We encourage projects to align with one or more of the themes of Shaping Interfaces, outlined here. However, promising projects that are not directly tied to these themes will also be considered.

Find out more about the Shaping Interfaces Seed Grant scheme and how to apply below.  

What is an interface? 

Shaping Interfaces conceptualizes interfaces broadly as points of connection that facilitate interaction between science and society. Such interfaces can take many forms, including (but not limited to) apps, exhibitions, citizen science projects, co-creation events, games, chatbots, hubs, networks, and other spaces, tools, or platforms that enable societal and societal actors to learn from, dialogue with, or contribute to each other. The RPA supports interfaces that are guided by core principles of open science (integrity, transparency, rigour, responsibility, and inclusivity) to ensure they enable interactions that are safe, fair, and rewarding for all those involved.  

Fundamentally, an interface is less defined by its format than by what it makes possible: fruitful, multi-way communication or interactions, co-creation, collaboration, and/or critique across science-society divides. 

Available funding and timeline  

• Maximum amount per project: €15,000. 

• Up to 6 Seed Grants will be awarded. 

• Projects of 6-11 months are eligible for funding. 

• All project activities must take place between 1 January 2027 and 30 November 2027. 

• All costs must be incurred and declared within the project period. 

• Seed grant proposals are due by 15 November 2026. 

Who can apply? 

• The main applicant must be employed by the University of Amsterdam (including AmsterdamUMC, UvA) and have research time as part of their appointment until the end of their proposed project. Employees without a research component may still be involved in the project, but they cannot act as the main applicant. 

• Applications must involve researchers from at least two UvA faculties. 

• Collaboration with other faculties or external partners is strongly encouraged. In addition to the applicant(s), teams can include practitioners, artists, public organisations, NGOs, municipalities, cultural organisations, and other societal partners.  

• PhD candidates may act as main applicant, provided they have approval from their supervisor/promotor or the Research Director of their Faculty before submitting the application. (Please ask your institute director or supervisor indicate their approval of your application via an email and forward this approval to shapinginterfaces@uva.nl before the submission deadline). 

• BA or MA students cannot apply as (co-) applicants, but student assistants may be involved in funded projects. 

What can be funded? 

The Shaping Interfaces seed grants support innovative projects that develop, test, or strengthen interfaces between science and the public. These can include research projects and/or practical initiatives; eligible interfaces can be new, in-development, or already existing. 

Eligible project costs include: 

• Hiring student assistants 

• Travel and accommodation costs 

• Venue, catering, and other event-related costs 

• Materials and equipment required for the project (Note: materials and equipment should be rented or borrowed whenever possible. If an item must be purchased, it will remain property of the Faculty of Humanities [FGw]).   

• Communication and dissemination-related costs (e.g., website development, graphic design, printing, video or podcast production, etc.) 

• Honoraria to support societal stakeholder participation. 

• Other justified direct project costs, subject to approval from the RPA board. 

Seed grant funding cannot be used to cover salary costs or research time for (co-) applicants.  

What do we expect?  

Seed grants are intended to facilitate innovative projects, connect like-minded individuals, and build a community of practice at the UvA. As such, grant recipients are expected to contribute to the RPA community by: 

• Presenting their project during at least one RPA seminar or workshop. These events are open to all and are held at the Institute of Advanced Study on Monday afternoons throughout the semester. (Applicants not available on any Monday afternoons, e.g., due to teaching obligations, are still welcome to apply; alternative arrangements can be made should the project be funded.)    

• Providing a short blog post or news item about the project for the RPA website.  

• Producing a short project report describing key findings/activities, (planned) outputs, financial overview, and future steps. Outputs can be scholarly (e.g., a paper, preprint, open dataset, a register, etc.) or nontraditional (e.g., an exhibition, public event, professional resource, or other interface). 

While not required, we invite and encourage seed grant recipients to contribute to and benefit from the RPA community in other ways, such as by joining our weekly co-working sessions (also on Monday afternoons) or participating in other events. Members of the RPA Shaping Interfaces team will also meet with recipients as needed to support teams with their projects, e.g., by providing input on challenges or dilemmas, suggesting opportunities for engaging relevant stakeholders, or facilitating connections with potential partners. 

Application form 

To apply, please submit the  the application form by 15 November 2026. Applicants will be informed of the outcomes of their decision before 15 December 2026. 

1. Project information

• Project title
• Scientific project summary (100-150 words)
• Public-facing summary (75-100 words)

2. Applicants

Main applicant (Required)

• Name
• Faculty
• Department
• Position
• Email

Co-applicant(s) from UvA/AmsterdamUMC (Required)

• Name(s)
• Faculty
• Department
• Position
• Email

Co-applicant(s) from societal partners (Optional)

• Name(s)
• Organisation
• Position
• Email

3. Project description (max. 1000 words)

• How does your project contribute to developing, testing, strengthening, and/or sustaining interfaces between science and the public?
• If relevant, explain how your project will contribute to one or more of the RPA theme(s). As noted above, we encourage thematically aligned projects but will also consider promising projects outside of these specific domains.
• What scientific and/or societal challenge or opportunity does your project address?
• What are the main project activities?
• What outputs and/or outcomes do you expect?
• Describe to what extent and how the proposed collaboration (i.e., between the co-applicants and, if relevant, societal partners) will benefit the project, and how the project, in turn, will benefit them.

4. Planning (max. 200 words)

• Project start date
• Project end date
• Brief timeline of activities

5. Budget

Provide a detailed budget using the following format. Please consult your project controller for support estimating costs.

6. Additional funding (optional)

If the project will receive co-funding or in-kind contributions, please briefly describe the source and amount of funding, how it will be used, and how it is distinct from the requested seed grant funding.

If the project involves a partner organisation that has already explicitly committed to providing co-funding or in-kind contributions, or if the project forms part of a larger project or programme involving third parties, please include a statement from the relevant partner organisation confirming their contribution and, where applicable, the source of the funding. If applicable, please attach this statement to the application.

7. Declaration

• I/we understand that all claims and invoices must be incurred and declared before the project’s given end date, and no later than 30 November 2027, in accordance with RPA and faculty procedures, and that any significant changes to the project plan or budget require prior approval from the RPA Shaping Interfaces team.
• I/we declare that the information in this application is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and consent to the use of this information for assessment and administrative purposes in line with UvA policies.
• I/we declare that I/we am responsible for the content of this application and that any AI-generated outputs have been carefully and critically checked by a member of the research team.

Questions?

If you are unsure whether your planned activities can be funded through this call, please consult your faculty project controller. Should you still require clarification, you can reach the RPA team at shapinginterfaces@uva.nl.