Research plays a fundamental role in all our activities at the Columbia Global Centers. It is the resource that we use to tap into the Columbia University faculty expertise and then implement that on the ground to improve the livelihood of communities.
At the Columbia Global Center in Beijing, we facilitate the advancement of research projects and drive emerging ideas and research collaborations across disciplinary boundaries. We support locating funding, applying for grants, monitoring regulatory compliance, and managing sponsored projects. We are committed to bringing together the world's most innovative change-makers and thinkers to finding pathways to relevant solutions to problems faced by the world today and those of the future.
Researchers can receive assistance at the Beijing Global Center in expanding their research and work through collaboration with academics, experts, and practitioners from the region, collectively addressing global issues.
Scholars-in-Residence Program
Learn more about the Scholars-in-Residence Program.
Columbia Global’s Scholars-in-Residence program offers full-time faculty and researchers across Columbia University the opportunity to advance their teaching, research, and professional work, while immersing themselves in the academic and cultural environment of a Columbia Global Center.
Each scholar-in-residence will spend between two to eight weeks at a Columbia Global Center and receive up to $5,000 to support travel, accommodation and project-related expenses.
Scholars will receive support pre-departure and during their residency. They will have access to a workspace, the opportunity to establish connections with local/regional institutions and partners, will engage with Global Center staff on events, seminars, and other means of scholarly exchange. Upon their return, scholars are encouraged to share their experiences with their colleagues at Columbia.
Note: Previous experience in the country/region or with the Columbia Global Centers is not required.
Eligibility
Applicants must be full-time faculty or researchers at Columbia University. This includes full-time Officers of Instruction and Officers of Research, except those with "adjunct" or "visiting" in their title.
Scope
Projects may focus on:
- The planning, implementation, or dissemination of research
- The development or planning of educational experiences for Columbia University students, such as immersive global learning or travel-study tours
- The planning or convening of events that aim to foster collaboration between Columbia and local, regional, or global partners
- Exploring or deepening partnerships with local institutions, non-profits, or governments, with the goal of advancing collaborative initiatives
President's Global Innovation Fund
Learn more about the President's Global Innovation Fund.
The President’s Global Innovation Fund supports innovative projects enriched by the infrastructure, expertise, and connections of the Columbia Global Centers.
Since 2013, more than 123 grants have been issued under the President's Global Innovation Fund to foster new, interdisciplinary collaborations among Columbia faculty/researchers and schools.
They have accelerated innovation through collaborative research and global knowledge exchange; and have provided rich new learning opportunities for students at all levels. Read more about the fund and its history.
Types of Awards
PGIF awards are available at two funding levels:
- Early Concept Awards will support projects that aim to host novel convenings to advance the discourse or build productive partnerships for pursuing collaborative efforts. Available funding for early concept awards is $10,000-$25,000 (per award) over a period of 1-2 years. Up to eight awards are anticipated.
- Innovation Awards will support projects that show significant promise for building toward a fundable, larger-scale initiative. Projects may include basic, applied, translational, humanities, and/or social science research. The maximum award amount is $100,000 (per award) over a period of 2-3 years. Up to four awards are anticipated.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposal lead(s) must be full-time faculty or researcher(s) at Columbia University.
- At least one proposal lead must be eligible to serve as a Principal Investigator, per Columbia University guidelines. To request a PI waiver, please refer to these Columbia Global guidelines.
- Proposals must include collaboration across disciplines, schools, institutes, or centers.
- Proposals must engage one or more Columbia Global Center. Eligible Centers are located in: Amman, Jordan; Athens, Greece; Beijing, China; Istanbul, Turkey; Mumbai, India; Nairobi, Kenya; Paris, France; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; and Tunis, Tunisia.
- Prior to submission of the proposal, applicants are required to consult with the Director of the relevant Global Center(s). This consultation is to discuss the proposed project, including its feasibility, potential partnerships, and the role of the Global Center(s).
Note: Proposal lead(s) are not required to have prior experience in the geographic region(s) where they propose to work.
Social Impact Awards
Learn more about the 2025 Social Impact Awards.
The Social Impact Awards support faculty and researchers from across Columbia University who seek to address pressing societal challenges with innovative solutions, with the potential to transform thinking and inform actions to address these challenges. The awards support projects that put forward bold ideas for tackling key challenges, as well as interventions representing unexplored avenues of thought and action that are currently underserved by existing funding sources.
Project Criteria
While the theme for the Social Impact Awards changes annually, all projects must meet the following criteria:
- Collaboration — Inclusion of at least two faculty or researchers from distinct Columbia units as part of the project leadership
- Partnership — Evidence of partnership and equitable collaborations with partners outside Columbia University (e.g., government agencies, bilateral agencies, civil society organizations, private sector partners, and academic institutions)
- Interdisciplinarity — In project design, development and implementation
- Advancement of Scholarship and Evidence — Articulation of how the project will advance scholarship and derive evidence for solutions
- Measurement and Impact — Demonstration of clear and measurable outputs and outcomes
- Student involvement — Engagement of Columbia University undergraduate students, graduate students or postdocs in the project
- Social Justice — Commitment to advancing gender equity and racial justice