Global Seed Funds
MIT’s Global Seed Funds support faculty-led international research collaborations by funding travel and in-person meetings to address global scientific challenges.
Funder: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026 (full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $30,000 per project (most funds; plus overhead if applicable); approx. $2M awarded annually across 100+ projects; grant period ~20 months
Summary: Supports MIT faculty-led international research collaborations by funding travel and in-person meetings with global partners.
Key Information: Requires joint application between MIT PI and non-U.S. university/research institution; funds cannot be used for salary or materials (except for specific regional funds).
Description
MIT’s Global Seed Funds (GSF) program empowers faculty and research staff with PI privileges to initiate international research collaborations. The program includes both general and region/country/institution-specific funds, all designed to foster in-person exchanges and partnership-building between MIT and global academic partners. GSF grants primarily support travel and meeting expenses, helping teams address complex global challenges through collaborative research. Since 2008, the program has funded over 1,300 projects with more than $30 million in total awards.
