Greetings,

We are excited to share this second call for proposals to the Heidelberg | Harvard Cooperation Program. More information about this opportunity can be found in the synopsis and links below. Both the Explorer Seed Fund and Strategic Partnership Grant programs aim to deepen collaboration and scientific exchange between Heidelberg and Harvard Universities. Consistent with last year’s program, all funding is provided by Heidelberg University, and no funds will be paid to, or managed through Harvard. For a full list of currently open opportunities that have been announced through our office, please visit our Current Opportunities web page. As a reminder, our Research Development team is available to provide proposal development support to FAS ladder faculty.

Heidelberg | Harvard Cooperation Program: Explorer Seed Fund and Strategic Partnership Grants

• Deadline to submit Harvard PI/Collaborator Questionnaire and Guidance Form (required): October 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
  • Completion of this form will result in creation of a GMAS record for the proposed project. Departments or areas may require additional time for review. Please discuss a timeline with your departmental or FORA grants administrator.
• Heidelberg Application Deadline: November 15, 2026
• Award Amount:
  • Please note that under these programs, all funding is provided by Heidelberg University. No funds will be processed through, or otherwise provided by, Harvard University.
  • Explorer Seed Fund awards may provide funding up to €100.000 to support eligible research stays and fellowship costs, and up to €20.000 for eligible material and project costs.
  • Strategic Partnership Grants may provide funding up to €500.000.
• The full fellowship amount in any award, including travel lump sums and allowances, is subject to 19% VAT.  

Program Overview

In 2025, Heidelberg University and Harvard University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a structured institutional foundation for their scientific collaboration. Supported by the State of Baden-Württemberg through its Global Partnership in Science program, Heidelberg University offers the Explorer Seed Fund and Strategic Partnership Grant programs to deepen collaboration and scientific exchange between the universities.

 

The Explorer Seed Fund program supports transatlantic collaboration between Heidelberg University and Harvard University by funding outstanding research and cooperative activities through joint projects across all disciplines. Enabling targeted measures to intensify partnership activities, the fund provides new impetus for collaborative projects. The focus is on individual research stays by Harvard University researchers at Heidelberg University as well as academic events, targeting both leading and early-career researchers. The program aims to further strengthen the international excellence of both institutions. 

 

The Strategic Partnership Grant program invites faculties, institutes, and central academic units of Heidelberg University to apply for funding to develop and establish long-term institutional collaborations with partner institutions at Harvard University. The Strategic Partnership Grant is designed for larger-scale, strategically anchored cooperation structures across all disciplines with a clear institutional commitment from both sides. It provides funding for joint research activities, including extended research stays at Heidelberg University, and supports the development of enduring institutional frameworks that leverage additional funding sources and extend well beyond the funding period.  

Eligibility Criteria

• Funding applications must be formally submitted by a project-leading professor based in a faculty, institute, or central academic unit of Heidelberg University. The lead professor must hold a permanent position at Heidelberg University and be affiliated with the applying faculty or institute. Projects must be jointly led by a Harvard-based lead principal investigator (PI).

• The Harvard-based lead PI must hold a faculty appointment with principal investigator rights at a Harvard school, where Harvard University is their primary employer, and their sponsored research is managed through Harvard University.

• Faculty members holding an appointment at a Harvard-affiliated hospital, and able to demonstrate an existing affiliation within the Harvard-based lead PI’s lab or research group, may serve as a member of a project team, and may be funded to participate at Heidelberg’s discretion, but may not serve as the Harvard-based lead PI on project proposals.

Application Process

• Harvard faculty members who wish to participate in this program must first complete a required Harvard PI/Collaborator Questionnaire and Guidance Form through the Harvard University Funding Portal. The form should be completed as early as possible, and no later than October 30, 2026, to provide necessary project-related information, as well as determine allowable expenses and possible restrictions, and confirm the faculty member's eligibility to serve as the Harvard-based lead PI. The Questionnaire and Guidance Form requests:
  • Harvard-based lead PI Information, for verifying eligibility.
  • Project Summary/Statement of Work, including estimated effort allocation.
  • Guidance and Attestation, required for the Harvard-based lead PI.
  • Required Questions, to inform feasibility/alignment with compliance standards.
• Funding applications must be formally submitted no later than November 15, 2026 by a project-leading professor (PI) of Heidelberg University via Heidelberg's application portal. Applications are open to faculties, institutes, and central academic units of Heidelberg University. The application must be led by a professor holding a permanent position at Heidelberg University and affiliated with the applying faculty or institute. Projects must be jointly led by a PI of Harvard University. Application documents include:
  • Project description (max. 5 pages for Explorer Seed Fund awards, and max. 10 pages for Strategic Partnership Grants) 
  • Budget plan
  • Letter of Support from the Dean of the respective Heidelberg Faculty (if not the applicant)
  • Confirmation Letter stating Harvard-based lead PI eligibility from the respective Harvard School/Faculty/Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs (to be generated upon completion of the Harvard PI/Collaborator Questionnaire and Guidance Form)
  • Profiles of nominated fellows of Harvard University (max. 5 pages per fellow)
• Prior to application submission, all project teams are requested to arrange a consultation with the Heidelberg | Harvard Cooperation Team to review and discuss a draft of the proposed budget plan.

Selection Criteria

• Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee co-chaired by the Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Diversity of Heidelberg University and the Vice Provost for International Affairs of Harvard University. The selection committee is made up of representatives from Heidelberg University and Harvard University. Final funding decisions are made by the Rectorate of Heidelberg University.

• Selection criteria include:

  • Qualification and complementarity of partners

  • Academic potential of the collaboration

  • Contribution to sustainability of the partnership

  • Support for early-career researchers (defined as graduates and young researchers within five years of completing their doctorate, excluding recognized interruption periods, e.g., parental leave), equality, and diversity

Additional Information and Resources

 

 

 

 

 

Curated funding opportunity lists are funding search topics of broad interest. The following curated lists can be further refined in Pivot based on your funding needs. To view the results you must be on a Harvard network or logged in to your Pivot account. Information on setting up a Pivot account can be found in our one-page user guide. 

Arts

Data Science, Computer Science, and Artificial Intelligence

Engineering and Technology

Environmental and Climate Science

Humanities

Life Sciences

Neuroscience

Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Social Sciences

Your Research, Our Mission