If you have any questions, feel free to contact the secretariat:
E-mail: collaborates@sund.ku.dk
SUND Collaborates
2026 call is now open for applications
Apply by 1 October
Seed Funding for Novel Research Collaborations
SUND Collaborates is a strategic research programme supporting novel collaborative research initiatives across the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (SUND) at the University of Copenhagen. The programme provides seed funding to stimulate collaboration in emerging research areas, strengthen existing positions of excellence, and promote the development of long-term collaborations with substantial external funding potential.
Two competitive funding rounds are currently planned in the strategy period 2025–2028 (call 2025 and 2026). Each round includes strategic research themes defined by the SUND Deanery, as well as the opportunity to apply within investigator-initiated themes proposed by the applicants. Strategic themes differ across rounds depending on emerging needs and opportunities and faculty-level research priorities.
Winning a grant will be considered a stamp of excellence. Successful projects are granted DKK 4 million over a 3-year period to support research activities, coordination, PhD training and networking.
The 2026 call offers funding for up to five research collaborations. Proposals must build on collaboration across at least three SUND departments and demonstrate strong potential to advance SUND’s emerging or existing positions of strength.
Contact
Matchmaking event
Save the date: A networking event for researchers will be held on 11 June 2026, 16:00–18:00 at Viewpoint, Maersk Tower.
More information will follow soon.
SUND Collaborates Call 2026
Important dates
-
11 June 2026: Information & networking event
-
1 October 2026 (12:00 noon): Application deadline
-
30 October 2026: Applicants are notified if they are declined or selected for interview
-
12-13 November 2026: Interviews in Copenhagen with shortlisted applicants. Please reserve the dates when applying
-
1 December 2026: Shortlisted applicants are notified of grant or declination
-
January 2027: Projects start. Kick-off meetings with new SUND Collaborates teams
Strategic Research Themes in 2026
Digital transformation and AI in health
Digital and AI technologies are transforming society at unprecedented speed, and health is no exception. Moreover, the innovative and translational potential of digitalization and AI in health is huge. This theme supports projects that leverage digitalization and AI to advance prevention, diagnostics, treatment, or health management.
Defence-oriented health research
As defence rises on the national agenda and public investments grow, the health dimensions of defence – such as health security, preparedness, biological threats, crisis response, acute care, military health, and rehabilitation – remain underexplored. This theme supports projects that demonstrate the relevance of SUND’s research to defence challenges, contributing to national resilience and global health security.
Reforming health care systems towards primary, equitable and sustainable health
This theme supports system‑level and practice‑oriented research that advances equity, accessibility, and sustainability in health care. While linked to the Danish health reform, it also welcomes global perspectives. This theme supports projects that address prevention, patient pathways, or cross‑sector collaboration, contributing to more sustainable and equitable health systems.
Investigator-Initiated Themes
Applicants may propose research topics beyond the strategic research themes, provided the topic contributes to scientific excellence, novelty, synergy and collaboration across SUND.
The final selection and ratio of funded projects (strategic vs. investigator-initiated themes) ultimately depend on the assessment of the quality of the proposals.
Application guidlines
Proposals must be submitted as one combined PDF via the online submission portal no later than Thursday 1 October 2026 at 12:00 (noon). You are required to fill in the data (name, affiliation, title etc.) of all collaborators in the submission form. Applicants must use the templates (project description, budget, CV and track record) on the website.
- The project team must include at least three core collaborators (main PI and co-PIs) from different SUND departments, including BRIC and CCF, but not including Department of Clinical Medicine.
- Partners from the Department of Clinical Medicine may participate as additional collaborators but may not be core collaborators. This requirement has been made to differentiate SUND Collaborates from Greater Copenhagen Health Science Partners Clinical Academic Groups (CAG). Applicant teams are encouraged to include clinical partners, especially if clinical perspectives and collaboration is expected to enhance the translational potential and feasibility of the project.
- Partners from the stand-alone centres CBMR and CTN may participate as additional collaborators but may not be core collaborators.
