About

The Preferential Partnership between Ghent University and the University of Toronto funds research, educational, and infrastructural exchanges between both institutions.

Funding

With support from the Special Research Fund at Ghent University, the preferential partnership between the University of Toronto and Ghent University opened funding opportunities. The 2 calls for funding 'see below) welcome applications for funding from staff in all faculties and departments, working in all disciplines, at both universities.

There are two types of funding applications:

1. Special Application for Horizon Europe and ERC Synergy Collaborations 2025

Purpose

The purpose of these grants is to enable researchers at Ghent University and the University of Toronto to collaborate on the brainstorming, drafting, and revision of applications for a joint Horizon Europe project (for applications where Ghent University is either the Host institution or Partner institution and where the University of Toronto is a Partner institution) or an ERC Synergy Grant (for applications where Ghent University is either the Host institution or a Team institution and where the University of Toronto is a Team institution). These grants therefore support the mobility of researchers from the University of Toronto to travel to Ghent; the mobility of Ghent University researchers to travel to Toronto; or the mobility of researchers from Ghent University and the University of Toronto to travel to a third-party location, where an additional co-applicant is located. All travel must be completed by 31 December 2025.

Eligibility criteria

Professors and/or post-doctoral researchers at Ghent University can submit applications either on behalf of Ghent University researchers (for travel to Toronto or a third-party location where another Host/Partner/Team institution is based) or on behalf of University of Toronto researchers (for travel to Ghent or a third-party location where another Host/Partner/Team institution is based). Proposals must also be sponsored by a University of Toronto supervisor who holds a PhD and a professorial function at the University of Toronto.

Please note that, unlike the regular seed grants (see below) offered through the Preferential Partnership, no in-kind funding is required from the University of Toronto for these Special Application grants. However, funding from this Special Application grant can be used as evidence of “Matching Funds” for U of Toronto researchers applying for Destination Horizon Grants (due May 22, 2025 and September 22, 2025) from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada: “Destination Horizon Grants support researchers affiliated with eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions to build capacity, foster existing partnerships, and further develop networks and/or consortia with European Union and other ‘associated countries’ researchers, with the ultimate goal of applying to Horizon Europe—Pillar II calls for proposals.”

Funding

Applicants can apply for up to €5,000 per collaboration. Projects requiring additional funding are also welcome, though applicants must provide a clear justification for the additional requested funding. Expenses can include travel and accommodation costs, venue rentals and catering, etc. Reimbursement is done on the basis of real expenses, upon receipt of a report, and for expenses that are not already covered by another funding agency to avoid double funding.

Deadlines

• Application deadline: rolling application (please apply as soon as possible).
• Latest submission deadline: 1 November 2025
• All funding must be spent before 31 December 2025.
• Reporting must be completed within 2 months of the finalization date of the activities, and before February 2026

Application

Please submit your completed application form via email to Andrew Bricker and Elise Meerburg (partnership_uoftoronto@ugent.be).

Application form

2. Seed Funding Application - rolling application

Purpose

Seed fundings serve to broaden and deepen research and educational collaboration between faculty and staff at the University of Toronto and Ghent University through 2025.

Examples of eligible activities include but are not limited to:

• Initiating a jointly organised seminar, webinar, workshop, conference, or other academic event
• Fostering research collaboration between a Ghent University Masters or PhD student or post-doctoral researcher with peers at the University of Toronto
• Supporting the mobility of a Ghent University Masters or PhD student, post-doctoral researcher, or professor to the University of Toronto
• Supporting the mobility of a University of Toronto Masters or PhD student, post-doctoral researcher, or professor to Ghent University

Eligibility criteria

Professors and post-doctoral researchers at Ghent University may apply for a grant; Masters and PhD may also apply for a grant but must be supported by a professor or post-doctoral researcher at Ghent University. All proposals must also be supported by a University of Toronto supervisor who holds a PhD and a professorial function at the University of Toronto.

Practicalities

• Deadline: rolling application.
• Applicants can apply for up to 10,000 EUR.
• The requested funding must be used by December 31st, 2025.
• Please submit your completed application form via email to Andrew Bricker and Elise Meerburg.

What do we do?

The activities supported by the partnership include but are not limited to:

• Joint research collaborations or the joint publication of scientific papers and educational materials
• Joint courses or graduate and post-doctoral mobility
• Exchange of faculty, trainees and staff
• Participation in and the co-hosting of lectures, meetings, seminars, symposia and conferences
• Exchanges of knowledge
• Joint applications for funding for future or ongoing collaborative projects
• Collaboration in other areas that foster research and educational cooperation
• Joint education programmes, e.g. MOOCs

Members

The preferential partnership is a living partnership. Therefore, its membership may change and those changes may not immediately be reflected below. The steering group members are indicated in bold

From Ghent University:

• Faculty of Arts & Philosophy: Prof. Andrew Bricker, Prof. Marco Caracciolo, Prof. Roald Docter, Prof. Jurgen Pieters, Prof. Pierre Schoentjes, Prof. Frank Vermeulen, Dr. Geertje Bol, Dr. Hannah Cornelus, Dr. Zoë Ghyselinck, Dr. Beatrijs Wille
• Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences: Prof. Pauline Boeckxstaens, Prof. Sara Willems, Dagje Boeykens, Reini Haverals
• Faculty of Engineering & Architecture: Prof. Roel Baets, Prof. Lieven Eeckhout, Prof. Mark Saeys, Prof. Patrick Segers 
• Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences: Prof. Bram De Wever, Prof. Daniele Marinazzo, Prof. Rudi Roose, Prof. Ruben Vanderlinde, Nele Feryn
• Faculty of Law & Criminology: Prof. Georges Martyn

From the University of Toronto:

• Dalla Lana School of Public Health: Prof. Lisa Forman, Prof. Erica Di Ruggiero, Prof. Andrew Pinto, Dr. Katrina Perehudoff, Dr. Carolyn Steele Gray,
• Faculty of Medicine: Prof. Tara Kieran, Prof. Nav Persaud
• Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy: Prof. Jillian Kohler
• Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering: Prof. Andreas Moshovos, Prof. Natalie Enright Jerger, Prof. David Steinman, Prof. Amr Helmy
• Faculty of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry: Prof. Cathy Chin
• Ontario Institute for Studies in Education: Prof. Jim Slotta
• Faculty of Arts & Science: Prof. Barbara Havercroft, Prof. Pascal Riendeau and Prof. Pascal Michelucci
• Faculty of Law: Prof. Simon Stern

For further information concerning the preferential partnership between Ghent University and the University of Toronto, please contact either the chairman of the partnership, Professor Andrew Bricker, or the coordinator of the partnership, Elise Meerburg.

Activities