The Berlin University Alliance aims to address broad societal issues with global implications, so-called grand challenges, through research that cuts across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. As part of its first Grand Challenge Initiative focused on “social cohesion,” the member institutions are accepting submissions to their preparatory call for projects as part of an effort to strengthen cooperation and networks among researchers in Berlin.

The call seeks to promote self-organized, cross-institutional, and topic-related collaboration. It is open to researchers at Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Applications from all disciplines are welcome, and experts from non-university research institutions as well as other sectors (politics, civil society, culture, administration, business) can be involved as well. Applicants can request up to 10,000 euros for a six-month period to develop their ideas. Applications must be submitted by October 15, 2019.