Apply for SLU Aquaculture grants

Apply for grants 

Grants are available for:

• arranging workshops, conferences, seminars and networking activities
• pilot projects
• pilot studies
• syntheses (which will result in a report/article)
• doctoral courses
• hosting sabbaticals for aquaculture researchers
• communicating SLU's aquaculture research activities externally
• new infrastructure/equipment that will benefit several departments/faculties.

Criteria

The applicants must be SLU researchers (minimum doctoral degree) and the projects/activities need to be within the field of aquaculture. Potential subjects include:

• genetics/breeding
• feed and nutrition
• food science
• animal health
• animal welfare
• environment
• aquatic ecology
• economy
• gender
• farming systems (e.g., circular systems, agro-aqua systems).

Grants can be used to cover salaries for SLU staff and/or materials, including overhead. The projects may be carried out for a maximum of one year unless agreed otherwise. Depending on the size of the project or activity grants up to a maximum of SEK 200,000 is available for applications submitted to our open calls. In addition, between the open calls, grants can be applied for up to a maximum of 50,000 SEK. 

• Applications up to SEK 100,000 can be submitted by SLU researchers from a single faculty. 
• Applications for between SEK 100,000 and 200,000 must involve researchers from at least two SLU faculties. 

Before a decision on funding is taken, each project will be assessed regarding the extent to which it meets the aims of SLU Aquaculture. More specifically, how the project:

• promotes aquaculture research, education, and/or environmental monitoring and assessment;
• promotes cross-faculty collaboration between researchers from different fields within aquaculture;
• increases the possibility of receiving external funding;
• increases the visibility of SLU Aquaculture, within SLU and externally.

We especially welcome applications that are relevant to perceived needs from the aquaculture industry (points are not listed in order of priority):

• Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of different routes of infection and preventive measures, with a special focus on bacterial kidney disease (BKD) initially. In addition to food fish farming, the issue is important for:
  • sport and leisure fishing;
  • release of fish in natural waters;
  • risk of direct transmission between wild and farmed with a focus on BKD.
• Environmental impact and environmental benefits in nutrient-poor lakes and hydropower reservoirs, e.g.:
  • What environmental impact and environmental benefits do new and existing fish farming facilities have?
  • How long does it take for the environment to recover to reference conditions after a fish farming activity has ceased?
• Social and economic sustainability for Swedish fish farming. Also linked to food security, preparedness and transition to fossil-free food production.
• Feed, e.g.:
  • Sustainable feed based on local raw materials, traceability for N and P.
  • Feed for species other than salmonids, e.g. starter feed.
  • Feed for aquaponics.

NB: Grants will only be awarded to new projects.

When and how to apply?

When: We have no open call for proposals at the moment. However, grants in between our open calls can be applied for up to a maximum of 50,000 SEK. These applications can take up to four weeks to be processed before a decision can be made. Please ensure that you submit your application on time.

To apply: use this form (all fields must be filled in). The application needs to be written in English. 

Your application must include the following attachments:

• A budget, using SLU’s project calculator (Excel file).
• A link to an updated SLU CV for all SLU applicants (for any external applicants a short CV should be submitted).

NB: Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Reporting: A final report must be submitted no later than 6 months after disbursement period.

Submitting: Email the application and required attachments to: aquaculture@slu.se

Decision on the allocation of funding

The proposals will be evaluated by the platform steering group with representatives from each SLU faculty.

Any conflict of interest within the platform steering group will be handled according to SLU guidelines. The faculty representatives have one vote each. If voting is tied, the chair (or faculty board representative should there be a conflict of interest) will have the casting vote. If a steering group member is disqualified, they will not be allowed to participate in any aspect of processing the application.

The steering group will follow up on projects granted funding and approve or reject the final project report. The steering group can withdraw funding which has not been used as agreed.

For more information

Send an email to aquaculture@slu.se or contact Dirk-Jan de Koning, dj.de-koning@slu.se, chair of the steering group for SLU Aquaculture.

We look forward to receiving your application!