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The Competence Center of Sustainability: Finance, Law, Sciences, and the Humanities

ZKSD Interdisciplinary Project Seed Funding 2026

Financial Support for Interdisciplinary Project Teams in Sustainability at the ZKSD!

In 2026, the ZKSD will once again support interdisciplinary project teams with seed funding of up to CHF 20,000. The objective is to develop and implement sustainability-oriented projects in research, teaching, or knowledge transfer that generate clear added value through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Are you a staff member or student at a ZKSD partner university?
Do you aim to create sustainable impact?
Are you working on a project idea that addresses ecological or societal challenges?
Are you convinced that complex problems require interdisciplinary solutions?

ZKSD partner universities offer a broad spectrum of expertise, from engineering and technology to social and natural sciences, as well as arts, design, education, project management, and other disciplines. This diversity provides ideal conditions for innovative, practice-oriented sustainability projects.

Presenting your idea at the matchmaking event or joining an existing team offers the opportunity to become part of a funded project.

Three projects were funded by ZKSD in 2025: ZKSD-Funded Projects 2025

We look forward to receiving innovative, interdisciplinary project ideas. Submission Deadline: 22.04.2026.

Timeline

  • 22 April 2026 – Submission of project idea (deadline)
  • 12 May 2026 – Pitch & Matchmaking (18:00–21:00) at Kulturpark Zürich
  • 1 September 2026 – Submission of full proposals for Final Pitch application
  • 23 September 2026 – Final Pitch and jury decision at ZKSD

More detailed information can be found here: ZKSD Förderprojekte 2026 – Matchmaking Event – ZKSD

The Zurich Knowledge Center for Sustainable Development (ZKSD) is made up of the University of Zurich (UZH), Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW), Pädagogische Hochschule Zürich (PHZH) and Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK). Specific to this funding opportunity is the requirement of 2 partner universities being represented, with a strong focus also on collaboration among students.