23 May 2024

Finding answers for societal challenges requires an interdisciplinary approach, since these issues (for example, challenges relating to climate, health and migration) are not confined by disciplinary boundaries. Breakthroughs in some fundamental science issues may also be found at the boundaries of disciplines and between disciplines. Leiden University therefore wants to encourage these interdisciplinary collaborations.

The university is therefore making 25 seed grants available each year between 2024 and 2026. These seed grants are for a maximum of €10,000 per project and are awarded to develop new interdisciplinary and/or interfaculty research collaborations and encounters.  

An application for the Kiem call must include colleagues (research staff and management and support staff) from at least two (and preferably more) faculties of Leiden University. These grants are not intended for projects focusing on the research of one individual researcher or to support primarily interuniversity projects.

Proposals may focus on network building, organising seminars and workshops, conducting a pilot study, producing publications, creating research proposals, etc. The Kiem call funding is not intended to exempt the researcher from teaching, but it may be used for other personnel-related expenses, such as hiring student assistants or management assistants and support staff for meetings.

In 2023 in the context of this Kiem call, 33 seed grants were awarded by drawing lots. The content of the proposals was very diverse: from the relationship between violence and other health problems, to how virtual building blocks can bring the past to life, to how interdisciplinary collaboration can be promoted.

Want to know more and apply for a Kiem grant?

If more than 25 applications are submitted, once the applications have been assessed for the admissibility conditions, the awards for the Kiem call will be made by means of drawing lots.  

To find out more about the admissibility conditions, go to the project page.

Completed applications can be submitted via mail to Sicco de Knecht: kiemcall@bb.leidenuniv.nl. Applications must be submitted before 21 June 2024 17:00 hr.

On June 6, a Kiem stand will be present at a Leiden symposium on transdisciplinary collaboration. On June 7, feel free to join our online information session on the Kiem grant.