The Centre for Unusual Collaborations part of the EWUU Alliance is pleased to announce the launch of the Spark Grants Fall 2024! If you are an early or mid-career researcher at TU/e, WUR, UU, or UMC Utrecht and passionate about inter- and transdisciplinary research, this opportunity is for you. 

Twice a year, the Centre for Unusual Collaborations initiates the Spark grants to stimulate unusual collaborations to address societal challenges. The grants offer initial financial support to start building an interdisciplinary project team and explore the potential of an idea and/or test whether it can be further developed into a project application for an Unusual Collaborations grant or another funding scheme.

This time, the Centre for Unusual Collaborations invites you to apply for the fall cohort 2024 September/October.

The Spark program consists of two phases

Phase 1

A series of four half-day workshops strengthening interdisciplinary competences. Participation in these workshops is a mandatory step in the Spark grant process for at least two members of an eventual Spark team; The workshops for the September/October 2024 cohort will take place at CUCo’s Nest, Vening Meinesz building C, Princetonlaan 6, Utrecht from 13:00 – 17:00h CET on:

• Monday, 16 September 2024
• Monday, 23 September 2024
• Monday, 30 September 2024
• Monday, 7 October 2024

Phase 2

After completing the four workshop participants enter phase 2, a period of time to form interdisciplinary teams to develop a project topic. Teams meeting the Spark criteria receive a €9,000 grant. Supported by CUCo coaches, teams will work towards a joint grant proposal or project output. Once the proposal is approved, teams can start using the funding.

Application

Application dealine: 9 September 2024

For application go to the Sparks website page

Contact

For questions about the Spark Grant Fall Cohort 2024 please contact: cuco@ewuu.nl

Dates 2025

The dates for the four half-day workshops for the spring 2025 cohort have already been set: Monday, 10, 17, 24 and 31 March 2025, all from 13:00 – 17:00h CET. If you’re interested in signing up, please let us know by email (cuco@ewuu.nl) and we’ll send you a reminder when the call for applications Spring 2025 opens.