The Universities of Edinburgh and Toronto are launching an exciting new initiative to foster international collaborative research on AI and Health, and Data for Environmental Sustainability, two broad research areas that align with the University of Edinburgh Research & Innovation Strategy and University of Toronto’s Institutional Research Plan. Call for proposals now openThe initiative will facilitate collaborative project development through a series of online meetings and pitches culminating in an in-person 2-day sandpit at the University of Edinburgh in June 2025. The ambition is to facilitate new conversations that spark ideas across disciplines and approaches and create a platform to support major collaborative projects that are well-positioned to attract external funding.Key components of the initiative:Initial proposal: Submit brief proposals aligned with the thematic focus, with potential for external funding applications. Selected applicants will pitch their ideas during the Online Workshop.Online workshop (half-day): Qualified applicants from diverse fields will pitch their ideas, form teams based on shared interests, and explore collaborations within and between universities, potentially leading to an external funding application. Ideas will be collected for the in-person sandpit event.In-person sandpit event (Edinburgh): Selected teams will refine their collaborative research proposals during a 2-day event in Edinburgh, focusing on proposal writing and project design to compete for funding, e.g. Horizon Europe.Seed funding: Teams attending the Edinburgh event can apply for seed funding up to $20,000 (CAD)/£11,500 (GBP) to support proposal preparation for securing further funding.EligibilityOpen to faculty and researchers at all career stages at both universities, with a focus on mid-career academics expanding their international and collaborative research. Application timelineCall for proposals open26 February 2025Submission deadline for online workshop24 March 2025Notification of acceptance for the online workshop10 April 2025Online workshop (half day)22 April 2025Submission deadline for in-person sandpit in Edinburgh2 May 2025 Notification of acceptance for the in-person sandpit in Edinburgh15 May 2025 In-person sandpit in Edinburgh24-25 June 2025 Seed funding proposal deadline29 August 2025 How to applyThe application process is as follows:Download and read the guidance document.Applicants must submit an initial proposal to be considered for the online workshop by 24 March 2025 via the online form below. Guide for applicants Document Guidance document for applicants (169.29 KB / PDF) Submit your proposal Enquiries about the funding callGet in touch with Scott McQuarrie, Regional Director North America at the University of Edinburgh. Scott McQuarrie Regional Director North America Ƶ Based in Edinburgh Contact details Email: scott.mcquarrie@ed.ac.uk This article was published on 2025-02-27