Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the 2026 call for collaborative research proposals through Avanza UC, an initiative of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) in Santiago, Chile. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has joined the Avanza UC effort as a collaborating partner.
UC Chile and Illinois are both members of the U21 network. UC Chile is also the top-ranked university in Chile and the second-highest ranked university in Latin America according to the latest QS World University Rankings.
About Avanza UC
Established as part of UC Chile’s 2026-2030 strategic plan, Avanza UC provides flexible funding to support projects led by UC Chile faculty and global partners leading to discovery, creation, and innovation in alignment with major challenges facing the world.
Research Areas
The program is open to all disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, with particular interest in innovative work that addresses major societal challenges with global impact, fundamental research and creation, and applied research and development. Proposals that strengthen international collaboration networks are strongly encouraged.
Funding Structure
This program requires financial commitment from both participating institutions. UC Chile provides funding of up to $35,000 per project. Illinois provides matching funds in the same amount.
To support engagement by Illinois faculty, Illinois International will provide seed funding amounting to up to two-thirds of the matching fund requirement. Colleges will be expected to invest the remaining 1/3 in support of proposals from their faculty. The Illinois funding structure strengthens institutional commitment to projects while creating greater access for faculty across colleges by expanding the overall pool of project funding.
Application Process and Deadline
The Avanza UC 2026 is open now through September 30, 2026. Selected projects will be expected to begin in April 2027 and run for up to 18 months. Additional information is available in English on the Avanza UC website.
Learn More: Webinar with Global Relations
Global Relations will host a webinar via Zoom in partnership with UC Chile on August 28 at 12:00 p.m. central time for interested faculty and researchers to learn more about the program and explore potential collaborations. Additional information about the funding opportunity, application process, and Illinois funding support is available through the Global Relations website. Registration is required.
Questions?
Please reach out to Sammer Jones, director for global relations in Illinois International, at salehjo1@illinois.edu, with any questions or for support in identifying a UC Chile Co-PI.
I encourage faculty across all disciplines to consider this exciting opportunity to deepen research ties in Chile.
Sincerely,
Colleen Murphy
Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Roger & Stephany Joslin Professor of Law