The support of independent Junior Research Groups outside interdisciplinary research centres – the so called Free Floater Research Groups – is another specific measure of the Institutional Strategy of the Georg-August-University Göttingen.
Competitive and innovative research ideas are supported by the Free Floater research groups independently from existing collaborative structures.

Proposals for the independent Free Floater junior research groups were made without constraints on their topics, regardless whether they were in line with trends or match the development planning of the University. Nevertheless successful applications had to have the potential to make a significant contribution to the strategic development of the university and its faculties. The allocation of the Free Floater research groups within the University is dependent on the interests and the research profile of the group leaders and is open for joint appointments together with non-university research institutions at the Göttingen Research Campus.

Eight Free Floater research groups have been established so far to supplement the Junior Research Groups in the newly founded Courant Research Centres. Junior research group leaders were offered a junior professorship (W1) with a reduced teaching responsibility and six years of funding for personnel, consumables and investments to build up an independent research group. Each junior research group leader will enter a reliable career path. Mid-term evaluations after three years as well as tenure decisions for a W2/W3 professorship after six years will rely solely on research achievements and teaching performance of the junior research group leaders.

The university was also very successful in recruiting women for the Free Floater Junior Research Group (JRG) Leader positions. Special support for dual career couples and measures undertaken for a better reconciliation of work and family life have contributed to the high number of women successfully appointed. To date four out of eight group leader positions within the Free Floater Programme are held by women. Hence, the percentage of women holding junior professorships at the University of Göttingen has risen from 31% in 2007 to 50% in 2009.

The Junior Research Group Leaders will receive mentoring and support by the Göttingen Research Council (GRC). The GRC is an independent board representing and advising the university and non-university research Institutions at the Göttingen Research Campus.