PURPOSE OF THE SCHEME

The Mahidol Sussex Seed Fund supports the cultivation or expansion of research collaborations to address global challenges, contribute to international development at both universities and grow the reputation of our researcher teams. Bids should result in tangible outputs between groups of researchers as specified below (e.g. workshops, capacity building, PhD co-supervision, publications and grant applications). Applicants are expected to demonstrate the feasibility of their plan.

Eligible activities would include but are not limited to:

• Visits to link research groups to establish new contacts and explore possibilities for collaboration and capacity building.
• Preparation of collaborative bids to attract research funding.
• Facilitating internationally co-authored publications (including joint workshops or conferences)
• Development of new interdisciplinary research programmes.
• Other items that facilitate the collaboration among research groups at both universities.

FUNDING AND ELIGIBLE COSTS

Grants can be made for periods of up to one year. The maximum funding that can be applied for is £10,000 from each institution.

One year period projects are as welcome as shorter-term initiatives. Internal funds are limited, and we wish to maximise the number and range of activities that can be supported. This means that applicants are expected to strive for the greatest possible economies in achieving their objectives.

• Projects towards the maximum end of the funding scale must demonstrate a compelling rationale.
• Applicants must demonstrate that the timeframe and costing of the project is realistic.
• Costs may be used for travel, accommodation, workshops, facilities and equipment use, and other expenses related to meetings or the preparation of external funding proposals, as specified at the time of the proposal (at Mahidol University, funds allocated to the Travel category must not exceed 25%).
• If consultancy fees are essential to the project, a particularly compelling case for their inclusion must be included.
• If bidding for Research Assistants, applicants should indicate clearly what their work would include.
• If more than one external funding opportunity is targeted, applicants must explain how the proposal will be adapted for each funder to meet different funder priorities and remits.
• Please note that funds may not be used to support an applicant’s salary, or to replace the salary or scholarship of any assistant or student already receiving funding from another source.

For costing queries and guidance applicants should contact the Fund Manager at their respective institution.

Each university will provide its own main applicant with awarded funds that must be spent over the course of a maximum of 12 months and must be spent by the project end date.

ELIGIBILITY

The second round is open to the Sussex Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and Mahidol Researchers of all disciplines.

• Proposals are required to have both Sussex and Mahidol joint Principal Applicants, and the approval of the Director of the research centre at Sussex, and the Head of Department at Mahidol.
• Applications should seek to build multifaceted, purposeful and enduring links between groups of researchers.
• Priority will be given to applications that extend opportunities to early career researchers (PhD students and/or post-doctoral researchers).
• Principal Applicants may be of any faculty rank at Mahidol or Sussex. At Sussex, the Fund is open to all members of academic faculty and professional services staff within the CoEs, whose contract of employment extends to at least the end of the proposed funding period.
• Those who are registered as students (including PhDs) are not eligible to apply directly but may be included within a proposal.
• A faculty member can serve as Principal Applicant on no more than one application per application cycle.
• There is no limit to the number of applications a faculty member can participate in as a team member.

The disciplines eligible to apply for the funding will be subject to review and may change in each round.