Research calls

The UM-wide Studio Europa Maastricht (SEM) research agenda actively supports Maastricht University’s research on Europe and European integration. To this aim, six research calls are available to interdisciplinary teams of UM researchers with the goal to encourage innovative and high quality, interdisciplinary research. This includes support for larger grant applications, for research aiming at publication of scholarly papers and for writing policy briefs, for the establishment of strategic research consortia and research on transitional (EU)regional questions and bottlenecks – all linked to at least one of the four themes of this agenda. Moreover, the research agenda offers four post-doctoral fellow positions for a period of two years, open to talented internal and external early-career researchers. To support the research agenda even more, SEM has appointed a Young Researchers committee. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a central aspect in performing academic research within the SEM research agenda, consisting of the following four themes:

• 1) Democracy, Politics, Security and Rule of Law
• 2) Identity, Heritage and the Citizens’ Perspective
• 3) Prosperity, Welfare and Inequality
• 4) Knowledge, Technology and Digitalisation

Research eligible for funding must meet the following general conditions:

• Innovative and of high academic quality
• Interdisciplinary and preferably interfaculty in nature
• Linked to at least one of the four main research themes defined
• Include acquisition of external funding (i.e., “a fly-wheel effect”)
• Societal relevance and/or societal impact
• Researchers who receive seed funding contribute positively to the promotion of the overall Studio Europa Maastricht initiative
• All UM researchers can apply for the seed funding.

We offer six funding opportunities:

Call 1: Interdisciplinary research projects
This call aims to support and stimulate the academic career of early career scholars by providing them with dedicated research time focused on high quality, interdisciplinary research. The expected outcome is a joint peer-reviewed publication. The team of (a minimum of) two researchers has a notable interdisciplinary basis. At least one researcher is early career (postdoc or assistant professor). Research projects should fit to one or more of the four themes of the SEM research agenda and should thereby actively support Maastricht University’s research on Europe and European integration.

Call 2: Preparing a large grant application or building a strategic consortium
This call aims to stimulate large grant applications and strategic consortia with a focus on the high impact national grants (e.g. NWO, NWA) and the larger European funds (e.g. ERC, Horizon Europe). The seed funding alleviates the interdisciplinary team of (a minimum of) two researchers from teaching and administrative duties. The freed time is meant to prepare the application of research funding or to establish a large-scale consortium, not for the execution of the research itself. The grant application should fit to one or more of the four themes of the SEM research agenda and should thereby actively support Maastricht University’s research on Europe and European integration. Affinity or proven creativity in societal impact is seen as a plus for applications.

Call 3: Research on (EU)regional and European transition challenges
This call aims to facilitate the preparation and execution of interdisciplinary research that leads to societal and scientific breakthroughs within clearly defined Euregional and/or European transitional challenges high on the EU agenda. Consortia of researchers, including one or more societal partner(s) from regional government, public and semi-public sectors and/or industry, work closely together in designing, realising and applying the research. We welcome applications from consortia led by (at least) two UM researchers from (at least) two faculties. Affinity or proven creativity in societal impact is seen as a plus for applications.

Call 4: Policy briefs
This call applies to UM researchers who wish to publish their research in a policy brief, as part of the SEM Policy Brief series. Policy briefs are relatively short reports, tailored to the need of policymakers and societal partners. Scientific findings are translated into advice on policy making in a broad sense, including agenda setting for policy makers and societal partners. Policy briefs help academics to create societal impact, by enabling them to display the value of their research endeavours outside academia. This type of societal outreach and valorisation efforts becomes more and more valuable, as shown by the key role these briefs have in grant applications and academic evaluations.

Call 5: Workshops and symposia
This call invites applications from UM researchers from (at least) two faculties, who wish to organise an interdisciplinary academic event such as a workshop, symposium or conference in line with one or more of the four research themes of the SEM research agenda. Collaboration between academics and societal stakeholders is encouraged. Proposals for both small-scale and large-scale events for a varied audience are welcome.

Call 6: Postdoctoral researchers
Every two year, SEM recruits four talented postdoctoral researchers with a proven interdisciplinary basis. These positions are open to internal and external early-career researchers, who recently obtained a PhD degree or close to acquiring one and who are linked to each of the four themes of the SEM research agenda. With this call, SEM creates an interdisciplinary team of researchers who actively support Maastricht University’s research on Europe and European integration.

Questions or ideas?

In case you have a creative, interdisciplinary and Europe-focused idea, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via research@studioeuropamaastricht.nl