entitled to vote, including at least half of the members of the university lecturers' group including the spokesperson or the deputy, are present. ³The meeting of the General Assembly or the Executive Board is duly convened if the invitation is issued at least in text form by the spokesperson with a notice period of at least one week, in the case of the General Assembly with a notice period of at least two weeks. ⁴If a further meeting is convened due to a lack of quorum, the notice period may be shortened accordingly. ⁵A body may consult third parties, in particular members or members of the CRC, in an advisory capacity on individual issues.

(2) ¹Resolutions (including appointments) are passed by open ballot with a majority of the valid votes cast (simple majority), unless otherwise provided for by law, ordinance, basic regulations or in these regulations. ²In the event of a tie, the vote of the spokesperson shall be decisive; this does not apply to the appointment of the spokesperson. ³In particular in the case of appointment or dismissal, a secret ballot shall take the place of an open vote at the request of a member.

(3) ¹Minutes shall be taken of the meeting of a body, which shall be released electronically by the spokesperson and sent to the members within two weeks, at least in text form. ²Minutes shall be deemed approved if no request for amendment is made by a member present at the meeting within a further two weeks. ³The body shall decide on the amendment. ⁴The adoption of a resolution by circulation procedure shall be recorded by the spokesperson in a note.

(4) A statement on a protocol as well as a statement of reasons given for it, which is to be included as an annex to the protocol, must be in text form and must be included in the protocol; the statement and the reasons must be submitted to the spokesperson within one week of the day of the meeting on which the matter was discussed.

(5) ¹If a decision by a body responsible under these regulations cannot be brought about in time and if this threatens to seriously disadvantage the CRC, the necessary decision shall be taken:
a) by the Executive Board instead of the General Assembly,
b) by the spokesperson instead of the Executive Board.
²The body concerned must be informed immediately of the resolution, at least in text form.

(6) ¹The procedure for appointments to bodies shall be carried out in compliance with the principles of equality and diversity and the legal standards issued in this regard. ²A report shall also contain a description of the fulfillment of tasks in the areas of promotion of early career researchers, equal opportunities and diversity.

(7) If the DFG approves a different number of projects within the meaning of Section 1 (2), the regulations shall be deemed amended to this extent without the need for a further resolution; the amendment shall be announced in an appropriate manner.

(8) ¹A legal relationship under company law, similar to company law or otherwise establishing the CRC's independent legal capacity shall not be entered into; the statutory provisions on companies pursuant to Sections 705 et seq. BGB are not applicable. ²The CRC does not participate in legal transactions.

§ 11 Entry Into Force and Expiry, Transitional Provisions

(1) ¹The above regulations shall enter into force on the day following their publication in the Official Notices I of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. ²The above regulations shall cease to apply at the same time as the CRC ends; any subsequent obligations of the members and affiliates, in particular reporting obligations to the University of Göttingen and the DFG, shall remain unaffected.

(2) ¹When these regulations come into force, the Executive Board shall consist of the members appointed by resolution of the Executive Board of the UMG. ²The Executive Board according to sentence 1 shall conduct business until April 1, 2025. ³The appointment of a new Executive Board shall be carried out by the end of the winter semester 2024/2025 at the latest. ⁴The term of office of the members of the new Executive Board to be appointed in accordance with sentence 3 shall end at the latest at the end of the funding period.