# Collaborative Research Centre > long-time basic research projects paid by the German Research Foundation **Wikidata**: [Q2300983](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2300983) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_Research_Centres) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/collaborative-research-centre ## Summary A Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) is a long-term basic research project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Established in 1968, these centres function as specialized research institutes or science projects dedicated to systematic investigation. They are distinguished from other entities by their focus on fundamental inquiry over extended periods, typically within the German academic landscape. ## Key Facts - **Inception:** 1968 - **Sponsor:** German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft / DFG) - **Primary Objective:** Basic research - **Instance of:** Research institute - **Subclass of:** Science project - **German National Library ID (GND):** 4116529-9 - **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/1225dd0x - **Brockhaus Enzyklopädie Online ID:** sonderforschungsbereich - **Official Description URL:** https://www.dfg.de/en/research_funding/programmes/coordinated_programmes/collaborative_research_centres/ - **Wikipedia Coverage:** Available in 4 languages (Commons, German, English, Portuguese) - **Commons Category:** Sonderforschungsbereich ## FAQs ### Q: How is a Collaborative Research Centre different from a standard research institute? A: While a Collaborative Research Centre is classified as a type of research institute, it is specifically structured as a long-time project funded by the German Research Foundation rather than a permanent standalone organization. ### Q: What is the difference between a CRC and a TRR? A: "CRC" stands for Collaborative Research Centre, while "TRR" stands for Transregional Collaborative Research Centre. Both are aliases for the same funding instrument, with the latter indicating a cross-regional collaboration structure. ### Q: Who funds Collaborative Research Centres? A: These projects are exclusively paid for by the German Research Foundation (DFG), distinguishing them from institutes funded by universities, companies, or private foundations. ### Q: What is the difference between a CRC and a "cyclic redundancy check"? A: In structured data and knowledge graphs, the acronym "CRC" for Collaborative Research Centre is explicitly differentiated from "cyclic redundancy check" (an error-detecting code used in digital networks) to prevent ambiguity. ## Why It Matters Collaborative Research Centres represent a critical infrastructure for advancing fundamental science within the German research ecosystem. By providing long-term funding specifically for basic research, the DFG enables these centres to tackle complex problems that require sustained effort beyond the typical short-term grant cycles. Unlike commercial R&D or policy-focused think tanks, these institutes focus purely on generating new knowledge through systematic investigation. This model allows researchers to pursue high-risk, high-reward inquiries without the immediate pressure of commercialization or the teaching obligations that divide the attention of university staff. They serve as dedicated engines of discovery, fostering innovation and scientific breakthroughs that address foundational questions. ## Notable For - Being a long-term basic research project funded directly by the German Research Foundation. - Operating as an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation rather than a membership-based scientific society. - Focusing on fundamental scientific inquiry across disciplines, distinct from the policy-oriented focus of think tanks. - Maintaining a specific Transregional classification (TRR) to facilitate cross-institutional cooperation. - Having a distinct identity in major knowledge bases, including a unique GND ID and Brockhaus entry. ## Body ### Definition and Core Mission A Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) is an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. Unlike universities, which balance teaching and research missions, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends, these entities exist specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. The program is designed to establish local research centres at universities for a period of up to 12 years, allowing for extended, in-depth study of complex subjects. ### Nomenclature and Aliases The entity is known by several abbreviations and titles in academic and administrative contexts. * **SFB:** The German acronym *Sonderforschungsbereich*. * **CRC:** The standard English abbreviation. * **TRR / CRC-TRR:** Transregional Collaborative Research Center, a variation indicating collaborative projects across multiple institutions or regions. These aliases help distinguish the specific funding instrument from general research grants. ### Historical Context and Classification The Collaborative Research Centre program was established in 1968. It is formally classified as a "research institute" and a "science project." In library and knowledge organization systems, it is distinct from other research entities: * **Differentiation:** It is differentiated from "cyclic redundancy check" in database disambiguation. * **Classification:** It falls under the Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 and utilizes specific identifiers like the Geonames feature code S.ITTR for geographic identification when mapped to physical locations. ### Institutional Relationships The Collaborative Research Centre is a specific instance of the broader category of "research institute." As such, it shares the characteristics of being an operational entity dedicated to hands-on investigation. It is distinguished from: * **Scientific Societies:** These are membership-based organizations, whereas a CRC is a project-based operational unit. * **Think Tanks:** CRCs pursue fundamental inquiry across all fields, whereas think tanks focus primarily on policy research. * **Universities:** While often hosted by universities, the CRC's function is purely research, free from teaching obligations. ### Data and Identifiers The entity is tracked across multiple knowledge graphs and library systems: * **Wikidata:** Properties associated with this type include P4870, P571 (inception), P1476, and P859. * **GND:** The German National Library assigns it the ID 4116529-9. * **Schema:** It is mapped to `schema.org/ResearchOrganization` for structured data purposes. * **Google Knowledge Graph:** ID /g/1225dd0x. * **Encyclopedic:** Listed in Brockhaus Enzyklopädie Online as *sonderforschungsbereich*.