Engaged UniBE – Transdisciplinary Projects for Sustainable Development

Funding for transdisciplinary climate protection projects in the Bern region

 

Requirements

The project must involve both a societal player and a university member. It may not be part of an existing project and must start on 1 July 2026
Eligibility

Societal actors, researchers, lecturers, and/or students of the University of Bern.

Funding amount

Up to CHF 100,000 per year, for a maximum of 3 years.

Scope

Salary, materials, and third-party services.
Deadline

30 April 2026 – Submission of project idea

With Engaged UniBE, the University of Bern supports innovative, transdisciplinary projects that make a concrete contribution to the Roadmap Climate 2030 and drive the sustainable transformation of science and society. Together for a sustainable future!

Principles

We are looking for projects that…

  • work transdisciplinarily: Societal and university actors are equally involved from the very beginning – with clear roles, contributions, and responsibilities (e.g., time, expertise, resources).
  • demonstrate a clear contribution to climate action: A simple impact model (e.g., Theory of Change) shows how the project contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate adaptation, or social innovations for sustainability.
    • Direct impacts (e.g., CO₂ reduction, soil de-sealing, energy savings) are given particular weight.
    • Indirect impacts (e.g., awareness raising, networking, governance impulses) are welcome, provided they are plausibly supported by qualitative or quantitative targets.
  • use innovative approaches: e.g., real-world experiments, living labs, new teaching, dialogue, or participation formats.
  • connect science and practice: Results should be applicable in societal or political contexts.

Application

Submission deadline for project ideas: 30 April 2026

Provision of a binding commitment (subject to the recommendations of the evaluation panel being implemented by 15 June 2026): 20 May 2026

Submission deadline for final project applications: 15 June 2026

Project start: 1 July 2026

Please complete the form below and submit it by email.

Evaluation

Details on the evaluation process and the evaluation criteria can be found in the call document (see "Principles" tab). Please note that the criteria are weighted slightly differently for student projects.

The evaluation committee of the Engaged UniBE call consists of people with expertise in the field of climate protection and transdisciplinarity.