A University’s Strategic Initiative for Early-Career Researchers

Knowledge valorisation is a key challenge for academic institutions striving to make their research impactful and socially relevant. At the University of Coimbra (UC), the pre-award research management team “Strategic Areas Unit” has promoted an initiative called “SeedProjects@UC” to encourage interdisciplinary research among early- to mid-career researchers. The program supports these researchers by funding projects that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries, with a focus on enhancing scientific independence, leadership, and communication skills. This initiative focuses on the early-stage development of original and interdisciplinary scientific ideas proposed by young researchers respecting intellectual property rights. The outcomes of these projects are expected to lead to the future development of broader and more ambitious research projects that may be part of applications for other national and/or international R&D fundings. Interdisciplinarity is the most significant criterion of this initiative, requiring project teams to include researchers from at least two different R&D Units of the UC, from distinct scientific areas: Health Sciences, Exact Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Technologies, and Arts and Humanities. The initiative measures practical impact through final reports submitted by all awardees upon completion of their projects. Key indicators include Scientific Impact (e.g., number of publications, conference presentations, international research collaborations, and training opportunities), Societal, Economic, and SDG Impact (e.g., contributions to CO2 reduction, addressing climate change or environmental issues), Institutional Impact (e.g., contributions to the Strategic Research Areas of the University), and Impact on the Career Development of the Principal Investigator and their Team. The poster will showcase the initiative´s strategic approach and impacts, illustrating how our support fosters innovative research and enhances researchers' ability to communicate their findings to diverse audiences. We will highlight case studies of funded projects that demonstrate successful knowledge valorisation through interdisciplinary approaches. Our pre-award team´s close collaboration with awardees builds long-term cooperation and trust, allowing us to understand their research goals and continuously support them in finding suitable funding opportunities. By presenting this good practice, we aim to inspire other institutions to adopt similar models, underscoring the value of interdisciplinary research in creating sustainable, valuable knowledge that extends beyond the academic sphere.