The University of Warwick and Hong Kong Polytechnic University Joint Seed Fund

The PolyU-Warwick Joint Seed Fund will provide vital early-stage funding to ambitious research initiatives that blend diverse expertise and explore novel approaches. By empowering researchers to explore high-potential ideas, this fund aims to accelerate discoveries that address global challenges and contribute to societal advancement.

Key Dates

Applications open: 9 March 2026

Applications close: 30 March 2026, 6:00 pm UK time

Advice to successful applicants: w/C 8 June 2026

Awards begin: 1 August 2026

Awards finish: 31 July 2028

Core Documents

Updated documents to be added once the next call has opened.

The collaboration between colleagues at PolyU and at Warwick is intended to support and lead to:

• Virtual activities in the first instance, and at least two reciprocal visits for staff/research students;
• The submission of at least two joint co-authored publications (or equivalent output);
• Targeting a suitable scheme for the submission of a joint application for external funding.

Funding:

Funding will be provided jointly by Warwick and PolyU and will be comprised of GBP 20,000 from Warwick to the Warwick academic and HKD 200,000 from PolyU to the PolyU academic for each awarded two-year project (I.e. GBP 10,000 plus HKD 100,000 per annum).

We welcome proposals that offer most effective means of achieving the objectives, including those below the maximum funding threshold.

Examples of allowable expenditure include:

Eligible costs will typically include:

• Reasonable travel and visa costs;
• Accommodation;
• Reasonable event/workshop costs;
• Research support;
• Reasonable support towards the cost of participation by relevant third parties, where this would add significant value or potential to a project.

The seed fund will not typically fund:

• Infrastructure and equipment;
• Overhead/central support charges;
• Non-Warwick or PolyU staff expenses (including travel and accommodation);
• Salaries and honoraria;
• Per diems (expenses must be based on receipts);
• Conference registrations for staff members;
• Costs already incurred prior to submission of the proposal.

Eligibility:

The Warwick-PolyU Seed Fund is open to staff from all academic departments, without restriction to specific fields of study. We encourage interdisciplinary proposals and welcome applications from diverse academic disciplines.

For Warwick, Principal Applicants must be permanent or fixed-term, full or part-time staff. For applicants on fixed-term contracts, the duration of contract must extend beyond the project completion date.

For PolyU, all full-time academic staff members in the University’s substantive staff grades mapped to grades “A” to “I” as defined by the University Grants Committee (including Research Assistant Professors except visiting and temporary academic staff) are eligible to apply for the fund as Principal Applicants. The duration of the appointment must extend beyond the end date of the funded project.
 

How to apply:

Each application must include the following information and supporting documents, where applicable

• Completed Joint Seed Fund Application Form;
• A two-page proposal;
• CVs;
• Warwick Requirements Form (for Warwick PI only);
• PolyU Requirements Form (for PolyU PI only).

The application documents should be compiled into a single consolidated file and submitted to both isr@warwick.ac.uk and the respective PolyU Departments and Faculties with the subject title "Warwick-PolyU Joint Seed Fund Proposal Submission".