Office of International Affairs

Global Gateways Initiative Grants

To support faculty working on projects that align with the goals of the Global Gateways in Brazil, China and India.

Eligibility and conditions

  • Ohio State regular track or tenure-stream faculty are eligible to apply
  • Visiting scholars and associated faculty are not eligible
  • Applications must include an international regional partner or demonstrate how the award will build a new partnership with a regional organization (higher education institution, research institute, non-profit or government organization) through the appropriate Ohio State Gateway
  • Applications shall facilitate collaborations with scholars and institutions in Brazil, China or India
  • Recipients must be Ohio State faculty during the entire grant award period
  • Awards are not transferable to another project and unexpended funds cannot be carried forward beyond the award period (and will be returned to Office of International Affairs’ Global Gateways and Partnerships unit)
  • The Global Gateways Initiative grant is not intended to be used as bridge funds
  • Awards are not transferable to another institution or to other people
  • Awardees are expected to apply for external grant funds in continuation of the collaboration, with a portion of the indirect funds allocated to the appropriate Ohio State Gateway

Amount of funding

A total of three to five projects in the three Gateway regions will be awarded. Each grant award will be capped at no more than $35,000.

To apply

Review the grant guidelines, prepare a project narrative, budget, list of personnel and obtain letter of support. Submit your application via email directly to the Global Gateways. 

Deadline and key dates

  • Application period opens: TBD
  • Application period closes:TBD
  • Awardees will be notified of decisions by: TBD
  • Grant period begins no earlier than January 1, 2025
  • Grant period ends no later than December 31, 2025

Grant guidelines

The Global Gateways Initiative grant program encourages knowledge-creation and problem-solving through research and academic events. Funded and supported by the Office of International Affairs’ Global Gateways and Partnerships unit, the awarded projects will help realize the full potential of the Global Gateways networks. Proposals may be submitted for individual projects, exploration of new partnerships or continuation of work with established partners.

The grant program will support new, innovative projects that foster excellence in any of the following areas of interest:

  • Global Health: water issues, infectious diseases, health security, vaccine development, addressing health inequities, non-communicable diseases
  • Conservation: climate research, sustainable development, renewable energy
  • Future Cities: migration, resource distribution, digital solutions, circular economy
  • Disruptive Technologies: AI, Big Data, Internet of Things, robotics, autonomous vehicles
  • World Cultures: languages, arts and forms of expression
  • Business and Economic Development: management of businesses, entrepreneurship and innovation, resource allocation in firms and economies, public-private partnerships
  • Human Behavior: small human networks, cognitive or social psychology, behavioral economics

Application requirements

Project Narrative

A detailed project description of no more than three pages that describes the project phases, data sources and goals of the study must be provided. Application should note if the proposed project will build on research projects that have already secured funding, including the source of funding. Applications should explain the role to be played by the Global Gateways network and/or the Office of International Affairs. Projects with principal investigators from multiple departments and/or colleges are encouraged.

The narrative should include:

  • Research question or project objectives
  • Deliverables
  • Work timeline (with dates and descriptions)
  • Expected results and impact (academic outcomes, actual societal change, others)
  • Description of the methods to be used, data to be collected and analysis to be completed
  • Names of principal investigators/leading faculty from Ohio State and any partner institutions
  • For projects involving international travel, a contingency plan if international travel becomes infeasible during the grant period
  • Total funding requested

Letter of Support

A letter of support from the department chair or dean indicating the project’s significance to the department and/or college’s objectives and reaffirming that the project will have benefits beyond the applicant.

Personnel

Listing of all personnel who will be involved in the project.

Budget

A project budget that lists the uses and sources of funds (if any, in addition to the grant amount) to complete the project goals. Budgets should be one-time amounts to be expended during the 12-month grant period. Supplies, including computer hardware and software, must be justified in terms of the proposed research. If funds for personnel are requested, please be specific as to the individual's role in the project. Cost sharing with the department/center/college and/or local collaborating partner is encouraged.

Allowable costs include:

  • Travel expenses for research related to the proposal
  • Equipment and supplies necessary to execute the proposed project
  • Translation costs for manuscripts
  • Salary support for technical staff, research assistants or student wages
  • Academic events (workshops, seminars, conferences)
  • Public events (lecture series, performances, museum exhibitions)
  • Collection and purchase of archival materials

Ineligible expenses include:

  • Any travel unrelated to the proposal
  • Passport/visa application fees, insurance, gifts, shipping expenses, digitizing archives
  • Tuition or class fees of any kind
  • Indirect costs
  • Faculty salaries

Awards will be given on a cost-reimbursable basis with funding remitted in the form of reimbursements after expenses are submitted via Workday.

Proposal evaluation

Eligible proposals will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary panel of faculty and administrators. In reviewing the proposals, priority will be given to projects that:

  • Identify a topic of broad societal implications and propose potentially useful and implementable programs or research solutions addressing a gap or issue
  • Establish a new impactful and potentially long-lasting collaborative program, working with the Global Gateways and Partnerships and in collaboration with a college and/or department at Ohio State and/or an international partner, to explore the landscape and inform policies, investment and planning around the identified topic
  • Make significant contributions to the existing relevant scholarly literature in the research domain or field
  • Plan to educate and inform relevant communities through appropriate channels, including museum exhibitions, cultural programming, and media offerings
  • Demonstrate how the proposed project will benefit Ohio in the project field through education, research, or other scholarly activities

Criteria upon which proposals will be evaluated include:

  • The potential to yield one or more creative productions or research publications (in appropriate scholarly journals) of international renown
  • Evidence of impact in Gateway communities (e.g., adoption by local institutions or stakeholders)
  • Creation of a public forum such as a talk, workshop, seminar, or symposium at the Global Gateways or the Office of International Affairs that brings together local stakeholders to enable future collaborations
  • Indication as to how the research or creative collaboration will be continued via externally funded grants
  • Demonstration that the project works across different cultures to maximize the project’s outcome
  • Demonstration of the potential positive economic, environmental, and/or social impacts in the state of Ohio

Acknowledgment

Awardees must submit a one- to two-page report, including accounting of expenditures and any external funding received, within 30 days of the termination of the grant period. These reports will be reviewed, and portions of the report may be reprinted. In addition, recipients may be asked to present their findings at a workshop or seminar hosted by the Office of International Affairs and/or Global Gateways and Partnerships.

Any publication or creative endeavor arising from work supported by the fund should acknowledge the Office of Academic Affairs at The Ohio State University.