Horisont ("Horizon")

Apply here. Last day to apply is September 16, 2024.

Once anually

Many important and fundamental scientific discoveries and insights are found at the intersection of apparently disjunct and unrelated fields and the truly novel and original is often unpredictable and unexpected. There is rarely room for explorations of such unknown and unchartered territories through the usual means of research funding. The grant Horisont (“Horizon”) targets such unorthodox and unconventional approaches.

The Horisont grant is meant to support foundational research across all scientific fields and disciplines to find novel theoretical or practical solutions to important problems in science and society in the widest sense, including challenging methodological problem. The grant supports attempts to find paths into unknown terrain but also to enrich and deepen established fields. Foundational questions within disciplines or unexpected excursions across fields are all within the scope of the Horisont grant. Resources are typically scarce for novel and risky attempts and the Horisont grant could play a role here.

The supported research can be, but is not necessarily cross-disciplinary. However, the combination of ideas and inspiration from different and apparently unrelated fields is encouraged.

The Horisont grant should be viewed as seed money for the development of and preparations for new research programs that usually cannot find a place in the usual research funding systems, or to serve as a basis for research proposals for larger and long-term projects.

The grant

The Horisont grant amounts from SEK 300. 000 up to 1 million (the overhead included) and can be used during a 24- month period. A financial and scientific report should be submitted no later than 36 months after the onset of the project. Up to two projects can be granted per year.

The applicant

The applicant must hold a PhD and be employed at a Swedish college or university for the period of the grant. There is no prejudice to academic age or academic position.

The application

A written application in Swedish or in English no longer than 6500 characters (including space) in Swedish or English, that clearly explains the question, why it is of importance and how it shall be tackeled, should be submitted to the Royal Physiographic Society. If cross- or multi-disciplinary research is planned, a short motivation and justification should be provided. Along with the application you should also send in a cv (curriculum vitae) of maximum 2 pages, including a short summary of ongoing research projects and relevant/significant publications or other atcivities. The application should also comprise a short budget description specifying how the grant will be used. Put attachments in one file and upload it in your application.

Budget

The budget should be shown in the "Cost calculation". The grant must be managed by a Swedish college or university and can be used for almost all types of costs, for instance salary etc. For this grant we accept a maximum of 35% overhead.

Selection

The most important criterion for a successful application is originality and how innovative the theoretical or methodological approaches are. The combination of theories and concepts from seemingly different research areas are not necessary, but encouraged. The research questions can be entirely novel or address established and long-lasting problems with new approaches.

Evaluation

Applications are evaluated by a panel appointed by the Society, with the aid of external experts.

Decision

The board of the Royal Physiographic Society makes the final decision in November and grantees and their projects are announced at the Society’s annual anniversary on December 2.

Reporting

The financial and scientific report should be submitted to the Society within 36 months of the onset of the project. A template for the financial report will be provided by the Society. The format for the scientific report is free. Unsuccessful or ‘failed’ attempts should also be carefully reported as they are an important and integral part of serious scientific inquiry.