Purpose

The Amsterdam Centre for European Studies (ACES) invites applications for SCALE-UP grants: flexible funds to add extra support to an ongoing research project about Europe or the European Union to be spent in 2025.This can involve, for example, adding an extra country case or additional survey wave to an ongoing research project, or complementing qualitative data collectiion with quantitative data, etc. Projects should have interdisciplinary relevance and connect to one or more ACES theme groups (Future of European Democracy; Climate Dissensus; Contemporary Economic Challenges; Tech, Power, Policy; Europe in the World).

Funding

• Up to €5,000–€8,000 per grant (smaller requests, such as €1,000, are also welcome).
• Requests should match clear objectives and outputs.
• The committee may award less than requested.
• Spending period: Funds must be fully spent in 2025.

Who can apply

• ACES affiliates employed at the University of Amsterdam (including PhD candidates and postdocs).
• You may combine major grant preparation with research activities leading to publications.

What the grant can fund (examples)

• Fieldwork and other data-gathering activities.
• Research assistance (data collection/analysis, interview transcription/translation, co-authorship; fieldwork outside NL allowed).
• Data or software purchases.
• Conferences/workshops (organizing or attending).

What the grant cannot fund

• Teaching buyouts.
• Editing or publication fees.

Award conditions

• A brief end-of-grant report is required.
• Acknowledge ACES support in all resulting outputs.
• Successful applicants receive guidelines on eligible costs and hiring RAs.