- External partners (other universities, companies, organizations etc.) are welcome as additional collaborators but may not be core collaborators.
- All core collaborators must have their main employment at SUND i.e. minimum 50% and be at minimum Associate Professor level. There are no requirements regarding the position or seniority of additional collaborators.
- All core collaborators (main PI and co-PIs) must secure endorsement of the proposal from their Heads of Department prior to submission.
Applications must include a project description and a budget, as well as CV and track record from all collaborators. It is a requirement to use the templates at the website.
The project description includes the following sections and must not exceed 10 pages (excluding the front page but including any figures / tables). Anything beyond 10 pages will not be evaluated.
- Vision for development of existing or emerging positions of strength at SUND.
- Description of the research project and collaboration: Overall objectives and plan for the research and research-supporting activities, novelty of the collaboration and research question, synergies across research environments.
- Expected scientific, societal, educational, innovation and/or outreach impact.
- Any comments to the budget. Please use the budget template and adhere to the funding framework.
- Plan for attracting external funding during or after the project.
- Project organisation and plan for enabling and sustaining collaboration.
- References
You must include a CV and track record for the main PI, core co-PIs, and any additional collaborators. To ensure consistency, we employ the recently launched templates from the Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF).
About the Programme
An external international evaluation panel reviews all eligible applications based on the evaluation criteria and selects approximately 10 applicant teams that will be invited to an in-person interview held at SUND on 12-13 November 2026. Please reserve the dates when applying.
Applicants that are declined in the first phase (not selected for interviews) will not get feedback on their application.
Applicants that are declined after the interviews are held will get oral feedback from the Vice-Dean for Research based on the evaluation panel’s review.
The SUND Deanery decides which projects to support. The decision is based on an overall assessment of the outlined evaluation criteria, and academic diversity and strategic potential may also be taken into consideration in the Deanery’s assessment.
Evaluation Criteria
- Vision for contribution to/development of existing or emerging positions of strength at SUND.
- Scientific excellence, strength and complementarity of the collaborating team within the research area applied for.
- Novelty of the research proposal and/or the composition of the collaborating team.
- Synergies among the research environments.
- Potential to secure future external funding.
- Expected scientific, societal, educational, innovation or outreach impact.
Evaluation Panel
The external international evaluation panel consists of seven members representing key academic areas at SUND. Members have been suggested by departments and selected by the Deanery based on experience in research leadership and research assessment. Knowledge about the call’s thematic areas has also been taken into consideration in the selection of panelists. Panelists will be announced at the website when the panel is established.
Each funded project receives DKK 4 million in seed funding over a 3-year period. The budget must include the following categories:
- Research activities (PhD/postdoc salaries, operating expenses, facility fees, consumables etc.). DKK 1,5-2 million must be allocated.
- Research coordination and networking activities (coordinator salary, workshops, seminars, travel etc.). DKK 1-1,5 million must be allocated.
- PhD activities, including tuition fees, courses and training, mobility, and supervisor activities, but not salaries. DKK 1 million must be allocated.
Funding is disbursed annually (DKK 1.3 million per year) to the main PI’s department as a temporary budget increase (DR10). A different distribution key among the participating core collaborators’ departments can be arranged, if this is more convenient. The main PI is responsible for financial management in collaboration with the project’s Steering Committee, and in accordance with the relevant Head of Department.
The grant is considered seed funding, and projects are expected to grow and obtain external grants.
Each project must appoint a Steering Committee including the main PI and co-PIs. The main PI has overall responsibility for project execution, reporting, and budget compliance. The main PI is expected to submit a brief annual status, describing the development of the project. No detailed financial reporting will be required.
Projects will be anchored with one of SUND’s Deanery members (Dean/Vice-Deans), who will provide strategic follow-up through annual status meetings and guidance on project development and fundraising. A kick-off meeting will be held in January 2027 with each of the new 2026-Collaborates project teams and the relevant Dean/Vice-Dean.
The Dean’s Office manages the SUND Collaborates programme.