The Circle U. Sandpits 2026 are scientific workshops designed to foster creativity and collaboration among researchers from diverse disciplines. This unique format offers the opportunity to develop innovative research projects, strengthen project management skills, and expand academic and professional networks.
Sustainability at the heart of the 2026 edition
In 2026, the Sandpits will focus on sustainability, a pressing challenge for our societies. Addressing climate change, resource scarcity, and social equity requires inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to deliver impactful solutions for a more sustainable future.
Two complementary sessions
The event consists of two interconnected sessions designed to support ideas from conception to refinement:
Immersive in-person workshop
An intensive on-site workshop will take place from 27 to 29 May 2026 in Louvain-la-Neuve. Participants will work collaboratively to identify synergies across disciplines and co-create innovative research projects.
Online pitching session
A follow-up online session on 30 June 2026 will be dedicated to pitching projects to experts. Participants will receive constructive feedback to refine their proposals and strengthen future funding applications.
Support beyond the workshop
Participants will join a vibrant community of European researchers and benefit from tailored support throughout the process. This includes access to potential funding opportunities (including Circle U. Seed Funding), as well as administrative guidance to support the next steps of project development.
Discover what a 2025 participant has to say!
The experience was an incredibly enriching opportunity. It allowed me to work in a truly interdisciplinary environment, engaging with researchers from various European universities who were at different stages of their academic careers and brought diverse backgrounds and scientific sensibilities to the table. This diversity fostered stimulating discussions and opened up new perspectives on collaborative research. It was both intellectually rewarding and personally inspiring to connect with such a vibrant and varied academic community.
Giuseppina Scala, a former participant of the 2025 edition
An event designed to develop and strengthen researchers' skills
Sandpits are intended for researchers from all sectors and levels of experience - PhDs, postdocs, senior researchers - from Alliance Circle U. universities who wish to develop interdisciplinary projects.
The workshop is also an extraordinary opportunity to develop leadership skills, learn how to conduct research projects and expand your network. Participating researchers will be supported by experts and will also receive coaching on how to pitch research projects
