30 March 2026

Leiden University wants to encourage interdisciplinary collaborations. The university is therefore making 25 seed grants available each year between 2024 and 2026. These seed grants are for a maximum of €10,000 per project and are awarded to develop new interdisciplinary and/or interfaculty research collaborations and encounters.  

Which projects are eligible?

An application for the Kiem call must include colleagues (research staff and management and support staff) from at least two (and preferably more) faculties of Leiden University. These grants are not intended for projects focusing on the research of one individual researcher or to support primarily interuniversity projects.

Proposals may focus on network building, organising seminars and workshops, conducting a pilot study, producing publications, educational collaboration, creating research proposals, etc. The Kiem call funding is not intended to exempt the researcher from teaching or research, but it may be used for other (personnel) expenses, such as for materials or activities, hiring student or management assistants, trainers support for meetings, and more.

Previous Kiem projects

After an initial pilot round in 2023, in which 33 seed grants were awarded through a draw under this Kiem call, another 50 projects were able to start work in 2024 and 2025. The content of the proposals varied widely: from the relationship between violence and other health problems, to how virtual building blocks bring the past to life, to exploring how to promote interdisciplinary collaboration.

Curious about previous Kiem projects? Have a look at the initiatives that were funded in earlier calls.

Want to know more and apply for a Kiem grant?

Read more about the admissibility conditions for the Kiem grant.

You can prepare the complete application in the application form and then submit it via Formdesk. Applications must be submitted by 11 May 2026 17.00 hrs.

If more than 25 applications are submitted, once the applications have been assessed for the admissibility conditions, the awards for the Kiem call will be made by means of drawing lots. The draw will take place on 11 June 2026 at The Field in Leiden. Are you considering submitting an application? Make a note of the draw date!