The University of Warwick and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) have announced a new seed fund to initiate novel collaborations and deepen existing partnerships between researchers, professional staff and students. This new fund harnesses the combined strengths of both institutions, seeking innovative solutions to challenges that face societies around the world.
The VUB-Warwick Joint Seed Fund will foster research with the potential to deliver both academic and societal impact. It will support research initiatives by enabling colleagues to jointly undertake preliminary studies or pilot projects, as well as organise meetings, workshops and events. The research grant offices of both universities will guide researchers in taking full advantage of all relevant funding channels.
Warwick and VUB first formalised their partnership in 2018 through a Memorandum of Understanding for academic collaboration. On 7 January, this agreement was renewed during a signing ceremony at VUB, in the presence of the British Ambassador to Belgium, Anne Sherriff, and Anaïs Biclot, PhD, Science & Technology Officer. The University of Warwick delegation, led by Professor George Christou, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Europe), was welcomed by Professors Jan Danckaert, VUB Rector; Pieter Ballon, Vice-Rector for Research; and Karin Vanderkerken, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation.
Professor Pieter Ballon, Vice-Rector research, VUB, said: "We are proud that the University of Warwick selected the VUB as its first partner for a collaborative seed fund in Europe. The seed funding will boost collaboration and generate larger research and impact."
Professor Michael Scott, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), University of Warwick, said: "The University of Warwick is delighted to launch this new collaborative research seed fund with the VUB, strengthening our research engagement and our strategic partnership. This comes at a time when we also welcome the UK's re-engagement with both Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ as key tools of engagement for UK universities in and with Europe.
The University of Warwick invests strongly in its global community of staff and students, a fact recognised by Warwick being named Institution of the Year in the UK Council of International Student Affairs 2025 awards. At the same time, Warwick believes deeply in the value of a strong network of global partners, with whom we can collaborate equitably across research and education to help deliver solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems. I look forward to seeing what the partnership of VUB and Warwick delivers in the years to come!"
The two institutions have enjoyed a close collaborative relationship as part of the EUTOPIA Alliance since 2019, particularly through initiatives such as the twice-yearly EUTOPIA Research Days and peripatetic trilateral Network Studio Days, covering areas as diverse as urban mobility and regulatable AI. Recent joint research successes include securing and implementing two Horizon Europe MSCA doctoral networks, (Sustainable Production and Processing and Modelling of Durable Additive Manufactured Materials for Enhanced Performance and Long-term Service in Complex Environments [DurAMat] and Confident Data-Driven Decision Support [CoRDS]), as well as the European project 'Empowering Widening universities in EUTOPIA_HEALTH' to foster academic excellence in Health, and the deployment of four Connected Communities. The University of Warwick's department of Politics and International Studies and VUB's Brussels School of Governance have also established strong links, including through the FRAMENET project.
Professor George Christou, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Europe), University of Warwick said: "Formalising our strategic partnership with the VUB through an MoU and the launch of our first bilateral European seed fund open to all researchers marks a significant moment in the University of Warwick's European strategy and commitment to deepen our existing bilateral, cross-faculty collaboration across research and innovation. Initiatives like this fund create tangible opportunities for collaborative research, strengthen our bilateral ties with VUB and contribute to the wider vision of a connected, inclusive, and impactful European research ecosystem"
Professor Mercedes Alonso Giner from VUB said: "Our collaboration with the University of Warwick has been exceptionally rewarding, leading to joint PhD and Postdoc supervision, high-impact publications, and the development of a strong and growing research network. By combining complementary expertise, we are building a solid foundation for sustainable catalysis by design, while creating valuable opportunities for early-career researchers and students."
