JR Centres are established in universities of applied sciences. Important features are:
- Application-oriented research on a high level
- Integration into the scientific environment of universities of applied sciences
- Maximum duration of five years
- Rigorous scientific quality monitoring
- Bottom-up orientation
- Compact research groups (3-10 people)
- Key position of the Head of Centre
- Joint financing by the public purse and companies
- Flexibility and relatively little organisational effort
- Scientific freedom of researchers for development of expertise