Open Call for Proposals

Strategic Workshop within the WASP & WASP-HS Collaboration

Application deadline: 23 November 2026

WASP-HS invites research leaders within the program, together with a collaborator from WASP, to propose a theme for a strategic workshop to be held in spring 2027.

Background and purpose

WASP and WASP-HS aim to deepen their scientific collaboration and stimulate research collaborations between technical AI research and AI research in the humanities and social sciences.

A strategic workshop should bring together researchers from WASP and WASP-HS around an emerging and pressing area of research. The purpose is to develop shared research questions, build new interdisciplinary constellations, and formulate concrete directions for continued collaboration.

Insights from the workshop should lay the groundwork for concrete joint research projects and continued collaboration, including opportunities to seek funding from WASP, WASP-HS, or other sources. The workshop is intended as seed funding for developing substantive research collaborations.

What are we looking for?

We invite proposals for workshop themes at the intersection of AI, autonomous systems, or software and research questions in the humanities or social sciences.

A theme should be of strategic importance and developed jointly by at least one WASP-HS researcher and at least one identified collaborator within WASP.

Collaboration with an existing WASP-HS research environment is encouraged but not required.

The workshop should be a working meeting in which participants jointly explore and develop a research area. It should aim to:

· open up new interdisciplinary research questions; and/or

· bring together researchers who do not yet have established collaborations; and/or

· develop an emerging research area; and/or

· identify opportunities for long-term scientific collaboration; and/or

· contribute to the development of concrete joint research projects.

Who can submit a proposal?

Proposals may be submitted by one or more researchers within WASP-HS together with at least one named collaborator within WASP. All applicants must have already obtained a PhD.

Each researcher may be named in only one proposal, whether as an applicant, WASP collaborator, or other participating researcher.

The WASP partner must be identified when the proposal is submitted and must participate in developing the workshop theme. The proposal should briefly describe the partner’s role and confirm that the partner is prepared to participate in the continued planning and implementation of the workshop.

The WASP-HS researcher and the WASP partner are expected to jointly lead the scientific development of the workshop.

What should the proposal include?

The proposal consists of three sections.

Who: Information about WASP-HS applicant and WASP collaborator

· Name and contact details of WASP-HS applicant

· Name and contact details of WASP collaborator

· Description of collaborative background and work division: How the theme been developed jointly and the role each person will have.

· If applicable, other participating WASP-HS and/or WASP researchers

What: Workshop theme, strategic and interdisciplinary relevance

· Workshop title

· Description of the main workshop theme

· Research questions and/or problem areas that the workshop will explore and develop.

· Strategic relevance: Why is this area important now? Why is it relevant to both WASP and WASP-HS?

· Interdisciplinary potential: Which technical, humanities, and social science perspectives will be brought together?

· Expected outcomes: Describe how the workshop could contribute to concrete joint research projects, including potential research questions, prospective partners, and next steps for developing the collaboration.

How: Format, participants and budget

· Preliminary format: Number of participants and ways of working. The format should prioritize collaborative work, discussion, and idea development over traditional presentations.

· Intended participants: Which research fields, research environments, or types of expertise should be represented? Describe how PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and other early-career researchers can be given an active role.

· Preliminary budget: A general description of how the funding will be used. Funding cannot be used for salaries. See further information below.

Budget and practical support

WASP-HS will allocate up to SEK 250,000–300,000 for the planning and implementation of one workshop. The funding may, for example, be used for:

· venue and accommodation,

· travel for participants and invited speakers,

· meals,

· external contributors,

· documentation and communication,

· other costs directly related to the workshop.

The budget may not be used for regular research costs, salaries, or the funding of research projects. Fully developed research projects or traditional conferences will not be supported.

WASP-HS will provide administrative support for the practical planning and implementation of the workshop. The exact division of responsibilities and the budget will be determined together with the workshop leaders.

Assessment

Proposals will be assessed based on:

· strategic relevance to the collaboration between WASP and WASP-HS,

· scientific quality and timeliness,

· the degree of joint development and engagement from both programmes,

· the potential to create meaningful interaction between the research areas of the two programmes,

· the ability to generate new research questions and collaborations,

· breadth, diversity, and inclusion,

· opportunities to involve researchers at different career stages,

· feasibility within the specified timeframe and budget.

Only proposals with a named WASP collaborator will be assessed.

Proposals will be jointly reviewed by representatives of WASP-HS and WASP. The selected idea will subsequently be further developed in dialogue with both programmes.

Expectations of the selected workshop leaders

The WASP-HS researcher and the WASP collaborator are expected to jointly:

· lead the development of the workshop’s scientific content,

· identify and invite relevant participants together with the programmes,

· participate in the practical planning,

· lead or coordinate the workshop,

· report on the outcomes and possible next steps.

Following the workshop, a short report must be submitted. It should summarise the discussions and research questions identified, and identify concrete potential joint research projects, prospective partners, and next steps for developing these collaborations.

Relationship between the workshop and future funding

The workshop may create opportunities for future projects and collaborations, but it does not constitute a commitment to continued funding.

Participation in the workshop will not confer any advantage in future calls. Future research calls will have separate application and assessment processes.

Timeline

Call opens: November 2026
Deadline: 23 November 2026
Decision: 4 December
Workshop: No later than May 2027, to provide opportunities to prepare applications for upcoming joint WASP-HS and WASP calls.
Short report: No later than 3 weeks after the workshop.

How to submit your proposal

All proposals must be submitted via this form.

Deadline for submission is 23 November 2026.