CIVICA is launching a new call for proposals to establish multidisciplinary research hubs. The goal is to support teams across at least four CIVICA universities in securing long-term funding for innovative, impactful research projects. Each proposal will receive seed funding for an 18-month phase to build teams, conduct pilot research and develop a plan to secure external grants.
Faculty and (post-doctoral) researchers in CIVICA universities are invited to submit proposals for collaborative, multidisciplinary research with the goal to apply for larger grants (Horizon, ERC, national funding, etc.) and longer-term cooperation.
Only plans for innovative, transformative, and impactful research will be considered. Proposals should envisage working together for a longer period (4-7 years) as a CIVICA Research Hub and spell out three phases of their cooperation:
Phase one: Seed-funded exploratory research proposal (building a team, doing a pilot study, creating a network, etc.) for the CIVICA-funded period of the first 18 months;
Phase two: steps to secure a larger, external grant;
Phase three: steps for the functioning of the externally-funded CIVICA Research Hub.
All fields in the Social Sciences and Humanities are eligible. CIVICA encourages submissions that broadly encompass our thematic priorities:
- Democracy in the 21st Century;
- Europe Revisited;
- Societies in Transition-Crises of Earth;
- Data-Driven Technologies for the Social Sciences
with the explicit goal of securing larger grants and function as a CIVICA Research Hub.
Only innovative, transformative, and impactful research ideas will be considered.
What is financed?
In the first, seed-funded phase (18 months), all expenses directly related to research projects are eligible, provided they are realistic and in line with the expected results; primarily personnel specifically hired for the project, travel, and individual cost items.
Timeline
17 October 2025 – Application deadline
27 October 2025 – Formal eligibility checks completed
17 November 2025 – Announcement of winners
12 January 2026 – Projects officially start
30 June 2027 – Projects officially end
Contact person
SNSPA: Gabriel Viiu gabriel.alexandru.viiu[at]snspa.ro
Application Process
Teams are required to prepare a single joint application and submit it to research@civica.eu. Before doing so, members of the applying research team are to contact their respective coordinators for pre-approval.
Application deadline: 23:59 pm (CET) – 17 October 2025
Downloads
Application form
Full call details
