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FARIA Synergy Grant 2026 

Funding for collaboration with the USA 

Aalto University and the University of Washington are welcoming joint proposals for ambitious and impactful initiatives strengthening collaboration between researchers based at Aalto University and the UW. Call opens: Dec 1st, 2025 Deadline: January 31, 2026 11:59 PM PT

• The call is open to research collaboration covering all academic disciplines.
• Applications must be written jointly by the PIs from both universities.
• Only one application is submitted per joint project.

Funding: This is matching funding for UW's "Global Innovation Fund" Partner Research Award for jointly up to $20,000.

Aalto will match the funding awarded from UW to the UW PI for the Aalto PI. Applications must demonstrate how the proposed activity will provide a platform for longer-term, larger-scale collaboration between Aalto and UW in the relevant field, for example, by providing a basis for ongoing joint research and applications to external bodies for research grant funding. 

Awards cannot support long-term projects. It is a seed fund with the expectation that the research team will apply for additional funding to support a long-term project. 

Examples of relevant activities are:  

• Research collaboration: e.g. joint research projects, joint publications, workshops, seminars, match-making events.
• Educational cooperation: e.g. joint courses, joint supervision.
• Innovation cooperation: e.g. with business, industry or startups, incl. events for knowledge exchange and benchmarking.

We value applications with novel approaches, high ambitions and cross-disciplinary collaboration.  

Eligibility: 

• The proposed project must be led by two PIs, one from each university.  
• The PI should be a professor (at any level), a permanent employee of Aalto University, or at least a postdoctoral-level researcher with a current work contract at Aalto University until the end of April 2027.

Eligible costs:  

The funding is relatively flexible and can be applied to various research, education, and innovation contexts. However, expenses need to be well argued and support the purpose of the call. All costs covered must follow the respective university’s policies and guidelines.

How to apply:  

The online application form will open at the start of the application period December 1st and close on January 31, 2026 11:59 PM PT.

Each project with PIs from both universities submits one joint application.  For technical reasons, the PI from the University of Washington is responsible for submitting the application.  

Call text and application forms for the University of Washington's PI is available on this page: 

Reporting:  

All funded projects must submit a post-award report at the end of the award use period (Aalto part of the funding: 01.03.2026 - 1.12.2027; Report latest 21.12.2027).

• Brief narrative report – describe the purpose, outcomes, and next steps for your project
• Photos and/or videos
• Updated budget, including actual expenditures  

Evaluation and review process:  

The applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:  

• Partnership development potential.
• Novelty and topicality of the project.
• The feasibility of the proposal.  
• Quality and ambition of the planned collaboration and outcomes.
• How this project utilizes the strengths and/or competencies of both Aalto University and the University of Washington.
• Alignment with further external funding opportunities (e.g. RCF and U.S.-agency calls) 

All applications will be peer reviewed. Decisions to all applicants will be announced by mid-February.

For further information and questions, please reach out to the FARIA lead at your university:  

For Aalto University:  

Jérôme Rickmann, Senior Advisor, Global Engagement

Email: jerome.rickmann@aalto.fi

Mobile: +358 50 430 5770