Research Awards

Seed Grants and Development Grants at any location that demonstrates consideration for the following will be given priority: 

• Cross-disciplinary collaboration 
• Longevity of the program/project 
• Bi-directional relationships with any global partners 

Strategic Priorities for 2026-2027:

UW Global has developed strategic research priorities in alignment with UW’s’ strategic vision.

• STEM–Arts & Humanities Collaboration: We encourage applications with at least one PI based in a STEM field and one based in the Arts & Humanities in an equal partnership with a clear case for why interdisciplinary collaboration is core to the project objectives.
• “Glocal” Research and/or Engagement: We encourage applications that engage with local global diasporas and/or connections between the PNW and other parts of the world.
• Strategic Geographies: Kenya, India, Nordic/Arctic, and Japan: We encourage applications from any discipline that concerns any of these countries or region. Target countries may change from year to year.

The GIF Awards cannot support long-term projects. We expect that the research team will apply for additional funding to support a long-term project. 

Contact UW Global with questions at uwgif@uw.edu 

This call invites proposals for partnership development activities that strengthen collaboration between the University of Washington (UW) and our partner universities:

• Aalto University
• University of Helsinki
• Tohoku University
• The University of Manchester
• The University of Sheffield

Eligibility

• Proposals must include participants from both UW and one of the partner institutions listed above.

• Eligible disciplines and other requirements vary by partner: 

• • Aalto University: All fields and no other specific requirements. 

• • University of Manchester: 

• • • Must connect to one of these themes: 
      • Digital Futures
      • Sustainable Futures 

• • • Other requirements: 

• • • • PIs/leads are ineligible to apply if they have received money from the international seed funds in the last 2 years: As one of our collective objectives is for the PIs/leads to be applying for external funding, we feel that this two-year rule discourages reliance on internal funding for the longer term project developments. 

• • • • 3 researchers per partner institution: This will facilitate the building of research networks, rather than simply peer-to-peer research. 

• • • • The project team needs to include an Early Career Researcher: Including an ECR in the project team helps to ensure the inclusion of the next generation of researchers.  

• • • • UofM PIs must submit a separate application through their own portal. UW PIs only need to focus on our application. 

• • University of Helsinki: Open to all fields and no special requirements. 

• • University of Sheffield: Open to all fields, but the below represent their strategic priorities:
    • AI  
    • Manufacturing and Robotics  
    • Quantum  
    • Biomedical Engineering  
    • Medicine  
    • Ice and Climate  

• • Tohoku University: Must be connected to one of the below topics:
    • Quantum Science
    • Disaster Resilience 
    • Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing 
    • Medical and Biosystems Science 

Funding Details

• Each selected project may receive up to $10,000 from the Global Innovation Fund (GIF) at UW.
• The partner university will match the same amount, providing up to an additional $10,000 to its participating faculty or researchers.
• Total maximum project funding: $20,000.
• Funds are intended to support activities that initiate or deepen collaboration, such as workshops and joint research.

Application Process

• • With the exception of the University of Manchester, the only application submitted is our application completed by the UW faculty member(s)  through the GIF Terra Dotta platform. University of Manchester additionally requires that their faculty submit a separate application.  
  • No separate application is required for the UW PI through the partner institution.

Proposal Requirements
Applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed activity will:

• Build on areas of mutual interest and complementary strengths.
• Provide a foundation for long-term, large-scale collaboration between UW and the partner institution.
• Support future joint research initiatives and potential applications for external research funding.

For Seed Grants:  

• Early-career UW faculty members, research scientists, and non-faculty researchers from the Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell campuses, are encouraged to apply. Graduate students, including PhD students, and post docs, are not eligible to apply; however, their involvement in the project’s delivery, such as serving as research assistants or interns, is encouraged.  
• Seed grants are intended for applicants who are in the early stages of a research project or those seeking to expand their research globally. 

For Development Grants

• UW faculty members, research scientists, and non-faculty researchers from the Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell campuses, are encouraged to apply. Graduate students, including PhD students, and post docs, are not eligible to apply; however, their involvement in the project’s delivery, such as serving as research assistants or interns, is encouraged.  

For UW Global Partnership Awards

• Who can apply: UW faculty members and research scientists from the Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell campuses are eligible and encouraged to apply.
• Who cannot apply: Graduate students, including PhD students, and post docs, are not eligible to apply as principal applicants.
• Student involvement: Graduate students may participate in the project’s delivery, such as serving as research assistants or interns.
• Collaboration requirement: All UW applications must include a collaborator from one of the partner universities.
• Please see above for further eligibility requirements.

For all applications, the priority is given to: 

• Cross-disciplinary and multi-country collaboration 
• Proof of concept with clear outcomes 
• Sustainable funding models after the GIF award 
• Development and submission of a collaborative proposal for external funding 
• Development and submission of a collaborative scholarly publication, monograph, or exhibition of research or creative work 
• Development of new collaborative curricular programs (degree programs, courses, faculty exchanges) 

Application opens	September 17th, 2026
Application deadline	November 9th, 2026
Notification of award	First half of January 2027
Award use period	February 2027 – February 2028
Post-award reports due	February 2028
Unused funds returned to UW Global	February 2028

All funded projects must submit a post-award report to the MyGlobal platform at the end of the award use period.

• Brief narrative report – describe the purpose, outcomes, and next steps for your project 
• Photos and/or videos 
• Updated budget, including actual expenditures 

Please mention the Global Innovation Fund in any communications or news related to your project. Use #UWGlobal on social media UWGlobal LinkedIn and UWGlobal Instagram. 

UW Global may follow up to do additional marketing and storytelling around each community. 

Failure to submit the final report and budget on time will cause exclusion from future GIF applications. 

How to Craft a Strong Application

Frequently Asked Questions