Research buildings are designed to improve the infrastructural conditions at higher education institutions in Germany. These institutions can thus boost their ranking on the national and international level. Eligible for funding are buildings at higher-education institutions with investment costs in excess 5 million euros the infrastructure of which is primarily used for research purposes.
The funds are disbursed by the Federal Government and the federal states in equal shares. Competing with other institutions for the establishment of such research infrastructure of national significance, Ruhr University has acquired funds amounting to approximately 250 million euros to date.