The seed funding call for 2026 for India collaboration was launched under 3 categories:
The call for Flexible Mobility (total budget 39 000 EUR) is open until the funding is exhausted, or at the latest until 31.1.2027.
The calls for Educational Collaboration (total budget 50 000 EUR) and Research Collaboration (total budget 60 000 EUR) were closed on 30.3.2026.
This seed funding call will also be relaunched in 2027 and 2028. Changes in the budget and in the call categories are possible. The funding from all three categories needs to be utilised by 31.8.27.
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:
Ineligble 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 Etel Niemelä, 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.
Please see the revised call at "Flexible Mobility Funding for Collaboration with India - Autumn 2026"
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.
Please find the list of seed funded projects at Aalto India Collaboration
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.
