AutNetKI Transdisciplinary Pilot Project Grants (2026)

Aim

These grants are intended to enable early-stage projects that:

• address important questions in autism research, including those identified through stakeholder/community communication or priority settings.
• are transdisciplinary, which include integrating approaches, methods, or theories from different research topics.
• and are positioned to lead to future external funding or larger-scale studies within the collaborating groups.

Funding level and project period

• Funding: SEK 100,000 per awarded project (up to 4 awards).
• Project period: 12 months from grant start (planned start: July 2026).

Eligibility

Applications must meet all criteria below:

• Two applicants (Co-Applicants) are required
• The two applicants must be from different research groups; collaborations that span different disciplines or methodological traditions at KI are considered meriting.
• At least one applicant must have a PhD and be within 7 years of their PhD graduation at the application deadline (allowances may be made for documented deductible time, e.g., parental leave, long-term illness).
• The other co-applicant can be a PhD candidate but should have finished their halftime review.
• It is meriting that the proposed collaboration is new or clearly newly defined 

What can the grant be used for?

Allowable costs include project-related expenses such as:

• consumables, minor equipment, participant-related costs,
• core facility/service fees,
• data access fees, software/licenses,
• travel essential for executing the project (e.g., to access data/archives/collaborative methods work).
• Departmental overhead (INDI)

Application 

Applications must be written in English and submitted as a single PDF.

A) Project proposal (max 3 pages, incl. figures/tables, excl. references)
Please use the following headings:

1. Project title and applicants (names, affiliations, research groups)
2. Summary (max 150–200 words)
3. Background and rationale
4. Objectives / specific aims
5. Project plan (what will be done within 12 months; key methods/approach)
6. Why this matters for autism research
7. Transdisciplinary value:
   -what each applicant contributes
   -how integration across disciplines advances the science beyond a single-discipline approach
8. Short description of expected outputs and next steps

B) CVs (max 2 pages per applicant)

C) Publications -  up to 5 key publications from each applicants with a description of the contribution to the publication

D) Budget

E) A document stating that the group leader / immediate manager approves the application

Selection criteria

Applications will be evaluated with emphasis on:

• Scientific quality and feasibility within the pilot timeframe
• Novelty and early‑stage character
• Relevance and importance for autism research
• Strength of the transdisciplinary integration
  • Complementarity of expertise
  • Genuine integration, not parallel work
• Potential impact of the project for future work and grant applications
• Applicants’ merits relative to career stage

Review process

• Administrative eligibility check.
• Scientific review by an independent expert panel with both KI and external researchers
• Funding decision expected: June 2026

Reporting and dissemination

Awardees will be expected to:

• Submit a brief final report (1–2 pages) summarising outcomes, spending, and next steps.
• Present results at an AutNetKI seminar/meeting during or after the project period.

How to apply

Email one single PDF to una.prosell@ki.se with subject line:
“AutNetKI Pilot Grant 2026 _[Applicant1 Surname]_ [Applicant2 Surname]”

Deadline

2026-04-28