Global Seed Funds
Internal — Massachusetts Institute of Technology only
MIT's Global Seed Funds supports international research collaborations by funding travel and meetings for MIT researchers and global partners to address scientific challenges together.
Funder: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Due Dates: December 3, 2026: Application deadline for the 2026-2027 GSF cycle
Funding Amounts: Up to $30,000 per project (most funds); approx. $2M awarded annually to 100+ proposals; project duration ~20 months
Summary: Supports MIT faculty-led international research collaborations through funding for travel and in-person meetings with global partners.
Key Information: MIT PI and an international university/institute partner are required; funds primarily for travel/meetings, not salaries or equipment.
Description
The MIT Global Seed Funds (GSF) program enables MIT faculty and research staff with principal investigator privileges to initiate collaborative research projects with colleagues at universities and public research institutions worldwide. The program offers several country-, region-, and institution-specific funds, as well as a general fund for global partnerships. GSF awards are intended to support in-person exchanges, covering travel and meeting costs to foster innovative, international research collaborations that address complex global challenges. Since 2008, the program has funded more than 1,300 collaborations and distributed over $30 million.
