University of Sao Paulo-Imperial Seed Fund

1. To be eligible, a single proposal must be submitted by a team of researchers including at least one PI at each institution. Co-investigators may be researchers of any seniority. Research teams may also include PIs from other institutions, including other strategic partners of Imperial and USP. However, these external partners are not directly eligible to receive funding through this call.

2. Up to three joint projects will be selected for a funding period of one year. Proposals should demonstrate the potential for sustainability beyond the initial funding period.
3. Proposals from all disciplines are eligible to apply.  Those demonstrating strong relevance to priority themes of bioeconomy and energy transitions are strongly encouraged as are those that draw a connection between the two themes.
4. Interdisciplinary project teams are highly encouraged as is a transdisciplinary approach to solving the identified research challenge.
5. Each partner's funds will be used to cover the expenses of its own academics in the case of
6. Proposals may include, but are not limited activities such as workshops, symposia, faculty exchanges, research seminars/presentations, joint publications, and the formation of a collaborative network with the aim of developing high-quality proposals to national and supra-national bodies/funding programs.

Up to three successful proposals will be selected and will receive up to the following funding:

• Imperial will provide each approved project up to £10,000 for one year to support Imperial applications.
• USP will provide each approved project up to £10,000 for one year to support USP applications.

In both cases, funding will be allocated to each institution’s PI by 31 July 2025 and must be spent by 31 July 2026.

The funding can be used for:

² For USP, the funding of coffee breaks or any other type of meals during an event is not currently permitted.

Proposals for this Strategic Partnership Fund must be jointly submitted by USP and Imperial in English. Each PI must submit the same proposal to the coordinating office of their home institution, including the following information:

1. Annexe I – Application Form[1]:

• Title of the project.
• Names and academic affiliation of the two Principal Investigators (PIs) with contact information.
• List of further participants (name, position/role/status, faculty/ school/department/research centre, university).
• 1,000-character summary/abstract of the proposed project and/or event, and a list of five key words.
• Project Overview (approx. 5,000 characters) including:
  • Academic case and research challenge the project will address.
  • Description of the activities and engagements that the team intends to undertake while at the host institution. Activities may include but are not limited workshops and conferences, co-production of research or education programs; drafting and development of academic papers; applications to other funding opportunities.
  • An outline of the potential future collaborations and outcomes that will result from the project and the impact the research will have on various communities (institutional, local, international, etc.).
  • Timeline of present and future activities, including a specific plan to target large-scale, external funding opportunities.
  • Budget justification.
• Budget table.

2. Annexe II - Letter of support from the Faculty Dean or Head of Department at USP[2]. For USP applicants only.

Proposals must be sent electronically to the following addresses:

[1] Download the USP-Imperial call here

[2] See application form. 

The grant review panels at Imperial and USP will liaise to jointly determine which projects will be funded, based on the criteria set out in this call.

1. Academic Case and Research Synergy: The proposal should clearly articulate the complementary research strengths of the proposed Imperial and USP project team. It must specify which strengths reside at each institution and justify why uniting them into a single research team is essential. The emphasis should be on how this collaboration enhances the research impact beyond what each institution could achieve independently.
2. Activity Plan: The proposal should outline the specific activities that will be undertaken with the provided funding. It must explain how these activities will help establish and strengthen emerging research collaborations, ensuring meaningful engagement and progress toward long-term partnership goals.
3. Potential for Impact: The proposal should define the intended outcomes of the planned activities, detailing the anticipated benefits for local and international communities. It must also demonstrate alignment with the strategic research priorities of Imperial and USP and their respective national research contexts.
4. Wider Institutional Benefits: The proposal should highlight the broader institutional advantages of the partnership, including benefits to departments, faculties, and research centres. It should also consider how the involvement of early career researchers (ECRs), postgraduates, and undergraduates will enrich the project and contribute to their academic and professional development.
5. Path to Sustainability: The proposal must present a clear, step-by-step strategy for sustaining the partnership beyond the initial seed funding. It should outline how the collaboration will attract external funding and ensure long-term viability.

Grant recipients are required to follow the proposed project and to submit a two to three-page final report no later than one month after the end of the grant period. Periodic status updates on the progress of the project may be requested, and recipients may be asked to present to Imperial, USP, and other appropriate forums (e.g., departmental/College presentations) as requested. The report should include the following information: objectives proposed and activities undertaken; project outcomes and achievements, including key findings and future plans; a brief assessment by the lead researcher of actual expenditure against planned. Grant recipients will later be asked to provide an update two years after the visit to ensure that longer-term outcomes of the engagement can be measured that would not have become apparent in the first-year report.

Reports must be sent to: