Higher pay for top researchers: Bundesrat to decide on law
More research institutes would be allowed to pay specialists above standard rates. The culture committee recommends letting the law pass on 16 October.
Symbolic image · Photo: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
On Friday, 16 October, the Bundesrat will take a final decision on an amendment to the Science Freedom Act passed by the Bundestag. It relaxes the so-called ban on preferential pay. That rule generally bars publicly funded research institutions from paying their staff more than comparable federal employees.
In future, 15 instead of 11 non-university research institutions would fall under the law. Project-funded non-profit research institutions are also included and would no longer need to apply for individual exemptions. However, the higher salaries may not come from public funds but, for example, from companies or investors; EU funding is possible where EU law allows.
The lead culture committee recommends not calling the mediation committee. If the plenary follows this recommendation, the law can enter into force.