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Overview
In May 2023 the Geary Institute launched a new seed funding scheme for members. The Building International Collaborations Supports, or BICS, initiative is designed to foster greater collaboration between Geary members and researchers in universities and research institutes outside Ireland. The scheme was introduced to support international collaborations and foster publications and research funding applications by providing both access to desk space for visiting scholars in the Geary Institute and also funding for vouched travel and accommodation.
BICS will support visits by international collaborators to UCD during the academic year by providing both access to desk space for visiting scholars in the Geary Institute and also funding for vouched travel and accommodation costs of between €300 and €2,500 for their nominated international collaborator. These visits can be between one week and one academic year in duration but should support the initiation of new collaborations or the further development of existing research collaborations that will lead to significant outputs in terms of publications and/or research funding applications.
The call for BICS applications opens once a year and is advertised through the Geary Institute's communication channels.
How to apply (calls open)
Apply (opens in a new window)HERE. The deadline for applications is 5pm Monday 14th April 2025.
Decisions regarding the allocation of BICS funding and other support will be based on the following criteria:
- CV of the applicant Geary Institute member and international collaborator
- Quality of their joint research proposal
- Potential of this collaboration to support significant outcomes in terms of publications, events and/or research funding applications, and to contribute to the UCD Geary Institute's current areas of interest and activity. For information on these topics, please visit our website ((opens in a new window)https://www.ucd.ie/geary/)
Terms & Conditions
The selected applicants will be required to spend a minimum of 1 week in the Geary Institute for Public Policy, with the possibility of further joint research work beyond this timeframe. During their stay, the UCD Geary Institute will provide successful candidates with access to a work area, and internet facilities, if necessary.
The successful applicants will be expected to:
- Deliver a research seminar on a relevant topic of their current work during their visit to the Institute as part of the UCD Geary Seminar Series or participate as a speaker in one of the Institute's scheduled events.
- Draft a brief on an area of their expertise and interest, to be published under the UCD Geary Institute banner in either (opens in a new window)pp.ie or in the form of a Geary working paper and circulated among the Institute's mailing list.
- Engage in research with one or more of the UCD Geary Institute's core members. This work should lead to at least one high-quality academic output within 24 months of the fellowship's completion, or a funding application or research event or other outputs that could create significant impact from the results of the joint research.
BICS Visitors
Since its establishment in 2023, the Building International Collaborations Supports (BICS) initiative has played a pivotal role in fostering global academic exchange by facilitating the visits of numerous scholars to the UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy. Through its efforts, BICS has successfully built strong connections with a diverse range of organisations worldwide, enhancing international collaboration and enriching the institute's research and policy impact on a global scale.