In 2009 medical researchers at German universities each received on average €474 500 (£408 000; $650 200) for research from third party, or non-university, sources—a rise of 7.3% on the previous year, says a report. The awards were the highest of all university disciplines.

The report on university funding from the German Statistical Office shows that engineering researchers received the next highest awards with an average of €454 400 in third party funds in 2009. They were followed by agricultural/forest/nutrition researchers at €250 800, natural sciences and mathematics researchers at €239 700, sports researchers at €124 800, and veterinary …