18 May 2026

Are you a doctoral or early-career researcher interested in sustainability, coastal environments, or the social and environmental impacts of the blue economy? If so, you are invited to apply for this seed funding call, focused on seaweed farming and harvesting.

Thanks to funding from Leiden University's Una Europa team – and led our own academics in collaboration with the Una Europa Sustainability Self Steering Committee – six grants of €3,000 are available to support research and educational projects that address the challenges of sustainable seaweed farming and gathering. 

Examples of possible project proposals include:

• Ethnographic case studies involving coastal communities and other stakeholders;
• Studies of local entrepreneurs active in the seaweed sector;
• Ecological studies of environmental impacts and pollution;
• The development of educational modules or minors, of training programs and policy or practice-oriented toolkits.  

Proposals can be grounded in different disciplines, ranging from anthropology to ecology. Inter- and transdisciplinary ideas are also greatly welcomed.

In addition to receiving a grant, successful applicants will be invited to a two-day workshop at Universiteit Leiden in November 2026 (transport and accommodation costs will be covered). This is an opportunity to discuss your project with a wider network of scholars working on seaweed-related issues. 

Timeline

• Application deadline: 30 June 2026
• Selection of candidates: mid-July 2026
• Workshop: mid-November 2026 (dates TBC)
• Implementation of the selected projects: December 2026 – June 2027
• Reporting (written or multi-modal): July-October 2027

How to apply

• Ensure you are a doctoral or early-career researcher at a Una Europa university or a university in the Global South.
• Download the detailed Call for Proposals and prepare your application.
• Email your application to seaweed.funding@bb.leidenuniv.nl no later than 30 June 2026.