The larger context of the experiments discussed in this proposal are the fundamental properties of the strong interaction in the non-perturbativeregime, i.e. on the energy scale typical for hadrons and their excited stateswhere the connection must be made between the fundamental interactions ofquarks via gluon exchange and the properties and interactions of colorlesshadrons.The proposal combines two lines of research, which are in different stages.The currently running experiments aim at the excitation spectrum of nucleonsstudied with photoproduction of mesons for many different final states.They are based at the electron accelerators MAMI in Mainz (maximum energy 1.5 GeV, high intensity beams) and ELSA in Bonn (maximum energy 3.5 GeV). At both facilities tagged photon beams are used in combination with large solid angle covering electromagnetic calorimeters for detailed studies of the photoproduction of mesons (scalar, vector, pairs of scalar mesons,...). In the framework of the A2-, Crystal Ball-, Crystal Barrel-, TAPS, andBGO-OD-collaborations we have over the last decade significantly contributed to state-of-the-art experiments, which have world-wide unique capabilities. They combine linearly and circularly polarized tagged photon beams with longitudinally and transversely polarized targets (butanol and deuterated butanol targets of frozen-spin type). The experiments allow to measure total cross sections, all single polarization observables (beam-, target-, and recoil-polarization), all double polarization observables accessible with polarized beam and polarized target (E, G, H, F), and also some observables involving recoil polarization. In comparison to other experiments, in particular the CLAS detector at JLAB in the USA, they are optimized for final states with many neutral particles (photons, neutrons). This allows to measure reactions with neutral meson pairs (double pi0, pi0-eta, pi0-omega) which are important for cascade decays of excited states. It also allows to study photoproduction of neutral mesons of quasi-free neutrons, and even neutral meson pairs off the neutron. Our group is leading in the study of the reactions off quasi-free neutrons (bound in the deuteron or other light nuclei), which are needed for the isospin decomposition of the electromagnetic transition amplitudes. The overall experimental programsinclude of course further aspects of QCD, our group is also stongly interestedin hadron in-medium properties, but also aspects like rare meson decaysare covered by the calloaborations. Apart from an upgrade of the Crystal Barrel detector, which is under way, these experiments are matured and in the data taking phase. Also during 2015/16 mainly manpower for running the experiments and analysing the data are required.The other branch is the R\&D, and in 2015/16 mainly construction work for the PANDA experiment at the planned antiproton ring of the FAIR facility at the GSI Darmstadt. Our group is mainly involved in the construction of the forward part of the electromagnetic calorimeter for which we have developed the critical preamplifiers and set up the High and Low Voltage supply systems. Mass production of the preamplifiers has been started, a test stand has been developed (originally for similar preamplifiers used for the Crystal Barrel upgrade, some minor modifications are under way), so that testing of the modules can be done during 2014/15. The detector will be assembled in Juelich during 2015/16and first test measurements are forseen for 2017.