Ivana Kugler
Project Manager, CEITEC MU
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About
The Seed Fund of the A4L BRIDGE project aims to support the launch of small collaborative scientific projects emerging from the activities of the Virtual Research Center (VRC). The goal is to enable partners to test initial joint ideas, build mutual trust, obtain preliminary results, and create a foundation for larger consortia and proposals under Horizon Europe or other international funding schemes. Our objectives are:
- Promote collaboration among CEE partners 1
- Foster innovative scientific ideas with Horizon Europe potential
- Generate preliminary results to strengthen future grant proposals
- Build foundation and long-term partnerships between institutions
Key information
The call opens on 6 October 2025 and closes on 31 December 2025.
Who can apply?
The Seed Fund is open to researchers from Alliance4Life institutions who are also members of the Virtual Research Centre (VRC). Not a member yet? Learn more on the About the VRC page.
What we support?
- Small-scale research projects
- Preparatory activities for larger grant applications
- Actions strengthening collaboration among CEE institutions
Who must be involved in the proposed project?
- Project must include collaboration between researchers from at least two member institutions
- Projects may involve industry partners as well as partners who are not members of Alliance4Life. Their participation is optional but may increase the project’s impact.
What is the evaluation process?
- Proposal submission via an online form
- Independent expert review (ensuring objectivity and avoiding conflict of interest); projects are evaluated and ranked by selected experts from the database of experts
- Approval of selected projects by the Scientific Committee of Alliance4Life BRIDGE
- Announcement of funded projects
If the number of positively evaluated proposals exceeds the available budget, the final ranking will be determined by the expert score. In case of proposals with identical scores, the ranking will follow the Horizon Europe tie-break rules, giving priority in the following order: excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. If proposals remain tied after applying these criteria, the final decision will be made by the Scientific Committee.
What are the evaluation criteria?
Proposals will be assessed by independent experts and selected by the project’s Scientific Committee:
- Originality of the scientific idea
- Leadership of CEE partners and strengthening CEE collaboration
- Feasibility of work plan and budget (compliance with Horizon Europe rules)
- Potential for Horizon Europe proposal submission
- Sustainability and long-term vision
Looking for collaborators?
VRC membership allows you to connect with other researchers and explore potential collaborations. Share your project idea, browse ideas posted by others, and reach out to researchers whose projects interest you.
How to apply
1. Gather the necessary documents
Application form will require: team information, project description, budget, expected impact, and a vision for a larger follow-up project under Horizon Europe or another international scheme. Find all the information and templates here:
2. Log in and submit an application
Application submission is possible only for the VRC members. To access it, log in to your account or become a member of the VRC (more on About the VRC).
Contact
Webcentrum ICS
Technical Support
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