UNA Europa brings together eight leading research universities with global reputation and reach. Our mission is to create a truly European inter-university environment, where outstanding research is continuously linked to transnational learning and innovative, critical thinking.

The UNA Europa partners are Freie Universität Berlin, Alma Mater Studiorum – Universitá di Bologna, University of Edinburgh, Helsingin Yliopisto, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, KU Leuven, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

This funding will support the initiation of long-term collaborative activities e.g. organisation of workshops or seminars, preparation of innovative joint formats for education or research, preparation of joint articles in peer reviewed journals.

Goals

• Strengthening and initiating long-term cooperation the UNA Europa network by incentivising collaboration.
• Designing formats of cooperation which may attract third party funding in the long run.

Eligibility

• The scheme is open to all academic disciplines.
• The project must be led by a senior academic[1] from a UNA Europa university and must involve senior academics from at least three UNA Europa universities. In addition, the participation of other university staff is possible.
• Third parties are able to participate in the proposed activities; however, this will be at their own cost.
• The duration of a proposed activity can be up to one year.
• The seed funding should not duplicate funding that is otherwise available. Own resources contributed to the project will be considered favourable in the evaluation.

Funding

Funding of up to 9.000 EUR can be provided for a project involving academics of three UNA Europa universities. For each additional participating UNA Europa university, another 2.000 EUR can be applied for.

• 4 UNA Europa partners: up to 11.000 EUR
• 5 UNA Europa partners: up to 13.000 EUR
• 6 UNA Europa partners: up to 15.000 EUR
• 7 UNA Europa partners: up to 17.000 EUR
• all 8 UNA Europa partners: up to 19.000 EUR

Evaluation of applications

A selection committee consisting of members of all UNA Europa universities will decide about funding on a competitive basis. Particular attention will be given to the following criteria:

Quality (50 points)

• Academic quality, clearly formulated plan and goals of the envisaged project.
• Innovative and interdisciplinary approach.
• Strength of the team.

Impact (30 points)

• Ability to contribute to UNA Europa goals of contributing to deepening cooperation within the alliance in the longer term.
• Ability to attract external funding.
• Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Implementation (20 points)

• Potential to transform a well-structured budget into a realistic working plan.
• Number of UNA Europa partners involved (in case of equal rating of two applications funding will be provided to the project involving more partners).

Deadlines

The deadline for proposals is: 13 March 2020.

The proposed activities should be conducted between July 2020 and June 2021.

Reporting on projects

Beneficiaries will be requested to submit a project report after conducting their activity. Successful applicants will be provided with a template for reporting.

How to apply

An application for the seed funding should be submitted by the project leader in English and should including the following as separate documents for upload.

1. Project description.
2. Time frame for the proposed activity.
3. Detailed budget calculation.
4. Endorsement letters of the respective Dean or Faculty Head, declaring the support of the envisaged project.