Attention researchers and change-makers! Join the Resilient Delta Initiative (RDi) on a transformative journey with the City Seed Grant, your chance to create real change in the resilience and future of Rotterdam’s urban neighborhoods. Receive up to €20,000 to kick-start innovative, transdisciplinary, and impact-driven projects that address pressing urban challenges around climate, governance, and just, equal, and inclusive societies.

But it’s more than just funding. Join a dynamic network of researchers, societal partners, and community actors from Erasmus University, TU Delft, and Erasmus MC. Together, we’ll design new solutions, activate local communities, and initiate change that resonates far beyond the city.

Break free from traditional silos. Pursue projects grounded in the lived realities of urban neighborhoods—whether you’re building a coalition, prototyping a solution, co-creating a knowledge network, or shaping a roadmap for resilient futures. This is your chance to create meaningful, place-based impact that bridges science and society.

With RDi funding, you become part of a growing movement: researchers and societal partners working side-by-side to confront urban challenges head-on. Join us to reshape academic practice, place community voices at center stage, and create a more just and sustainable urban future.

Focal themes

Climate
Delta cities are on the frontline of climate change, facing increasing risks from heat, flooding, and resource scarcity. Projects may explore local adaptation strategies, support sustainability transitions, or pilot community-based climate mitigation efforts. Emphasis is placed on actionable knowledge that empowers urban communities to become more resilient and regenerative.

Governance and institutions
Urban challenges require new models of governance that are inclusive, adaptive, and capable of addressing institutional complexity. Moreover, the most pressing issues increasingly require actions and partnerships that across domains and sectoral boundaries. Projects could potentially examine or co-develop deliberative governance processes, test collaborative public decision-making, or explore institutional innovations that support urban transformation. Partnerships between local governments, civil society, and knowledge institutions are central.

Just, equal, and inclusive societies
In addressing sustainability and resilience related challenges, actors should pay explicit attention to structural inequalities and advancing social justice within cities. Projects may focus on equitable access to housing, health, education, and participation, especially for historically excluded communities. Strong community engagement and a commitment to co-creation are key to developing meaningful and lasting impact.

Goal

The grant (of €20,000 per project) can be used in several ways, such as: building a consortium or coalition in preparation of a large research proposal; creating a prototype; developing a proof of concept; writing a whitepaper with a research agenda/roadmap on an urban resilience-related challenge; kick-starting a knowledge network; hiring a junior research assistant/trainee to conduct new/additional research; disseminating results further from a previous project; etc.

Who Can Apply

• Academic Partner: Researchers affiliated with EUR, TU Delft, or Erasmus MC may prepare the proposal and receive the funding, but must co-sign the application with a societal partner.
• Societal Partner: A societal partner (e.g., municipality, NPRZ, citizen group, or other urban stakeholder) submits a request for RDi-City to support a research project, in collaboration with EUR/TU Delft/Erasmus MC.
• Projects must be grounded in a concrete challenge or question relevant to the societal partner, based on real needs or opportunities in the city.
• Projects must be ‘convergent’ (i.e., include or involve two or more convergence partners: TU Delft, EUR, Erasmus MC)

Thematic Requirements

Proposals must integrate at least 1 of the following themes:

• Climate
• Governance
• Just, equal, and inclusive societies

Funding Details

• €20,000 per project
• Project duration: max. 12 months (between September 2025 and October 2026)

Timeline

• Deadline for proposals: June 28, 2025
• Results communicated: July 15, 2025
• Project runtime: September 2025 – October 2026

Application Process

• Please submit your full proposal to resilientdelta@convergence.nl and start the title of your e-mail with “City Seed Grant application”. We encourage you to reach out to us for your queries and testing your initial thoughts before submitting your full proposal.

Proposals

• Proposals will be reviewed by RDi City team.

In cases where two proposals are of equal merit, preference may be given to applicants who have not previously received RDi funding