National Taiwan University (NTU) joint seed funding scheme

The second call of the NTU-St Andrews joint seed funding scheme is now closed.

University building surrounded by trees

 

Purpose

The National Taiwan University and the University of St Andrews have established a joint seed funding scheme with the goal of facilitating cooperation in the framework of our partnership.

The funding shall enable academic staff from all disciplines to identify complementary strengths, explore areas of synergy and develop outstanding future projects in research and academic innovation. The joint seed funding aims to support the first steps of cooperation and is not meant as complete project funding.

Possible formats for cooperation may include but are not strictly limited to:

  1. Intensive research seminars or workshops.
  2. Pedagogical workshops. For example, exploring digital or other course collaboration.
  3. Short-term research stays.
  4. Graduate summer or winter programmes.
  5. Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects.

Selection criteria and process

Applications will be reviewed and scored by selection committees at NTU and St Andrews. The selection committees will evaluate each application using the following criteria:

Partnership and strategic relevance

  • How the research or teaching project will be shared with the broader academic communities at each institution.
  • How the project will promote and consolidate the relationship between the two universities.
  • How the project contributes to realising university strategies and supports the research or teaching priorities of the relevant Faculty, School, or Department.

Academic quality and innovation

  • The academic quality of the proposed activities
  • The contribution to novel thinking
  • The ability to cut across disciplines

Anticipated outcomes and scalability of the project

  • A clearly formulated plan for the project and the likelihood that it will lead to a long-term, sustainable research or educational relationship and generate ongoing collaboration.
  • How the project can be transferred to other levels (local, regional, national).

Impact and legacy

  • How the work may gain wide recognition or have a legacy once completed.
  • If relevant, the expected changes beyond the discipline or disciplines and academia.

The selection committees reserve the right to allocate less funding compared to the amount requested by the applicants. The selection shall take into consideration the project subject area and type, to encourage the widest possible range of activities.

Duration and key dates

Project timelines should be clearly outlined in the application and may not exceed 12 months from the project start date.

Call opens
Monday 18 August 2025
Applications close
Monday 20 October 2025 at 10:00 (UK) or 17:00 (Taiwan)
Outcomes announced
By Monday 15 December 2025
Projects commence
Thursday 1 January 2026
Projects complete
Thursday 31 December 2026

How to apply

Terms and conditions of open call

The supported activities should have a clearly defined focus and serve as a catalyst for the development of new joint projects. The activities can take place in Taipei or in St Andrews. The motivation for holding the activity should be clearly explained, including how the involved NTU and St Andrews faculties and schools can benefit long-term from this cooperation. 

  • A project must be carried out by at least two applicants, one from each institution, who will work together to build a joint proposal.
    • St Andrews applicants should be full-time or part-time academic staff with a contract of employment until at least the end of the project.
    • NTU applicants should be tenure-track faculty and not on sabbatical leave for the duration of the project.
    • It is strongly recommended that each institution include one or more co-applicants.
    • Participation of early-stage researchers is also encouraged.
  • All academic fields covered jointly by NTU and St Andrews are included in the present call. Interdisciplinary projects are encouraged as long as the resulting project is beneficial for both universities.
  • Projects aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are particularly welcomed.
  • Recipients of a grant under the previous call are eligible to apply. However, proposed projects must be entirely new and not a continuation or further edition of pre-existing initiatives. Applicants not having benefitted from funding under previous calls will be given priority in the selection process.
  • Projects may also include the participation of self-funded external investigators or partner institutions where relevant.

Up to two projects will be jointly funded by the National Taiwan University and the University of St Andrews in the pilot call.

Proposals

Proposals will be reviewed by selection committee members from multiple disciplines and must be written for such an audience. Each proposal must include the following items in the order listed below. Please use the NTU – St Andrews joint seed funding scheme application form (Word) for sections 1 to 7 below.

1. Names, titles, departments, schools and emails of NTU and St Andrews Principal Investigators and any other academic staff involved in the activities.

2. Type of collaborative activity.

3. List of UN Sustainable Development Goals that align with proposed project (optional).

4. Project title and layperson abstract of the proposed project (up to 250 words).

5. Narrative description of the proposed project for a multischool, multidisciplinary audience using the following subheadings (maximum 1000 words in total):

a. Project objectives
b. Background and previous work as appropriate
c. Specific outputs expected
d. Explanation of how you will evaluate the success of your project
e. Anticipated schedule for completion

6. Brief description of how the project will address the selection criteria using the following subheadings:

a. Partnership and strategic relevance (up to 150 words)
b. Academic quality and innovation (up to 150 words)
c. Anticipated outcomes and scalability of the project (up to 150 words)
d. Impact and legacy (up to 150 words)

7. Budget and budget justification, with one section for NTU budget and one section for St Andrews budget, explaining in detail all anticipated expenditures.
8. Short CV of Principal Investigators (up to 2 pages) 
9. Brief endorsement letters from the respective heads of department (NTU) and School (St Andrews).  

