Funding under the ‘Open Humboldt Freiräume’ program is awarded based on the quality of the suggested project, as assessed by a selection committee, and its compliance with the funding criteria. Neither the scope of the teaching buyout / teaching load to be replaced nor the individual profile of student assistants will be considered in the evaluation. The funding criteria are:

1. Multidirectional Exchange between Science and Society:
   The program supports projects that enable multidirectional exchange between science and society. Projects should identify and address societal needs and current issues, contributing to solutions and societal improvements through scientific research and experimentation. Through participatory concepts and broad opportunities for involvement, active contributions from relevant target groups are encouraged, and knowledge or experience from societal actors is integrated into research projects.

2. Concept for Networking, Cooperation with Societal Actors, and Inclusion of Relevant Target Groups:
   Funded projects involve non-university actors and relevant partners from society, culture, politics, economy, or similar fields. Equal reciprocal exchange, appropriate address of target groups and engagement with the chosen relevant community group(s) must be ensured.

3. Innovative Character of the Project:
   Funded projects offer creative concepts and innovative participation formats to engage with society. Activities should go beyond the regular duties of academic departments and avoid merely disseminating or publishing scientific results.

4. Fit between Project Idea, Planned Implementation Formats, and the Goal of the Funding Programme:
   The Open Humboldt Freiräume programme’s goal is to support knowledge exchange with society incorporating non-university perspectives into academic work while making university knowledge available for societal questions. The selection process assesses whether the proposed project idea, the involvement of actors, implementation formats, and expected outcomes align with this goal and enable multidirectional exchange.

5. Description of Evaluation and Sustainability Measures:
   The selection process considers how the anticipated outcomes and impacts of the project will be evaluated and assessed. Plans for sustainability and long-term use of the expected project results or impacts should also be included and clearly described in the concept.

6. Link to research and teaching:
   Funded projects support further development of research by ensuring that non-university perspectives and project results inform academic work. Ideally, the project or its results will also impact university teaching and involve students in various ways.

7. Plausibility of the work plan and schedule:
   The selection process considers the feasibility of the project, including:
   the feasibility of the planned formats and the availability of resources such as project funds or project spaces;
   availability of target groups and cooperation partners as well as concrete plans of how to reach or address them;
   feasibility of the project schedule or the schedule for the selected semester;
   realistic achievement of the expected results or achievement of the goal to initiate longer term processes during the project duration.
   Additionally, in applications for funding of student assistants, the selection process considers the plausibility of the work and time schedule for the (sub)project with the student assistant's involvement and their planned contribution to the overall project.