Description

The South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF) launches the Local AIMday Grants 2026, supporting universities in Sweden and South Africa to organise structured Academic–Industry Meeting Days (AIMday) that foster collaboration around real-world challenges.

Overview

Building on the SASUF AIMday pilot (May 2026), this call enables partner universities to host locally adapted AIMday events, tailored to their regional priorities and stakeholder ecosystems.

AIMday is a proven collaboration format that brings together researchers, industry, public sector, and civil society in structured dialogue to address concrete challenges and explore opportunities for cooperation.

What is an AIMday?

An AIMday is a facilitated, challenge-driven dialogue format, not a traditional conference. External stakeholders define key challenges in advance, and researchers engage in focused roundtable discussions to co-develop insights and solutions.

Successful AIMdays require:

• Active participation of external stakeholders
• Strong focus on dialogue and mutual learning
• Dedicated facilitation to bridge academia and non-academic actors

Objectives of the Call

The Local AIMday Grants aim to:

• Strengthen collaboration between academia and external stakeholders
• Address societal challenges through structured dialogue
• Generate new partnerships, ideas, and project opportunities
• Support long-term collaboration within and beyond the SASUF network

Funding Available

• Up to SEK 45,000 per project (approx. ZAR 71,000)

Eligible costs include:

• Event organisation (venue, catering, logistics)
• Planning and coordination activities
• Preparatory studies or stakeholder engagement
• Local travel costs (if justified)

Who Can Apply?

Applications are open to:

• Researchers or teams from SASUF partner universities
• In collaboration with external stakeholders (e.g. industry, government, civil society)

Proposals must align with SASUF’s thematic priorities and collaboration goals.

Expected Outcomes

Funded AIMdays should deliver:

• Meaningful engagement between academia and external actors
• Clear documentation of challenges and opportunities discussed
• Identification of follow-up collaborations or project ideas
• Reflections on the application of the AIMday method within SASUF+

A short report will be required after completion.

Application Requirements

Applications (1–2 pages) must include:

• Title and organising institution
• Description of the challenge(s) addressed
• Identification of external stakeholders and their relevance
• Proposed format and preliminary agenda
• Timeline (planning, implementation, follow-up)
• Budget with justification
• Expected outcomes and collaboration potential

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Relevance to SASUF objectives
• Quality and clarity of the AIMday concept
• Engagement of appropriate stakeholders
• Feasibility within timeline and budget
• Potential for long-term impact and collaboration

Key Dates

• Call opens: 17 March 2026
• Deadline: 10 June 2026
• Implementation: Within the SASUF+ project period (2025–2028), typically completed within 6 months of approval

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via email to: [email protected]

Applicants are required to complete the official application template provided by SASUF.