Avanca UC

Avanza UC is an initiative of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile), a private research university in Santiago, Chile. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has joined Avanza UC as a collaborating partner. UC Chile and Illinois are both members of the U21 network, and UC Chile is the top-ranked Chilean university in the 2027 QS world rankings.

Established as part of UC Chile’s 2026-2030 strategic plan, Avanza UC provides flexible funding to support projects led by UC Chile faculty and global partners leading to discovery, creation, and innovation in alignment with the major challenges of the country and the world.

Illinois faculty are encouraged to explore funding opportunities through Avanza UC. The program is open to all disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields, with particular interest in innovative work that addresses major societal challenges with global impact, fundamental research and creation, and applied research and development. Proposals that strengthen international collaboration networks are strongly encouraged.

Funding Structure

This is an institutional matching funds program, requiring financial commitment from both participating institutions:

• Participating Illinois colleges will be expected to contribute a portion of the required matching funds for proposals involving their faculty.
• Financial support for Illinois proposals will also be available centrally.

Application Process and Deadline

The Avanza UC 2026 is open now through September 30, 2026. Selected projects will be expected to begin in April 2027 and run for up to 18 months. Additional information is available in English on the Avanza UC website.

Partner Matching and Questions

Please reach out to Sammer Jones, director for global relations, at salehjo1@illinois.edu, with any questions or for support in identifying a UC Chile co-PI.

BRIDGE Seed Fund

The University of Birmingham and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign formed the BiRmingham-Illinois Partnership for Discovery, EnGagement and Education (BRIDGE) creating a framework for continued collaboration and investment to grow the strategic partnership between the two institutions.

The BRIDGE framework aims to deepen these existing collaborations and develop wider faculty networks to build cognate research areas, expand educational exchange opportunities, and strengthen strategic aspirations for institutional engagement. Engagement currently spans over 80 established faculty-to-faculty links in key academic disciplines.

Seed Fund

Together, the institutions have established the BRIDGE Seed Fund to which permanent full-time faculty member at each institution are encouraged to apply. Applications can be submitted through the BRIDGE partnership website.

BRIDGE Global South Fellowship Program

The Global South Fellowship Program supports the professional development of early-career researchers from universities in the Global South.

KU Leuven Global Seed Fund

KU Leuven has invited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to participate in its Global Seed Fund, an initiative designed to spark new international research collaborations and strengthen existing ones between KU Leuven and its priority partner institutions. KU Leuven and Illinois are both members of the U21 network, and KU Leuven is Belgium’s largest and oldest university.

Illinois faculty are encouraged to explore funding opportunities through the Global Seed Fund. The Global Seed Fund supports researcher-driven, collaborative projects in any scientific discipline, with priority given to work that builds complementary expertise and strong potential for sustained joint funding.

Funding Structure

• KU Leuven will provide up to €30,000 per project.
• Illinois colleges and the central administration may provide matching funds to support Illinois faculty participation.

Application Process and Deadline

The Global Seed Fund proposal submission deadline is October 8, 2026. Applications must be submitted by the KU Leuven promoter and supported by Illinois co-PIs. Additional information is available on the KU Leuven Global Seed Fund website.

Partner Matching and Questions

Researchers interested in participating can reach out to Sammer Jones, director for global relations, at salehjo1@illinois.edu, with any questions or for support in identifying a KU Leuven co-PI.

Staff Global Exchange Program

The Staff Global Exchange Program provides professional development opportunities to enhance global competencies and institutional capacities in alignment with the priorities of the university’s Vision 2030 Global Strategy. The program is achieved through staff exchanges between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a partner institution abroad. The exchange model provides mutually beneficial opportunities to share best practices and expertise, and in turn gain a more global perspective on various university services. This grant is funded by the Office of the Provost and administratively supported by Illinois International.

Current Partner Locations

• Japan
• Mexico
• Taiwan
• South Africa
• South Korea
• United Kingdom
• Additional options may be explored through the U21 Partner Network.

U21 Faculty Opportunities

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign joined Universitas 21 (U21), a global university network, in October 2024 as the fifth North American institution represented in the network and the first from the Midwest region. As a member university, Illinois students, faculty, and staff will have access to several unique initiatives and programs with esteemed peer institutions from multiple corners of the world.

UNIQ Seed Fund

The UNIQ (Universities: National Taiwan University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Kyushu University) Trilateral Alliance between Kyushu University (Kyushu), National Taiwan University (NTU), and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois), established in 2024, represents a unique collaboration among three globally renowned institutions.

The alliance builds on strong bilateral relationships to create a dynamic platform for addressing pressing global challenges through interdisciplinary research and education. By fostering academic exchange and leveraging the collective strengths of the partner universities, the alliance aims to drive impactful innovations and nurture sustainable partnerships.

Seed Fund

Together, all three institutions have established the UNIQ Seed Fund to facilitate the development of innovative joint research and educational programs, encourage the sharing of expertise, and promote cross-institutional collaboration.