Strategic initiatives LTV - call for interdisciplinary power-gathering catalyst projects 2021

• Horticultural food production systems as a driving force supporting resilient urban transformations
• Sustainable living requires the nexus between Urban Socio-Ecology and Integrated Pest Management
• Plant Protein Hub Alnarp – From production to consumer and innovation
• The importance of digital technology and shorter food chains in urban food production, for the benefit of a sustainable food production, multiple landscape values and wider access to locally-grown food

The projects must be completed in December 2022 and reported to the Dean no later than the first quarter of 2023.

Read more about the projects.

Background

This initiative ties in with the LTV Faculty Strategy 2021–2025. The strategy begins: New research questions and educational needs can emerge when different scientific disciplines come together, which in turn bring forth more comprehensive solutions to the complex challenges of the future. Hence, the faculty wishes to continue to develop organisation-wide collaborations, both internal and external, which will facilitate a consolidation of powers within the disciplines and in new interdisciplinary constellations.

As this initiative will contribute to attracting more external funding, it is also motivated by the Financing focus outlined in the LTV Faculty strategy.

Purpose

To enhance the quality and attractiveness of research, by making the most of the development potential between departments and subject areas, and addressing areas of knowledge important for society. The initiative is also expected to be able to contribute to the development and quality of educational activities.

Objective

The overall objective is to strengthen research, meet new needs for knowledge and increase successful external funding. By concentrating efforts on interdisciplinary, multisector catalyst projects as a basis for external funding applications, we can achieve this objective and increase the value of research, education and the contribution to the society.

Time plan and process

The application process is divided into two stages, a draft followed by complete applications.

• Drafts must be submitted by 1 March.
• Successful candidates will be notified on 15 March.
  See compilation of idea sketches and which ideas that progressed here
• The complete applications must then be submitted by 1 May.
• The decisions will be sent out once the minutes from the faculty board’s meeting on 16 June have been finalised.

The aim is to finance at least four applications from this round, however there are means to finance more. The dean, deputy dean, vice deans and the faculty board’s member of the working committee of the faculty board will assess the applications and propose prioritisations. The dean decides which drafts will receive support. The faculty board determines which of the complete applications will be granted funding.

Should result in successful research funding applications

The aim is for the projects to result in successful research funding applications. Funding can also be sought for other tasks than the work with research applications in order to cover costs for activities that strengthen said applications – for example, pilot projects and studies, and knowledge syntheses. The project is to include at least two departments at the LTV Faculty, but can also involve other supplementary research competences and development of external collaborations with industry and the general public – if this contribute with additional strength. The project can be used to both develop new constellations of collaborations and further develop existing ones.

Subsidies for arranging conferences, workshops and seminars can be included in the application, but should ideally be sought from other sources. Where possible, existing support structures for developing research and collaboration should be used in order to increase the quality and efficiency of resource use (Partnership Alnarp, Movium, SLU future platforms etc.).

Assessment criteria

• All initiatives must link to the faculty’s and departments’ strategic prioritisations.
• The aim is to create a research application, however it need not be for a specific call. Instead, it can be a “catalyst project” that will set the foundations for future applications for funding.
• Include at least two departments at LTV Faculty.
• Must be interdisciplinary, although subjects may be closely linked.
• Contribute to developing strategically important external and internal collaborations that complement and strengthen SLU.

The draft must include:

• Name and departmental affiliation of the main applicant (must be an LTV Faculty employee) and any co-applicants.
• Explanation of how the project contributes to the purpose and objectives of the call, and a description of how it meets the assessment criteria above.
• Timetable. (project must have been completed by December 2022)
• Budget outline. The maximum amount available for each application is SEK 500 000. Applications for funding salaries can only be made for people who are active at the faculty or who will have an appointment at the faculty within the framework for the project in question.
• Short CV for each applicant.