Case Western Reserve University is proud to announce the launch of the Breaking Boundaries Seed Grants, a new funding opportunity designed to support bold interdisciplinary research collaborations. These grants provide a funding resource to faculty teams representing at least two disciplines who are pursuing projects with strong potential for external funding.
“These seed grants represent the very essence of what makes CWRU a leader in research—bringing together diverse perspectives to tackle complex challenges,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Joy K. Ward. “Our synergistic activities are a powerful force for true innovation, and by investing in collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams, we’re laying the groundwork for innovations that will shape the future.”
The initiative will award up to four $100,000 and four $15,000 seed grants. The smaller grants will enable teams to begin early stage investigations and develop proposals for submission. The larger grants will support these functions plus enable the generation of more substantial preliminary results and/or proof of concept to strengthen grant proposals. Faculty interested in applying are encouraged to explore the full details and application instructions on the Breaking Boundaries Seed Grants webpage. Proposals are due March 1.
“The goal of these grants is to empower faculty to build teams with an intentionality that positions them for success in securing external funding for a significant interdisciplinary effort,” explained Dan Lacks, Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary and International Initiatives. “Breaking Boundaries creates an environment where innovative ideas can flourish across disciplines.”
The seed funding is part of the larger Breaking Boundaries Initiative, which also includes the Breaking Boundaries Forums—a series of events designed to connect faculty across fields to explore emerging research frontiers across a variety of themes and spark new collaborations.
Beyond funding and forums, the initiative fosters deeper engagement through department visits and faculty dinners hosted by the Provost. These gatherings provide an opportunity to explore the exciting work happening across campus and build stronger synergistic connections.
To attend an upcoming dinner, individuals are invited to complete a Faculty Dinner Request form.
Together, these efforts reinforce Case Western Reserve University’s commitment to cultivating a vibrant community where bold ideas and collaborative discovery thrive.
