Seed Funding for Cooperation with Partners in the Global South

Beginning 2019, Technische Universität Berlin publishes annual calls for seed funding for cooperation with partners in the Global South. In keeping with the University's Mission Statement and its commitment to sustainability as well as excellent and innovative research, the call is directed at TU Berlin researchers looking to initiate new projects or strengthen their cooperation with partners in the Global South.

Funding within this call is available for cooperation with partner institutions located in countries on the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients. Depending on the project proposal, potential partners include universities, research institutions, NGOs, and public institutions. Commercial enterprises can also be included in projects as additional partners. However, travel and living expenses for company staff members are not eligible for funding. TU Berlin encourages and supports projects that seek answers to global challenges in response to the United Nation's Agenda 2030 and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We particularly welcome proposals that involve junior scholars, both at TU Berlin and in the Global South, and applicants are invited to involve doctoral candidates and postdocs from the application stage on. However, the projects and cooperation that result from the seed funding should be established long term at the respective TU Berlin academic chair.

Financing should explicitly result in a third-party funding application. Mutual interest in cooperation should be demonstrated by a letter of support from the partner institutions.

The total funding available under this call is EUR 30,000. A maximum of EUR 7,000 is available per project for the following purposes:

1. Travel and living expenses for travel to partners
2. Travel and living expenses for visitors from the Global South to Berlin
3. Preparatory workshops for developing project ideas / drafting proposals.

Further details can be found in the call for 2023 as well as the application form for 2023. An overview of all projects selected for seed funding as well as implemented projects for the 2019, 2020, and 2022 calls is available on our website under "Funding Opportunities for Cooperation with the Global South: Funded Projects".