Frequently Asked Questions
This resource is updated regularly to provide additional clarification on the GCF Collaborative Seed Fund call, the application process and the supporting documents. Applicants will be encouraged to check the FAQs alongside the formal guidance before contacting the team.
What's the deadline for submitting my application?
The deadline for submission is 12:00 midday on Wednesday 3 June 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Can I watch recordings from the Applicant Support Sessions?
Yes, the recordings are in the Applicant Support Events section.
What do we mean by Lead Applicant?
The lead applicant is the individual who submits the application on behalf of the collaborative team and serves as the main point of contact for GCF with the project.
This designation does not indicate a hierarchy within the team. GCF recognises that collaborative projects may involve shared leadership, co-leads and/or co-applicants.
The lead applicant is the named individual responsible for coordinating the application, liaising with GCF, and working with relevant local support teams on approvals, finance, recruitment, procurement and reporting. They will often be the identified budget holder, though a different team member can be identified for this task.
The lead applicant must be a University of Glasgow staff member who is eligible to lead a funded internal project and has the appropriate support in place to deliver the proposed work. They will need to secure their Head of School or Unit approval to submit the application.
What do we consider a 'new' team?
GCF encourages the formation of new collaborations that bring together of diverse fields of expertise.
A new team may be a completely new collaboration between individuals, disciplines, Colleges, and Units. It may be based on an existing team, this defined as a group that has won external funding before, that is using the opportunity of GCF seed funding to develop in a meaningful way through the inclusion of new team members in the project.
Applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed team brings together the appropriate mix of interdisciplinary perspectives and expertise to address the challenge in a collaborative and cross-boundary way.
Can I be part of multiple teams?
An individual may only act as the lead applicant and budget holder for one proposal.
However, applicants may be involved in more than one project team, including as a co-lead or project team member on multiple proposals.