SPF Instruments
The SPF supports collaboration with our Strategic Partners through dedicated travel grants. The two instruments work together: Staff Travel builds and sustains supervisor-level relationships between UG and the partners, while Talent Travel brings prospective doctoral candidates into those relationships.
Both grants are co-funding instruments. The standard central SPF contribution is EUR 750, which can be increased to a maximum of EUR 1,500 when matched by the applicant's faculty, unit, or partner institution.
Talent Travel
Talent Travel supports short-term student mobility (up to three months) that contributes to the development of future PhD collaboration between UG and a Strategic Partner. It can be incoming (a student visiting Groningen) or outgoing (a UG student visiting a partner).
Who can apply: students and early-career researchers affiliated with UG or with a Strategic Partner. The applicant is the student themselves (the beneficiary).
What is funded: a partial contribution toward travel, accommodation, and subsistence. The grant is not intended to cover all costs.
Requirements: applicants must have identified one or more potential supervisors or research groups at the host institution. Applications without a clear academic match are unlikely to be considered.
Apply: Please contact us through spf rug.nl for an application form
Staff Travel
Staff Travel supports short-term staff mobility that contributes to the development, strengthening, or sustainability of collaboration between UG and a Strategic Partner. It can be outgoing (UG/UMCG staff visiting a partner) or incoming (a partner staff member visiting UG).
Who can apply: a UG or UMCG staff member. For outgoing mobility the applicant is the beneficiary; for incoming mobility the applicant acts as the host and submits on behalf of the visitor. Partner institution staff cannot apply directly.
What is funded: a partial contribution toward travel and stay. Most applications are expected to include co-funding from the applicant's faculty, unit, or partner contribution.
Requirements: applicants are asked to define at least two concrete outcomes expected from the mobility. These outcomes form the basis for follow-up and replace the requirement for a formal report.
Apply: Please contact us through spf rug.nl for an application form
How applications are assessed
Applications for both grants are assessed against three criteria: the clarity and feasibility of the proposed activity, the expected outcomes and added value for UG-partner collaboration, and the availability of funds. After the ISR regional coordinator makes the assessment, the applicant is informed of the outcome and next steps.
Get in touch
For questions about either grant, contact the relevant ISR regional coordinator or email spf rug.nl.