Mahidol Sussex Seed Fund

The Mahidol Sussex Seed Fund is a collaborative initiative between the University of Sussex and Mahidol University, Thailand. Designed to enhance the strategic partnership between our institutions, the program provides financial support for collaborative projects that address global challenges and contribute to international development.

 

The Mahidol Sussex Seed Fund is a collaborative initiative between the University of Sussex’s Global Engagement and the Global Partnerships Division at Mahidol University, Thailand.

Designed to enhance the strategic partnership between the two institutions, this joint initiative provides funding for one-year projects aimed at expanding research collaborations that address global challenges, while contributing to international development and growing the reputation of research teams at both universities.

Activities eligible for the fund include:

• visits to link research groups and establish new contacts to explore possibilities for collaboration and capacity building.
• preparation of collaborative bids to attract research funding
• facilitating internationally co-authored publications (including joint workshops or conferences)
• development of new interdisciplinary research programmes.
• other items that facilitate the collaboration among research groups at both universities.

Grants are available for up to one year and costs covered include travel, accommodation, workshops, facilities, equipment use, other meeting-related expenses and any costs associated with the preparation of external funding proposals. Consultancy fees require a compelling case, and funds cannot be used for salaries or to replace funding from other sources.

Eligibility

There is an one application cycle per year and the disciplines eligible to apply change for each round.

Applications for round two are open to all disciplines all Sussex Centres of Excellence and Mahidol researchers from any discipline.  Applications should be prepared by groups but must have a Principal Applicant from both Sussex and Mahidol. Priority will also be given to any applications that extend opportunities to early career researchers at both universities.

Applicants can be of any faculty rank at Mahidol or Sussex. At Sussex, the Fund is open to all members of academic faculty and professional services staff within the Centres of Excellence, whose contract of employment extends to at least the end of the proposed funding period.

Those who are registered as students (including PhDs) are not eligible to apply directly but may be included within a proposal.

How to apply

The application process involves submitting a joint Mahidol Sussex Seed Fund Application Form [DOCX 39.33KB] along with statements of support from Director of the research centre at Sussex and the Head of Department at Mahidol.

A Seed Fund Panel, comprised of representatives from both institutions, will assess applications based on criteria such as partnership development, goal delivery, research quality, and community engagement.

For detailed information, applicants can refer to the Mahidol Sussex Seed Fund Specification [DOCX 28.82KB] and are encourage to contact the respective fund manager for each institution.

The deadline for round two is Friday 22nd November 2024, 23.59 GMT, with projects commencing in January 2025.