Research calls

With this call, we support researchers from at least two faculties who wish to conduct high-quality research on Europe and European themes. Projects should:

1. Address one or more topics in the UM research agenda on Europe;
2. Foster collaboration across UM faculties; and
3. Lead to tangible academic output (for example an article prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed journal)

Applicants may also use the grant to lay the groundwork for a larger research or funding application.

With this call, we support researchers from at least two faculties who wish to organise:

1. An interdisciplinary academic event (for example a workshop, symposium or conference) within the thematic scope of the interfaculty research agenda on Europe; or
2. Outreach initiatives that translate academic expertise on European themes to societal or policy audiences. Projects may involve external stakeholders.

Call 1: Interdisciplinary research projects – opens once a year

(Exception for 2026: Call 1 will exceptionally open for a second round in 2026.)

2026 call timeline

Round 1 – closed
• Opens: 15 December 2025
• Closes: 2 March 2026 (midnight)
• Selection period: March-April 2026
• Decision notification: before May 2026

Round 2
• Opens: 7 July 2026
• Closes: 14 October 2026 (midnight)
• Selection period: October-November 2026
• Decision notification: before December 2026

Call 2: Academic events and outreach activities – opens twice a year

2026 call timeline

Round 1 – closed
• Opens: 15 December 2025
• Closes: 2 March 2026 (midnight)
• Selection period: March-April 2026
• Decision notification: before May 2026

Round 2
• Opens: 1 July 2026
• Closes: 14 October (midnight)
• Selection period: October-November 2026
• Decision notification: before December 2026

Please note: Future calls may be adjusted in focus or eligible activities.

Interdisciplinary teams
We aim to stimulate interfaculty and interdisciplinary collaboration, in line with the objectives of the UM research agenda on Europe. Applications must therefore be submitted by a team of at least two researchers from two different UM faculties.

Lead applicant
We encourage researchers at all career levels to apply, but lead applicants should be assistant, associate, or full professors. Research teams may include PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers or other UM research staff. Lead applicants may submit one application per call round, but co-applicants and external partners may participate in multiple proposals.

Project timeline
Projects must start in the same calendar year in which the grant is awarded and conclude by the end of the following calendar year.

External partners
Collaboration with external partners is encouraged, but not mandatory. For Call 2 we especially welcome partnerships with societal or policy stakeholders. External partners may join as co-applicants but cannot be lead applicants.

Project location (Call 2 only)
In our selection we give priority to projects organised in Maastricht and the wider Limburg region, Brussels or The Hague.

Each year we aim to fund up to five projects per call. Funding is provided as a fixed-rate grant:

• Call 1: Up to €10,000 per project
• Call 2: Up to €5,000 per project

The two Call 2 rounds share one annual budget. Submitting in a particular round does not guarantee funding, as all proposals are assessed competitively across the year. The SEM Academic Board will allocate funds based on the quality of proposals and the strategic objectives of the calls.

Funding disbursement
Once the SEM Academic Board has approved the project and all administrative steps are completed, the grant will be transferred to the departmental budget number provided by the lead applicant. Funding will be disbursed as a single payment at the start of the project.

Co-funding
Co-funding is not required, but strongly encouraged. Applicants are welcome to seek additional support from their faculty or external sources. Please specify any co-funding in the project budget template provided with the application form.

Eligible Costs
We ask all applicants to submit a simple project budget using the template provided with the application form. Please use the following guidelines:

Staff time
For Call 1, the grant is intended to support research activities carried out by the applicants and co-applicants. The grant may be used to fund teaching buy-out. Applicants requesting buy-out hours must contact their faculty finance office to confirm the applicable rate and must ensure that the proposed buy-out is approved by their Head of Department. The grant cannot be used to hire a research assistant or other additional research support staff.

For Call 2, staff time is generally not eligible, unless clearly justified as essential to the organisation or implementation of the proposed academic event or outreach acitivity.

Travel costs
Travel and accommodation expenses for applicants or invited guests may be included if travel is essential to the project.

Event costs
The grant may be used for event-related expenses such as venue rental, catering, audio-visual services, printed materials and speaker or facilitator fees.

Other essential costs
Other material or implementation costs may be included if they are essential to the execution of the project.

SEM staff will review all applications to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. Eligible proposals will then be forwarded to the SEM Academic Board, which makes the final grant decisions.

The Board will assess proposals according to the following award criteria:

• Strategic fit with the UM research agenda on Europe

Projects should align with one or more themes in the UM research agenda.

• Clarity of project objectives and intended outcomes

Projects should present a clear purpose, well-defined objectives, anticipated outcomes and expected impact. The application should describe the planned approach and include a realistic budget. These elements should be reflected in the research or event plan.

• Societal relevance and impact

Projects should demonstrate societal relevance and the potential to create meaningful impact. Proposals should identify their target audience(s) and participants, and clearly explain how the project will engage these groups.

Before submission

• Please submit your application using the forms provided below. Each call has its own form, so please make sure you select the correct one.
• For Call 1, applicants must inform their Head of Department before submitting the application. This is especially important if the application includes a request for teaching buy-out. Applicants requesting buy-out must ensure that this is approved by their Head of Department before submission.
• For Call 2, applicants are encouraged to inform their Head of Department where relevant.
• By submitting your form, you confirm that you have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions of the relevant SEM Research Call.

After submission

All funded projects will be mentioned on the SEM website.

You will receive an automated confirmation email. These may end up in spam folders, so please check yours – and contact us if you do not receive a confirmation.

We may reach out to you for clarifications or minor revisions if necessary.

You will receive an email to let you know if your proposal has passed the eligibility check.

Applicants of eligible proposals will receive an email with the outcome of the Academic Board’s grant decision.

Call 1 – Interdisciplinary Research Projects

Deepfakes in the Interrogation Room: AI-Generated Evidence and Fundamental Rights in European Policing
Glynis Boogaard (FPN)
Jenny Schell-Leugers (FSE – UCM)
Alice Giannini (LAW)
Micol Iannuzzi (FSE – UCM)

Hybrid Meat EU
Ceren Pekdemir (SBE)
Gill ten Hoor (FPN)

The Neurodiverse Suspect: Mapping the Emerging Field
Christina Peristeridou (LAW)
Henry Otgaar (FPN)

Whose Values? Article 2 TEU Under an Interdisciplinary Microscope
Rónán Riordan (LAW)
Valentina Golunova (LAW)
Fulvia Ristuccia (LAW)
Catia Pinto Teixeira (FPN)
Karin van Leeuwen (FASoS)
Janosch Prinz (FASoS)

Call 2 – Academic Events and Outreach Activities

Making Home in Europe
Carlo Maria Colombo (LAW)
Marc Dijk (SBE)

Democracy and the Rule of Law in Global Dialogue
Ferenc Laczó (FASoS)
Marijn van der Sluis (LAW)

Confronting Sexual Deepfakes: Risks, Rights, and Coordinated Responses
Robyn Mooney (FPN)
Valentina Golunova (LAW)

Interdisciplinary Event: ‘From Dual- to Omni-use Items at a Time of European Struggle for Digital Sovereignty’
Karolina I. Podstawa (LAW)
Christina Teleki (LAW)
Wim Muller (LAW)
Michal Natorski (SBE – UNU-Merit)

Find out more about the research and activities we support, as well as past funding calls, in our recent report “Five Years of Shaping European Research and Public Debate at Maastricht University (2019-2024)”.