Global Light Commons Micro-Grant Programme

Global Light Commons Micro-Grant Programme is sponsored by Global Light Commons. Supports activities contributing data and expertise to the Global Light Commons platform, focusing on data collection, harmonization, and open sharing.

Micro-grant Programme | GLC GLOBAL LIGHT COMMONS – MICRO-GRANT PROGRAMME The Global Light Commons is a new open infrastructure and sharing platform for light exposure and visual experience data, developed by the Translational Sensory & Circadian Neuroscience Unit (Max Planck Society / Technical University of Munich / TUMCREATE) .

The overarching goal of the Global Light Commons is to bring together heterogeneous light-related datasets in a FAIR manner – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable – with a strong emphasis on harmonised data structures, metadata and metrics to enable cross-study and cross-region analyses.

As part of the Global Light Commons, we are launching a micro-grant programme to support targeted activities that contribute data and expertise to the platform.

Funding is offered under two complementary tracks: Track 1: Data collection & harmonisation in LMICs Capturing light exposure and/or visual experience data in under-represented regions Harmonising newly collected datasets to open, shared standards Enabling global reuse of data through structured metadata and documentation Track 2: Harmonisation of existing datasets Mapping legacy or proprietary formats to Global Light Commons standards Improving metadata quality and interoperability Preparing datasets for open sharing and long-term reuse Micro-grants may be used for activities such as: Data curation and restructuring Metadata development and documentation Harmonisation to agreed-upon metrics and schemas Preparation of datasets for FAIR sharing The programme is explicitly designed to lower barriers to participation, recognise the value of data stewardship work, and accelerate the creation of a globally inclusive, interoperable resource for light exposure and visual experience research.

Applications are welcome from individuals or teams that meet the following criteria: Researchers, data scientists, practitioners, or institutions working with light exposure and/or visual experience data Applicants may be based anywhere globally; LMIC-based applicants are particularly encouraged under Track 1 Early-career researchers and teams with limited access to infrastructure are explicitly eligible Proposed activities must involve light exposure and/or visual experience data relevant to human environments (e.g. natural, built, occupational, clinical, or everyday settings) Datasets may be newly collected (Track 1) or pre-existing (Track 2) Commitment to open science Applicants must commit to aligning datasets with the FAIR principles Resulting datasets must be prepared for open sharing via the Global Light Commons or a compatible open repository, subject to ethical and legal constraints Applicants are responsible for ensuring appropriate ethical approvals, consent, and compliance with local and international data protection regulations Data involving human participants must be shared in a de-identified or appropriately governed form Proposals will be evaluated according to the following principles, with an emphasis on data value and reusability rather than project scale: Contribution to the Global Light Commons Degree to which the proposed work increases the coverage, diversity, or usability of the shared data resource Relevance to under-represented regions, populations, or environments Data harmonisation & FAIR alignment Clarity and feasibility of the proposed harmonisation approach Quality and completeness of metadata, documentation, and standards alignment Expected interoperability with existing datasets in the Global Light Commons Technical and methodological soundness Appropriateness of data collection methods (Track 1) or curation strategies (Track 2) Realistic and well-scoped use of micro-grant funds Open science & reuse potential Likelihood that the resulting dataset will be reusable by a broad research community Transparency of methods, assumptions, and limitations Capacity building & equity (where applicable) Contribution to local capacity building, especially in LMIC contexts Evidence that the micro-grant meaningfully lowers barriers to participation in global data sharing efforts Apply Before 30 April 2026 Submit your application through the appropriate track link below.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Track 1: Data collection & harmonisation in LMICs Track 2: Harmonisation of existing datasets Community Manager - Erina Tsukimori