Local AIMday Grants

Call open 16 March – 10 June, 2026

AIMday (Academic Industry Meeting day) is a structured method for creating meaningful dialogue and collaboration between academia, industry and society. Through facilitated discussions, researchers meet with actors from industry, public sector and civil society to jointly explore concrete matters, challenges and opportunities of shared relevance.

Within SASUF, the AIMday method has been introduced through a pilot AIMday which is hosted in May 2026. In relation to that event, this call builds on that experience and offers an opportunity for Swedish and South African SASUF partner universities to organise their own local AIMdays, adapted to their specific contexts, priorities and stakeholder landscapes.

A local AIMday can be used to:

• Raise and explore important challenges relevant to the local context

• Strengthen relationships with external partners

• Identify ideas for future collaboration, projects or initiatives

• Test and apply the AIMday method as a collaboration tool within SASUF+

What is an AIMday?

An AIMday is not a traditional conference or seminar. It is a facilitated, structured dialogue format where external actors formulate challenges or topics in advance, and researchers engage in focused roundtable discussions around these themes.

For an AIMday to be successful, it requires more than academic participation. It also requires:

• Active involvement of external stakeholders (e.g. industry, government, civil society)

• A clear focus on dialogue and mutual learning

• A dedicated facilitator or collaboration professional who can bridge perspectives and support communication between sectors

To facilitate an AIMday, the method is particularly well suited for colleagues who work with external engagement, partnerships and collaboration, such as research support staff, innovation officers, collaboration managers or similar roles, in close cooperation with researchers and civil society.

About the Local AIMday Grants

The Local AIMday Grants aim to support the organisation of Academic Industry Meeting Days (AIMdays) within the SASUF network. AIMday is a structured dialogue and collaboration method that brings together researchers with industry, government and civil society actors to discuss real-world challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The grant is intended to enable SASUF partner universities to host a local AIMday in their own context, with actors relevant to their region and thematic priorities.

All funded teams will receive an introduction to the AIMday method and guidance on how the approach can be used strategically throughout the SASUF+ project to strengthen collaboration, engagement and impact.

Purpose of the grant

The Local AIMday Grants are designed to:

• Strengthen collaboration between academia and external stakeholders within SASUF

• Create structured dialogue around concrete societal challenges

• Support the development of new partnerships and project ideas

• Contribute to longer-term collaboration within and beyond the SASUF network

Who can apply?

Applications can be submitted by:

• Researchers or teams at SASUF partner universities

• In collaboration with relevant external actors (e.g. companies, public sector organisations, civil society organisations)

The proposed AIMday should be clearly connected to SASUF’s overall objectives and thematic priorities.

What can the grant be used for?

Up to SEK 45,000 (approx. 71 000 ZAR) can be requested per application. Funds may be used flexibly depending on how the AIMday is designed, but eligible costs include:

• Meals and catering for participants

• Venue and meeting-related costs

• Planning and coordination costs

• Pre-study or preparatory activities linked to the AIMday

• Local travel costs, where deemed necessary by the organisers

Applicants are expected to describe clearly how the funds will be used and how the activities contribute to the purpose of the call.

Expected outcomes

A funded Local AIMday is expected to result in:

• Meaningful engagement between researchers and external actors

• Clear documentation of discussed challenges and opportunities

• Identification of potential follow-up collaborations, projects or initiatives

• Reflection on how the AIMday method can be used further within the SASUF+ project

A short activity report will be requested after completion.

Application format

The application should be 1–2 pages and include the following:

• Title of the proposed AIMday

• Organising university and main contact person

• Brief description of the challenge(s) to be addressed

• Planned external actors and why they are relevant

• Proposed format and preliminary agenda

• Timeline (planning, implementation, follow-up)

• Budget (including brief justification of costs)

• Expected outcomes and potential for continued collaboration

Assessment criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Relevance to SASUF’s objectives and theme

• Quality and clarity of the proposed AIMday concept

• Engagement of relevant external actors

• Feasibility within the proposed timeline and budget

• Potential for longer-term collaboration and impact

Submission

Applications should be submitted to:
Helin Bäckman Kartal
Sasuf@uu.se

More information about the AIMday method and support to applicants will be provided to all shortlisted or approved teams.

We look foward to recieving your application!

Please note that SASUF has signed an agreement with AIMday to allow SASUF partners to use this method throughout the SASUF+ project period (2025-2028), and any use beyond that requires a signed agreement with AIMday itself.