Determinants of third-party funding applications in German academia

In recent decades, the importance of securing third-party funding has significantly increased. While much of the research focuses on changes in governance, this paper examines the issue from the individual perspective of professors and the organizational structures in German higher education. The key research question is: What motivational and organizational factors are linked to the number of third-party funding applications submitted by professors at German universities? Writing these applications entails additional work for professors. Using Self-Determination Theory, the study explores motivational factors, as well as organizational factors, such as the delegation of application work to their research teams. A survey conducted between March and May 2022 with German professors reveals key insights. Neither intrinsic motivation nor scientific reputation plays a significant role in driving professors to pursue third-party funding. Instead, external pressures, such as the necessity of funding for research, are the primary motivators. Additionally, while postdocs often assist in writing applications, it is the involvement of predocs that most strongly correlates with an increase in the number of applications submitted. Significant disciplinary differences in application submission rates are also observed.