Extended application period COIn grant to improve research infrastructure
Last year, investments were made in new research facilities within the Faculty of Humanities. It is now time for the next step: improving research infrastructure, funded by a COIn grant.
University lecturer Karin de Wild chairs the COIn committee. ‘In Leiden, we have broad expertise in house,’ she says, ‘and in the coming years, we want to encourage interdisciplinary research, both within the university and between different universities and between the university and social partners.’
Sector plan funds
The faculty is able to proceed with these plans thanks to sector plan funds allocated in 2022. ‘It may seem odd that we are all having to think about cuts at the moment, and yet there is money for new labs,’ says Rob Goedemans, ‘but the sector plan funds consist of earmarked money. The government is continuing to make these budgets available on condition that they are used to benefit infrastructure for research on specific topics such as language, heritage and AI. So far we have, for example, updated our labs and equipment. Among other things, we have procured part of the Leiden supercomputer, created the SSH labs together with FSW and established the Humanities Hub.'
De Wild: ‘Researchers can use these labs to do more advanced research, but also to meet and inspire each other. With that in mind, we have also started collaborations with other universities to connect researchers on a national level.'
Infrastructure
'We value the inputs from researchers. A COIn grant allows them to indicate what state-of-the-art infrastructure they need,' says De Wild. A COIn grant can give interested researchers a helping hand with this. They can apply for a grant of 5,000 to 30,000 euros to further shape their research. A fully developed plan isn’t a requirement at this stage. ‘We can always help you think about what you want to achieve,’ De Wild emphasises. ‘Our knowledge broker Marlieke Ernst, for instance, has many contacts with social partners and knows their research needs, and our ICT and Research Coordinator Auke Ruhe knows all the technical possibilities like the back of his hand. They will be happy to help you realise your idea and put it into the best possible form'.
The COIn grant amounts to €5,000 to €30,000 and is intended for research infrastructure. This could include such things as software licences, applications, electronics or lab equipment. You cannot hire researchers or research assistants. All proposals are welcome, but the committee encourages proposals that involve open source software, contribute to existing labs within the faculty, or address at least one of the following topics (in line with the faculty's research agenda): human-centred AI, the construction of heritage and languages and cultures of the world.
Please note: the deadline for submitting proposals has been postponed to 15 March.