10,000 PLN to carry out your own seminar initiative or small-scale research project – the Foundation for the Development of the University of Gdańsk announces the first call for grant applications under the ‘Seminarium TuuM’ Special-Purpose Fund! The fund was established thanks to a donation from two University of Gdańsk's academics: Prof. Maria Mendel and Prof. Tomasz Szkudlarek. The call for applications is primarily aimed at research and teaching staff at the University of Gdańsk and PhD students enrolled in Doctoral Schools at faculties specialising in the humanities and social sciences; however, it is also open to other individuals and teams (including those from outside the University of Gdańsk). Applications may be submitted until the end of November this year.

Do you have an idea for a seminar? Would you like to invite someone to play a specific role – a researcher specialising in the seminar’s subject matter, or a knowledgeable discussant who can enrich it with new perspectives? Are you planning a small research project that is difficult to fund from other sources? The ‘Seminarium TuuM’ grant is designed precisely for this purpose!

‘“Seminarium TuuM” stems from the belief that academia needs an in situ approach, in which its development is linked to the development of the places where it takes shape,’ say the competition organisers. ‘It is essential to create spaces for this kind of reciprocity. We want to support initiatives that serve science whilst fulfilling social and cultural objectives, providing opportunities for people, ideas, and different perspectives and viewpoints to come together. We are therefore interested in proposals for seminars or other academic meetings, as well as research projects with an environmental context, which facilitate academic collaboration involving more than just the academic world, and which have the potential to spark further initiatives.’

The grant amount for the 2026/2027 academic year is 10,000 PLN. The funds may be used for expenditure directly related to the implementation of the approved project, in accordance with the rules set out in the Regulations for the Award of the ‘Seminarium TuuM’ Grant. The deadline for submitting applications is 30 November 2026.

Who is it for?

We invite individuals or teams to take part in the competition, in particular:

• research and teaching staff at the University of Gdańsk,
• PhD students from Doctoral Schools within the humanities and social sciences faculties at the University of Gdańsk,
• other individuals or teams, including those from outside the University of Gdańsk community.

What can the grant be used for?

The grant may be used to fund original seminar initiatives and small-scale research projects, in particular for:

• organising seminars and other academic meetings, debates, discussions, etc.,
• the implementation of small-scale research projects and studies,
• inviting researchers, experts and other guests to participate in the proposed project,
• the preparation and development of materials related to the project,
• other activities and initiatives consistent with the objectives of the ‘Seminarium TuuM’ Fund.

Community-building projects that are open to collaboration between university and non-university communities, creating a space for living knowledge generated through an exchange that transcends disciplinary boundaries and enables joint inquiry regardless of participants’ affiliations, will be particularly welcome.

Deadline and procedure for submitting applications

Applications will be accepted from 16 October 2026 to 30 November 2026

Applications, completed and signed on the prescribed form and saved in PDF format, should be submitted electronically to the FRUG Executive Board Office at: frug@ug.edu.pl.

Announcement of results

The “Seminarium TuuM” Committee will announce the results of the competition by 18 December 2026.

Competition rules: Regulations_for_awarding_the_Seminarium_TuuM_FRUG_grant.pdf (in Polish)

Application form for download: Seminarium_TuuM_FRUG_grant_application.docx (in Polish)

We invite you to take part!