Horizons Platform Project Funding

Horizons Platform is designed to promote challenge-led interdisciplinary research and foster collaboration between the University of Leeds and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).

As part of this programme, the Horizons Institute are offering participants the opportunity to apply for project funding of up to £250,000. This funding is provided to develop exciting and ambitious research within the areas of climate, sustainability or inequality.

Funding information

You can apply for up to £250,000 where this amount can be fully justified. Smaller projects are also encouraged, and we expect to fund between two and four projects. Funding will be for two years, from July 2025 until July 2027.

You must discuss your application with your Faculty Research Manager or support staff to identify any issues related to the feasibility and costings of your project. Your project costings must be reviewed and signed off by your school or faculty finance team. Research proposals must be approved by your Head of School before applications are submitted. Further information about accepted costs can be found on the Horizons Platform Funding Information page.

The Horizons Institute defines interdisciplinary research as: “That which brings together researchers to better identify problems, approaches and solutions to global and multifaceted challenges. Researchers from two or more disciplines work together in a way that sees reciprocal benefits and integration of methods across traditional disciplinary boundaries.”

Within the remit of the project, we encourage mobility opportunities to build capacity in interdisciplinary research at both institutions. These opportunities should also provide development opportunities for members of the project team.

We support the development of diverse project teams and welcome applications promoting inclusion and mentoring of early-career academics as part of wider project teams.

Selection process

All proposals received by the deadline will be assessed for eligibility and feasibility by a Horizons Institute Research Manager.

All eligible proposals will then be assessed by the Horizons Institute Interdisciplinary Assessment College.

Essential criteria

The project must include academics from more than one broad area of expertise. As a minimum we would expect to see the inclusion of academics from at least two different faculties.

The project must include an academic from a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

The project must include at least two academics recruited to the Horizon Platform programme, colleagues from outside of the Platform programme can be included within the project team, but the expertise they are bringing to the project should be detailed in your application.

The project must be cross-institutional, including at least one academic from the University of Leeds and at least one academic from the University of Witwatersrand.

Where relevant, the support of early-career colleagues must be evidenced to support their professional development. A development plan, with appropriate allocations of funds, should be included.

Assessment criteria

Interdisciplinarity

The project is interdisciplinary with a clear indication of how disciplines will be integrated, through the methods and approaches, to achieve the aims and objectives of the proposed work.
The proposal articulates why these specific disciplines are needed for the project, as well as the reciprocal benefits to be achieved from working together.
There is evidence the project has been co-designed and a clear explanation of what expertise each member of the team is contributing.

Innovation

The project demonstrates a significant level of originality, novelty, and quality.
The proposed research is answering a clear challenge or research gap.
There is potential for the project to be transformative for participating disciplines, or may lead to the creation of new disciplines.
The proposal is timely, feasible, and ambitious.
There is a clear focus on the areas of climate, sustainability or inequality.

Collaboration

There is evidence of consideration around how the project team will work together across institutions, ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The project team brings together early-career academics with established academics to build a diverse project team.
Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility are embedded in the research design and methodologies proposed.
Where relevant, research is co-designed across sectors and/or with communities.
The project has potential to develop new research programmes between the Universities of Leeds and Witwatersrand.

Further information

Please visit the Horizons Platform page for more information about the programme. If you have any questions, please email the Horizons Institute team at horizons@leeds.ac.uk.