The GDC 2023 seed funding round calls for projects that examine how digitization is changing the world, thematizing and problematizing the digital and the global with specific attention to cultural processes and contexts. Accordingly, we expect projects to explicitly theorize or reflect on the digital, the global, and the cultural and how these dimensions figure in relation to the proposed research questions. This explicit engagement can take on various forms but proposals that incorporate perspectives and comparisons from beyond Europe and North America, and focus on cultural practices and/or discourses, are prioritized. Moreover, proposals should tie directly to questions and research agendas organized around the three themes of the Global Digital Cultures RPA: 1) consumption and participation, 2) production and labor, and 3) security and citizenship. Such connections include but are not limited to assessments of the cultural, socio-economic, and political implications of digitization within these three domains, or critical assessments of the agendas and efforts of Big Tech companies in these domains. For more information visit our areas of inquiry. 

Proposals must be interdisciplinary and involve applicants of at least 2 different faculties at the UvA. At least one applicant must have a permanent position at the UvA at the time of the application. In addition to UvA-based assistant, associate, and full professors, we also explicitly encourage postdocs and Ph.D. candidates to apply. External Ph.D. candidates already registered at the UvA may apply for temporary research time. 

If you have a research idea that connects to the Global Digital Cultures focus, but you don’t know of any potential partners outside your faculty, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at gdc@uva.nl so we can try and help you find a match.

All submissions must be submitted no later than Monday, May 8, 2023, by sending an email to  gdc@uva.nl with the subject line "GDC Seed Funding Call 2023". More details on the application procedures are listed below. 

The grants have a duration of max 1 year and a value between EUR 20,000 and max 50,000. They can be used to cover the costs of, for example, data collection, research assistance, or extra research time for writing an article, book chapter, or interdisciplinary grant application (NWO, NIAS, KNAW, ERC). Extra research time can be used for either a temporary reduction in teaching or to create or extend a temporary research appointment. The grants must lead to clearly specified outputs, for example, a grant application, a publication, a dataset, an exhibition, or other results.

Application procedure:

• Applications are accepted until May 8, 2023, via e-mail to gdc@uva.nl with the subject line "GDC Seed Funding Call 2023"
• Applicants should use this application form. Each applicant should attach a one-page CV including up to 10 selected publications. If teaching replacement is requested, each participant needs an additional approval letter written by the head of section/department. Please attach the letter(s) to the email with the submission. 
• The grants have a maximum value of EUR 50,000 and max 40,000 per applicant per year (for example you can apply for: 2 x 25,000 = 50,000, or 1 x 40,000 + 2 x 5000 = 50,000 etc).
• Decisions are made by the RPA Coordinators, using the criteria below
• The grants will be allocated by the financial system SAP for the cost allocation
• The research should start in the course of the calendar year 2023

Terms and conditions:

• Minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 researchers (Assistant/Associate/Full Professors or Post-Doc/Ph.D.) with main affiliation at the UvA
• Involvement of applicants of minimal 2 different faculties at the UvA
• The project must be completely wrapped up by December 2024, as no payments can be made after this date
• Applicants must use standard FGW "full cost" hourly rates as provided by the RPA. Please contact us by sending an email to gdc@uva.nl for a table with the fixed hourly rates. The hours spent on the project are always compensated through a (temporary) appointment at the UvA and not by transferring a lump sum
• Funding requested should be proportional to the objectives and projected output. The selection committee reserves the right to award less than the amount requested
• Proposals that combine a major grant application with carrying out research activities leading to publications are also accepted
• Extra research time can be applied for, with a maximum of 0,1fte for a full year. Applicants should ensure in advance that the time requested can be used in full for research activities, without requiring a 60/40 split between teaching and research
• Successful applicants will be expected to report on the results achieved, to contribute to Global Digital Cultures outreach activities (e.g. blog posts, research seminars), and to acknowledge Global Digital Cultures' support explicitly in any publications resulting from the grant

Evaluation criteria include:

• Quality, originality, and feasibility of the proposal 
• Engagement with global and cultural dimensions of digitization
• Interdisciplinary nature of the research 
• Added value to the applicant’s research 
• Alignment with one of the three RPA domains
• Clear output (publication and grants) and outreach and contribution to the RPA Global Digital Cultures plan
• The committee may also apply additional macro criteria such as disciplinary, gender, thematic, and programmatic diversity