Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to announce the call for proposals for the AY2026-2027 BRIDGE Seed Fund in collaboration with the University of Birmingham. I invite you to submit applications for funding and share this announcement widely with colleagues in your units.
About BRIDGE
In March 2014, the University of Birmingham and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign formed the BiRmingham-Illinois Partnership for Discovery, EnGagement and Education (BRIDGE) creating an enduring framework for mutual collaboration and investment between the two institutions. Over the past decade, BRIDGE has evolved into a profound transatlantic alliance with more than 140 faculty members across various disciplines from both institutions. Together, the institutions invest in the BRIDGE Project Seed Fund which supports the development of faculty networks, builds cognate research areas, expands educational exchange opportunities, and strengthens strategic aspirations for institutional engagement.
Funding Opportunities and Criteria
The BRIDGE Seed Fund Grants supports collaborative projects between Birmingham and Illinois faculty and research staff. Proposals in Social Sciences and Humanities are particularly encouraged as well as those that have identified funding for sustaining the collaboration beyond BRIDGE (e.g., NSF, NIH, EPSRC or other external funding bodies). Special consideration will be given to proposals showing the intention of leveraging collaboration opportunities with partners from the Global South region in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Three types of grants are available:
- Implementation Grants: Strengthen existing faculty relationships to produce collaborative research outputs, publications, and external funding proposals.
- Initiation Grants: Develop new research partnerships between Birmingham and Illinois faculty with potential to expand into broader research group collaborations.
- Teaching and Learning Grants: Create educational collaborations that provide distinctive learning opportunities for students at both institutions.
There are no restrictions on the forms of activity undertaken by grant recipients, providing they meet the criteria outlined above. The grants may support planning visits, workshops, joint research, or meetings in third party locations where there is potential to develop and/or showcase collaboration.
Application Process and Deadline
All applications must be received by Friday, March 13, 2026, at 11:59pm. Proposals must be submitted via by the Illinois Principal Investigator. Successful proposals will be announced on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Sammer Jones, director for global relations in Illinois International, at salehjo1@illinois.edu.
Sincerely,
Colleen Murphy, Ph.D.
Interim Associate Chancellor and Vice Provost for Global Affairs & Strategies Designate
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Roger & Stephany Joslin Professor of Law