Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the inaugural call for proposals for the UNIQ Seed Fund (AY2025-2026). This initiative is designed to support promising collaborative projects that aim at to strengthen research and educational ties through the university's trilateral partnership with National Taiwan University (NTU) and Kyushu University (KU). I invite you to submit applications for funding and share this announcement widely with colleagues in your respective units.
UNIQ Background
The UNIQ (Universities: National Taiwan University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Kyushu University) Trilateral Alliance between Kyushu University (Kyushu), National Taiwan University (NTU), and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois), established in 2024, represents a unique collaboration among three globally renowned institutions. This alliance builds on strong bilateral relationships to create a dynamic platform for addressing pressing global challenges through interdisciplinary research and education. By fostering academic exchange and leveraging the collective strengths of the partner universities, the alliance aims to drive impactful innovations and nurture sustainable partnerships.
The objective of this call is to facilitate the development of innovative joint research and educational programs, encourage the sharing of expertise, and promote cross-institutional collaboration. This funding is available to faculty members from the three partner universities to support joint research projects or initiatives that may lead to further external funding, co-authored papers, or other long-term collaborations. We welcome proposals from all disciplines and particularly encourage those that have identified funding to sustain the collaboration beyond UNIQ funding.
Application Information
Detailed guidelines and the online application can be found on the UNIQ application form. The application deadline is April 30, 2025.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Illinois International’s Director for Global Relations, Dr. Sammer Jones, at salehjo1@illinois.edu.
Sincerely,
Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, Ph.D.
Associate Chancellor and Vice Provost for Global Affairs & Strategies
Professor of Higher Education
Illinois International