The core ambition of the EPICUR alliance is to transform education, research and transfer practices and opportunities across its member universities in order to develop original cutting-edge solutions and train new generations of European change makers able to shape a European society in transition and help overcome the daunting challenges.

In the pursuit, through a stepwise approach, of deeper research collaboration and future joint teaching between EPICUR members, the EPICUR Seed Funding Scheme has been devised as an instrument to stimulate synergies between teaching and research by offering a financial support mechanism to support the building of promising research collaboration projects between EPICUR partner universities.

The set-up of a joint scheme is seen by the alliance partners as a strategic investment. It initiates a collaborative coordinated effort to stimulate research partnerships and ensure a more efficient allocation of resources than if each university were to independently create incentives for collaboration within EPICUR.

A 2024 call for proposals for Seed funding projects has been launched as a pilot action by the nine partners of the EPICUR Alliance.

Scope of the 2024 call

  • The Seed Funding call for proposals invites researchers affiliated to one of the EPICUR partner institutions to submit proposals for one-year joint research project grants with colleagues from other EPICUR universities.
  • The seed funding aims to facilitate the development of ideas for research cooperation and proofs of concept and to foster collaborative joint research projects.
  • Proposals can focus on research in any scientific area. However, projects addressing EPICUR priority areas are strongly encouraged.

For further information, including funding details, deadlines and call documents, please visit the page outlining the 2024 call for proposals for seed funding projects, which was launched as a pilot action by the nine partners of the EPICUR Alliance. Future calls will be advertised on this page.

The 2024 call resulted in 17 applications involving researchers from all nine EPICUR universities. These are currently undergoing a scientific review process, which is due to conclude in December 2024.

The collaborative research projects are funded from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Additionally, projects receive financing from national funding sources and partners’ own resources.