Local AIMday Grants, SASUF+

The South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF+) is announcing a call for local AIMday grants in South Africa or Sweden. The grants provide researchers with the opportunity to organise their own local AIMdays together with an external stakeholder, based on a chosen theme.

What can you apply for?

The local AIMday grants aim to support the organisation of Academic Industry Meeting Days (AIMday) within the SASUF network. AIMday is a structured method for dialogue and collaboration that brings together researchers with stakeholders from industry, public authorities, and civil society to discuss real-world challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The grant is intended to enable researchers at SASUF partner universities (Umeå University is one of them) to organise a local AIMday in their own environment, involving stakeholders that are relevant to their region and thematic priorities.

All teams awarded funding will receive an introduction to the AIMday method, along with guidance on how the method can be used strategically throughout the SASUF+ project to strengthen collaboration, engagement, and impact.

A local AIMday can be used to:

• Highlight and discuss key challenges relevant to the local context
• Strengthen relationships with external partners
• Identify ideas for future collaborations, projects, or initiatives
• Test and apply the AIMday method as a collaborative tool within SASUF+.

Purpose of the grant

The local AIMday grants aim to:

• Strengthen collaboration between academia and external stakeholders within SASUF
• Create a structured dialogue around concrete societal challenges
• Support the development of new partnerships and project ideas
• Contribute to long-term collaboration within and beyond the SASUF network.

How much can you apply for and what can it be used for?

Up to SEK 45,000 can be applied for per application. The funds can be used flexibly depending on how the AIMday event is designed. Eligible costs include:

• Meals and catering for participants
• Venue and meeting-related costs
• Planning and coordination costs
• Feasibility studies or preparatory activities linked to the AIMday event
• Local travel costs, if deemed necessary by the organisers.

Expected outcomes

A funded local AIMday is expected to result in:

• Meaningful collaboration between researchers and external stakeholders
• Clear documentation of the challenges and opportunities discussed
• Identification of potential follow-up collaborations, projects, or initiatives
• Reflections on how the AIMday method can be further used within the SASUF+ project
• A short activity report will be requested after the completion of the activity.

Who can apply?

Applications may be submitted by:

• Researchers or research groups at Umeå University (and other SASUF+ partner universities)
• In collaboration with relevant external stakeholders (e.g. companies, public sector organisations, civil society organisations)
• The proposed AIMday event should have a clear connection to SASUF’s overall goals and thematic priorities.

When can you apply?

Applications are open until 10 June 2026.

How to apply

The application should be 1–2 pages long and include the following:

• Title of the proposed AIMday
• Host university and main contact person
• A brief description of the challenge(s) to be addressed
• Planned external stakeholders and why they are relevant
• Proposed format and preliminary agenda
• Timeline (planning, implementation, follow-up)
• Budget (including a brief justification of costs)
• Expected outcomes and potential for continued collaboration.

Further instructions are available on the SASUF website.

Applications should be sent to: Sasuf@uu.se

Assessment criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Relevance to SASUF’s goals and thematic areas
• Quality and clarity of the proposed AIMday concept
• Involvement of relevant external stakeholders
• Feasibility within the proposed timeframe and budget
• Potential for long-term collaboration and impact.

Questions?

Please contact SASUF+ Project Manager Helin Bäckman Kartal via the email address above or by phone at +46 72 999 93 53.
You may also contact Umeå University’s local SASUF+ coordinator, Jessica Bergström Grahn, at +46 90 786 51 90.