Submitting your application

Deadline: Monday 20 October 2025 at 10:00 (UK) or 17:00 (Taiwan)

You must complete one joint application, using the NTU – St Andrews joint seed funding scheme application form (Word) and submit it through the online submission link. 

Results

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by Monday 15 December 2025. 

Successful applicants will receive a joint letter of confirmation from both institutions, as well as an Acceptance of Award letter that must be signed and returned by the specified due date.

Award funding

Each application will receive one of the following:

  • Up to £12,000 (GBP) or $480,000 (NTD) in total
  • £6,000 or $240,000 from each institution

Up to two projects will be awarded in the 2026 call of the scheme.

Co-funding of projects by a faculty, department, school, institute, centre, or external body, is welcomed.

St Andrews allowable expenses include:

  • costs linked to organisation of joint meetings, seminars or workshops
  • cost of developing shared online resources like video editing
  • consumables needed for the implementation of the project
  • travel, accommodation and reasonable expenses incurred during international travel, which are covered by the University’s expense policy
  • costs related to publication and or dissemination of results

NTU allowable expenses include:

  • costs linked to organisation of joint meetings, seminars or workshops
  • cost of developing shared online resources like video editing
  • travel, accommodation and meal costs
  • daily stipends of foreign scholars

St Andrews and NTU non-allowable expenses include:

  • salaries or salary supplementation of any kind, except for COIL tutors and learning technologists or facilitators
  • indirect and overhead costs
  • course fees, stipends or scholarships for students
  • infrastructure and equipment purchases, such as computers, including laptops and basic computing facilities such as printers, word processing and other standard software
  • conference registrations, unless specifically related to the dissemination of results
  • costs already incurred before the submission of the proposal

Recipients will be required to submit a final report within one month of completion of the project. The report should include all of the following:

  • an outline of the outcomes of the project
  • an indication of the project’s possible continuation
  • a summary of lessons learned in undertaking the project
  • a detailed accounting of funds as required by university policy

Recipients who fail to submit a final report may be excluded from future internationalisation funding schemes. In addition to submitting a final report at the end of the project, Principal Investigators may be asked to:

  • share a brief mid-project progress update
  • engage with NTU-St Andrews strategic partnership events and opportunities
  • notify the Office of International Affairs at National Taiwan University and the Global Office at the University of St Andrews of visits that take place in either location

Change of investigator 

If circumstances change – for example, the principal investigator or a team member leaves the project – awardees must provide notification to the Global Office at the University of St Andrews and the Office of International Affairs at National Taiwan University. All changes must be approved in writing. 

Publications

Any publications or dissemination arising from activities supported by this joint seed funding should acknowledge financial assistance received from National Taiwan University and the University of St Andrews. The name for the said acknowledgment is 'Joint Seed Funding provided by the National Taiwan University and the University of St Andrews'.

Forfeiture of grants

Grants not spent by the project end date will be transferred back either to the National Taiwan University or the University of St Andrews as applicable so that unspent balances can be reallocated.

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

Adherence to respective equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) policies is an important feature of this programme to ensure that all participants can do their best work, thrive and succeed.

Applicant teams should consider how they can take meaningful steps in their future collaborations to foster an environment that values, supports and respects a diverse range of views, knowledge and experiences.

Applicants should consider EDI as it applies to gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, (dis)ability, and career stages.

Sustainable research travel

NTU and St Andrews recognise the importance of organising in-person meetings and events to support the development of collaborative partnerships. Therefore, both institutions encourage applicants to consider the environmental impact of their proposed research and travel. Please refer to the University of St Andrews’ Sustainable Research and Business Travel webpage for more guidance. 

Trusted Research 

Trusted Research, the term used by the UK Government and other bodies to refer to national security issues in the planning and undertaking of research, has been an increasingly prominent agenda since 2019. The University of St Andrews is required to put in place, and enforce, relevant provisions to ensure that it attends to this agenda.

We have created guidance and a Trusted Research tool to assist researchers and direct colleagues towards existing policy and process to ensure compliance where necessary. As part of your application to this scheme, you confirm that you: