USR acts as an internal funding agency overseeing the full development & implementation life cycle of internationally robust funding calls, including external peer-review, which meet the needs to KU faculty. All funding calls have defined objectives, structured reporting requirements and in the case of research centers specific annual KPI鈥檚.
Our main calls can be broken down into the following categories:
- 01Faculty Start-Ups (FSU): These are the first grants awarded to newly recruited faculty to develop and/or continue their research programs at KU. Awards are made for 24 months.
- 02Research & Innovation Grant (RIG): The RIG program is designed to facilitate the advancement of novel, curiosity-driven scientific research by supporting internal collaborative projects that align with KU鈥檚 thematic research areas. In addition, the program aims to promote the formation and effective collaboration of investigator teams, enhance outputs in order to attract external sponsorship and raise the visibility and reputation of KU research. Research projects can focus on basic or applied investigation. The RIG program utilizes external reviewers to ensure the proposals recommended for funding are competitively awarded against international standards.
- 03Research Centers (RC): The Research Center Program aims to support targeted growth and broaden activity in areas of strategic interest that align with the Vertical and Horizontal research matrix below. The Centers are expected to initiate and/or build upon complementary areas of activity and expertise in order to create knowledge and technical innovation, resulting in increased capability, critical mass and visibility for the University. The RC program utilizes external reviewers to ensure the center proposals recommended for funding are competitively awarded against international standard.
- 04International Research Network Expansion (IRNE):These are bespoke grants awarded with the aim to broaden the reach of KU鈥檚 research activities. These awards focus on facilitating strategic collaborations with world-class academics and increasing KU鈥檚 participation in reputable research consortiums around the globe. Award amounts and durations vary.
- 05Joint/Ad Hoc Calls: These are bespoke calls which primarily utilize co-funding mechanisms with other academic institutions or funding agencies. Award durations and areas of focus vary.
