Grants & Project Calls

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and SAFIR are committed to fostering a vibrant research community by providing various funding opportunities and support for innovative projects for the faculty, affiliate researchers and PhD students, as well as researchers who would like to collaborate with the university. This includes offering research project grants in Abu Dhabi and encouraging funded research collaboration in the UAE to advance impactful, interdisciplinary work. The research management team and the Research Council allocate university funds for research every year and defines SUAD funding strategy. 

1. SAFIR Research Activities Grant 

This grant aims to support the research activities of permanent and affiliate researchers throughout the year. SAFIR members can request support to participate in international conferences and events, publish in high-impact and open access journals, fund research interns and assistants support, cover operational expenses for their research. 

2. Research Support Grants 

SAFIR supports and provides an opportunity for SUAD faculty to pursue research activities, either in the UAE or abroad, while being relieved of teaching and administrative duties. 

SAFIR also supports undergraduate and graduate students through this research grant fund. It is a major component of the strategy “Learning Through Research” and aims at improving students’ skills and employability by equipping them with essential skills in a competitive job market. This funding will be open in the academic year 2025/2026. 

3. Internal Research Excellence Grant 

This grant serves as a key source of funding for research projects spanning one to three years, with each project led by one of SUAD’s permanent researchers in the role of principal investigator. It is open once a year. 

4. Doctoral and Postdoctoral Funds 

Guided by its strategic research orientation and the needs identified by SUAD researchers, SAFIR is committed to supporting promising doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers (PhD holders) each year. This support is aimed at fostering innovative research, particularly in areas identified as high priority by the Research Council. This fund includes the opening of fully funded PhD and Postdoctoral positions, as well as grants to support promising students in their doctoral studies who are conducting research in the UAE or GCC region. 

5. Strategic Priority Research Grant 

The Priority Research Grants aim to fund in-depth projects that will enhance SUAD’s research profile and advance research and outreach on interdisciplinary, top-priority themes and strategic subjects identified by SUAD research leadership. 

Each grant has specific purpose, calendar, eligibility criteria and scientific and institutional purposes. For the members of SAFIR, all details and processes are available on Sorbonne E-Space, under the “SAFIR” tab.  

For funded projects open to external researchers or students, please see “calls for projects”

SAFIR also supports faculty in applying for a wide range of external research grants, including postgraduate research grants in the UAE, as well as opportunities abroad. 

Some noted external funding bodies who have funded research projects at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi previously include: the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, the Department of Culture and Tourism, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, National Environment Research Committee, UNESCO, and others. 

For more information or assistance with research grants and calls, please contact the Research Office at safir@sorbone.apps.plana.ae