RFAs: Australia-France Social Science Collaborative Workshops Program

The Social Science Collaborative Research Program, led by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Embassy of France, funds workshops to strengthen social science collaboration between Australia and France. Each workshop receives up to $10,000 AUD to support events in 2026 focusing on Pacific Island Studies and the Indo-Pacific, with priority for early- and mid-career researchers. Applications are open to university-affiliated researchers and cross-sector experts.

Overview

The Social Science Collaborative Research Program supports workshops that foster collaboration between Australian and French researchers in social science disciplines. The program emphasizes capacity building, cross-sector networks, and research innovation focused on Pacific Island Studies and the Indo-Pacific region. Workshops are designed for meaningful dialogue, networking, and knowledge exchange.

Workshop Details

• Format: Structured sessions combining presentations and discussion, typically 1–2 days; optional informal dinner

• Delivery: In-person preferred; virtual or hybrid formats may be considered

• Participants: 15–25 invited experts, with diversity across disciplines, institutions, sectors, and backgrounds encouraged

• Location: Australia, metropolitan France, or French overseas territories in the Indo-Pacific

• Funding: Up to $10,000 AUD per workshop, excluding GST, covering travel, accommodation, catering, venue/equipment hire, note-taking, and publication-related expenses

• Ineligible costs: Overheads, researcher salaries, business-class airfare, alcoholic drinks

Eligibility

• Applicants must be affiliated with Australia or France, including universities, research organisations, or experts from public/private sectors

• At least one primary applicant must hold a permanent or fixed-term social science position at a university or research organisation

• Applications may include up to four workshop convenors

• PhD candidates may participate but cannot serve as primary convenors

• Early- and mid-career researchers (fewer than 15 years post-PhD) must be included; allowances made for recognized career interruptions

Program Objectives

• Support collaborative workshops between Australian and French social science researchers

• Foster strategic alliances between the two countries

• Promote innovative research, capacity building, and cross-sector networks

• Enhance understanding and scholarship in Pacific Island Studies and the Indo-Pacific

Application Assessment Criteria

• Need and relevance of the workshop topic

• Program design and methodology

• Participant composition and diversity

• Expected outcomes and impact

• Clarity and appropriateness of the budget

• Bilateral collaboration and engagement

• Research excellence and purpose

Responsibilities of Convenors

• Coordinate funding agreements and manage grant expenditure

• Plan and deliver workshops successfully

• Acknowledge sponsors and funding partners

• Submit reporting and acquittal documentation

• Provide an open-access publication summarising findings within two months

• Share images and, if possible, short videos for promotional purposes

Conclusion

The program enables Australian and French researchers to collaborate on social science workshops with targeted support for early- and mid-career scholars. By providing funding, structured networking, and dissemination opportunities, the initiative strengthens bilateral research ties, advances understanding of the Indo-Pacific region, and fosters high-quality social science scholarship.