The RSA is delighted to announce the first tranche of 2025 Start-Up Grant awardees. The Start-Up grant is an initiative designed to strengthen research capacity in emerging economies. The scheme supports early-stage projects led by regional and urban researchers who are members of the RSA in Bands C and D, helping them develop original research agendas with international relevance.
First Grant Awardees Announced
The RSA Research Committee has confirmed the first three Start-Up Grants, awarded to researchers whose projects span Latin America and Asia:
-
Régis Dandoy (Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador)
Project: Decentralization and Indigenous Issues in Ecuadorian Regional Party Manifestos
This project examines how regional political parties in Ecuador address decentralisation and indigenous concerns, offering insights into representation, governance, and identity politics. -
Carlos Cadena (EAFIT University, Colombia)
Project: Adapting Together: Voices of Community-Based Climate Adaptation in Medellín
Focusing on local experiences of climate adaptation, this research amplifies community perspectives on resilience and collective action in an urban Latin American context. -
Yatu Mou (East China Normal University, China)
Project: The Paradox of Infrastructure-Led Development in Sri Lanka: Geopolitics and State Capacity
This study explores how large-scale infrastructure development intersects with geopolitics and state capacity, shedding light on development trajectories in South Asia.
The RSA looks forward to seeing the outcomes of these projects, including academic publications, policy-relevant insights, and strengthened networks.