The Seed Funding Call for 2026 for India collaboration is launched under 3 categories:
1. Educational Collaboration (Total budget 50 000 EUR)
2. Research collaboration (Total budget 60 000 EUR)
3. Flexible Mobility (Total budget 30 000 EUR)
The call for categories 1 and 2 is open between 20.2. - 30.3.2026.
The call for category 3 will be a rolling call starting on 20.2.2026, with the last day of every month as the cut-off date for applications. The call will be closed earliest when the funding gets exhausted, or latest on 31.1.2027.
This Seed Funding Call will be relaunched also in 2027 and 2028.
The funding supports education-driven partnerships with Indian partners,through one or several of the following activities to be developed or implemented (suggestive but not limited to):
Projects demonstrating potential to increase Aalto’s visibility and brand recognition in India, and projects that can build a long-term funnel for student attraction/recruitment will be prioritized. Preference will be given for new initiatives which have not received any external or internal funding for the same activity in the past 5 years.
The projects must involve educational cooperation at one or several different degree levels (Bachelor and/or Master). Preference is given for project collaborations with Aalto's currently existing Indian partner universities (see Aalto – India Collaboration) but not excluding new partners. Limited number of student travels within the projects can be funded with justified reasons.
Total budget is 50 000 EUR. Up to 10 000 EUR/project. Maximum of 5 projects can be funded in the 2026 funding call.
Who can apply:
Aalto professors, staff, or postdoctoral researchers employed at Aalto until at least 31.12.2027. For educational projects involving developing joint educational collaboration models with degree programmes, the applicant must be a Professor, a Programme Director, or a service staff involved in the planning of the educational activity.
Eligible costs:
Criterion |
Score (%) |
| Alignment with Aalto’s strategy (as relevant for Education) | 20 |
| Project quality, design and cost effectiveness | 40 |
| Feasibility and implementation | 20 |
| Impact and expected outcomes | 20 |
Total |
100 |
Pre-screening: By the Working Group for India (Eija Kujanpää, Manager, International Relations, School of Science, Kit Srinivasan, Senior Manager, Global Engagement and Niina Malkamäki, Senior Specialist, International Student Recruitment)
Evaluation: By Mervi Rantanen, Senior Specialist and Riikka Evans, Specialist from Learning Services
Final decisions: By Kirsi Kettula, Head of Global Engagement
Free form description including the progress of the project, the outcomes, and the next steps in 1-3 PowerPoint slides to kit.srinivasan@aalto.fi. Deadline for reporting: no later than 15.9.2027.
The funding supports initiatives to establish or enhance research collaborations with leading Indian institutions in Aalto’s strategic areas through one or several of the following means (suggestive but not limited to):
Projects demonstrating potential to convert into competitive external funding proposals and fostering long-term strategic partnerships will be prioritized. Proposals from researchers in their early-stage career are encouraged.
Total budget is 60 000 EUR.
For new initiatives which have not received any seed funding for India in the past 5 years, up to 10 000 EUR/project. Max. 2x10 000 EUR projects can be funded in the 2026 call.
For well-established projects that have already received seed funding during 2021-24 and have developing potential towards external funding, commercialization or industry collaboration, up to 20 000 EUR/project can be granted. Max. 2x20 000 EUR projects can be funded in the 2026 call.
Who can apply:
Aalto professors, staff, or postdoctoral level researchers employed at Aalto until at least 31.12.2027.
Eligible costs:
Criterion |
Score (%) |
| Alignment with Aalto’s Strategy (as relevant for Research) | 20 |
| Project quality, design and cost effectiveness | 40 |
| Feasibility and implementation | 20 |
| Impact and expected outcomes | 20 |
Total |
100 |
Pre-screening: By the Working Group for India (Eija Kujanpää, Manager, International Relations, School of Science, Kit Srinivasan, Senior Manager, Global Engagement, and Niina Malkamäki, Senior Specialist, International Student Recruitment)
Evaluation: By Krisztina Cziner, Head of Platform Services
Final decisions: By Kirsi Kettula, Head of Global Engagement
Free form description including the progress of the project, the outcomes, and the next steps in 1-3 PowerPoint slides to kit.srinivasan@aalto.fi. Deadline for reporting: no later than 15.9.2027.
Funding for Aalto academics and staff for visiting partners for research and educational collaboration, exploring and developing new opportunities, participating in delegations of bilateral importance, and events strategic for Aalto etc. Priority will be given to travel that can combine meetings/activities with several stakeholder groups (for example student recruitment, alumni etc.)
Total budget is 30 000 EUR. Budget per one project is up to 3 000 EUR/project. Maximum of 10 projects can be funded in the 2026 call. The funding is equally divided between Education and Research activities.
Note: Only outbound mobility from Aalto is funded. Inbound mobility from Indian partners is not funded.
The applicant is an employee of Aalto University, with a current work contract continuing at least until 31.12.2027.
The proposal
Proposals are evaluated by the Working Group for India and the final funding decisions are made by Kirsi Kettula, Head of Global Engagement. The proposals are gathered on the last business day of every month and the funding decisions will be communicated to the Applicant within 3 weeks from the submission.
Please fill in the application form for Flexible Mobility Funding under Criteria 3 at:
Free form description including the progress of the project, the outcomes, and the next steps in 1-3 PowerPoint slides to kit.srinivasan@aalto.fi. Deadline for reporting: no later than 15.9.2027.
Please note that we can't comment on the ideas for the proposals neither comment on draft proposals or points for improvement, as it would be a part of the pre-screening and evaluation process. However, we can comment if you have any questions on the cost categories.
Aalto University has a strong, long-standing role in academic collaboration with India. In 2014, Aalto led national efforts to establish the Finnish Indian Consortia for Research and Education (FICORE). This page provides an overview of Aalto–India collaboration. It is updated biannually and covers the past five years.
Aalto University's future is built upon a foundation of high-quality research, education, impact and shared values – responsibility, courage, and collaboration. The purpose of the university is to shape a sustainable future.
