Horizons Platform
Learn more about Horizons Platform, our Gray and Fine Interdisciplinary Research Development Programme.
The programme is designed to promote challenge-led interdisciplinary research and foster collaboration between the University of Leeds and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).
Focussing on the broad areas of global inequalities, climate and sustainability, this programme will create opportunities for an exchange of ideas.
Please note: Horizons Platform has been funded through a philanthropic donation and is closed for new applications.
How does the Horizons Platform programme work?
The Horizons Platform programme is designed to develop an interdisciplinary cohort of researchers from across the universities of Leeds and Wits.
Following their success in applying for the programme, participants took part in a series of introductory and network development sessions. Participants were then encouraged to find partners from different disciplines to develop research projects in the broad areas of climate, sustainability and inequality.
Participants are offered the opportunity to apply for funding to develop their collaborative connections, research ideas, and to create new research teams.
Funding opportunities
There have been two funding rounds to date: Horizons Platform Exploratory Funding (first round), which supported the early development of interdisciplinary projects, and Horizons Platform Project Funding, supporting the development of cross-institutional research teams.
You can read about the projects supported through the Horizons Platform Exploratory Funding (first round) in Creating a Platform for interdisciplinary and global collaboration on our Medium blog.
You can also read about the two teams supported by our Horizons Platform Project Funding in Fostering collaboration with global interdisciplinary research teams on our Medium blog.
From March 2026, three additional funding streams are available to Platform participants:
Mobility Funding
The scheme is designed to facilitate in-person collaboration and is open to all Platform participants from the University of Leeds and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). For more information, visit the Mobility Funding page.
Future-Focus Awards
Future-Focus Awards are available to Horizons Platform participants to support output-focused activity that builds on existing research collaborations developed through the programme. For more information, visit the Future-Focus Awards page.
Exploratory Funding Awards (second round)
Exploratory funding awards are available to Horizons Platform participants to fund new interdisciplinary research ideas in an area of climate, sustainability or inequality, building collaborations across disciplines and between the University of Leeds and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). For more information, visit the Exploratory Funding Awards page.
Mentoring
All Platform programme participants have access to the Horizons Institute mentoring scheme. You can read more on our mentoring programme on our Medium blog.
More information
The Programme is part of the Horizons Academy, which supports the development of interdisciplinary research and the connecting of researchers across disciplines, and has been funded by David Fine. Find out more about David Fine and his contribution to research and researcher development.