CUCo offers two granting schemes:

• Spark grants
• Unusual Collaboration grants

Spark

Spark grants aim to stimulate unusual collaborations to address societal challenges. The grants offer initial financial support to start building a committed project team and explore the potential of an idea and/or test whether it can be taken further and developed into a project application, for an Unusual Collaborations grant or another funding scheme.

Spark grants are thus a low-threshold stimulus to support connection with others outside one’s own disciplinary background, to initiate collaboration around a research idea, to share knowledge and best practices, and to develop something together.

The Spark programme consists of two phases: a series of four half-day workshops (phase one) followed by a period of time in which a research topic can be explored with a team (phase two).

Unusual Collaboration

Unusual Collaboration grants are meant to take an idea or project further by enabling outside-the-box inter- and transdisciplinary research that is societally relevant and may aim to contribute to societal impact. Expressions of intent are invited on unusual research that would not easily get funded through other funding schemes. In addition to research, expressions of intent may also concern setting up a platform, Centre of Excellence, hub, et cetera.

An Unusual Collaboration (UCo) grant provides funding for one year with the idea that the project will extend beyond the funding period. This may be possible by applying again for CUCo funding up to three years; applicants are also strongly encouraged to consider other pathways for continuation.