Eligibility & funding criteria 

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The Language Sciences Incubator Fund is a small projects fund to foster innovative and interdisciplinary research in the language sciences. 

Proposals are evaluated by a review panel, with priority given to those that meet the following criteria:

Criteria for all proposals:

  • Promote interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration

  • Address emerging themes

  • Develop novel methodological approaches or tools

  • Are likely to lead to the development of further research grant proposals

Additional criteria for AI-focused proposals only:

  • Use speech and language technology to understand diverse, challenged or disadvantaged UK populations

  • Develop novel technology to support equity and inclusion though use of language

  • Work with external partners to deploy these technologies at scale

Eligibility

  • The lead applicant must be a full member of the University of Cambridge for the duration of the project, but external collaborators may be included.

  • Each proposal should be submitted by co-applicants from at least two different research groups.

  • Postdoctoral researchers are eligible in principle but should check with their department before applying. Applications should include a supporting letter from your research supervisor (where applicable).

  • Travel costs and workshops/events will not be funded under this scheme.

  • Requests for funding to cover higher-tier access to the University HPC will be considered. Use of commercial computational models or cloud tools (e.g. API access to large language models) will not be funded under this scheme, unless it is clearly explained why existing university resources (e.g. the HPC cluster) or freely available models (e.g. hugging face) are insufficient or inaccessible for this project.

  • PIs who are outside the Faculty of Modern & Medieval Languages & Linguistics should notify their finance administrator of their application. Management of the budget will usually be delegated to the host institution.

Conditions of funding

  • Projects must be completed within 12 months of the project start date, and no later than 30 September 2026. 

  • A brief report (template provided) must be submitted on completion of the project.

  • Successful applicants will be required to present their research at the next Language Sciences Annual Symposium following completion of their project.

  • Financial support from Cambridge Language Sciences should be acknowledged in any outputs from a grant under this scheme.

NOTE: Employment of research assistants usually needs to be done through the University's Temporary Employment Service (TES). Please seek HR advice before including personnel costs as part of a proposal.