Pre-announcement: Call for proposals – Global interdisciplinary funding initiative on Disruptive Technologies

21. November 2025

An international joint funding initiative, 'Research Harnessing Disruptive Technologies to Address Global Challenges', will launch in January 2026 with Independent Research Fund Denmark as one of the funding organisations.

The call represents a collaboration among research funders from the Åland Islands, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom to support international, interdisciplinary and transformative research aimed at harnessing disruptive technology to address major global societal challenges.

Call framework

The initiative will support interdisciplinary research that harnesses or studies disruptive technologies to address one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or other global challenges. Projects must integrate disciplines from at least two of the following areas: Natural sciences & engineering; Social sciences & humanities; Health & life sciences.

Projects should involve at least three co-PI’s, as well as relevant stakeholders and end-users through co-development and co-leadership. They must adopt a trans-sectoral approach that includes academic, business, governmental, non-governmental, and community sectors to ensure real-world impact. Please see the links below for more detailed information. The application guidelines will be available when the call opens in January.

Contact List

If you would like to connect with other researchers interested in this call, we invite you to join New Frontiers in Research Fund’s contact list. Complete their survey before February 9, 2026 and you will be added to a list where your information will be shared with others interested in participating in the call, and their information will be shared with you. By submitting the survey, you consent to the information you provide being shared with other potential applicants. See link below.