International Research Funding Circular – 01 March 2024
Please see the latest European and International research funding information, event and opportunity updates.
News
- NEW: UK and France to deepen research and AI links following Horizon association
New funding to boost research collaboration and a new partnership to further global AI safety are part of measures announced by the UK and France. Read more here.
- NEW: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Areas of Research Interest
The areas of research interest (ARI) document gives details about the main research questions facing the department. To read the full report, head to the website.
Events
- NEW: NU International Office: China hybrid networking event on 21 March 2024: https://forms.office.com/e/0a8aA1Enzp
Newcastle University is hosting a hybrid networking event focusing on our partnership work with Chinese institutions. This will take place on Thursday 21 March 2024, and as well as colleagues from across our campuses, we will be joined by UKRI China who will be able to share insight into funding opportunities and strategic priorities in the region. Please complete this form to share your availability and the background to your work with Chinese partners. We would like to hear from colleagues in a variety of fields and locations in lightning presentations either in person in Newcastle or online. Timings will be confirmed when we have a clearer understanding of the potential presenters and attendees; it is likely to take place through morning in Newcastle (followed by lunch) and late afternoon/evening in Singapore and Malaysia. Any questions, please get in touch with Nicola Brooks, International Relations and Partnerships Manager.
4. Horizon Europe Insight Day: Information, Networking and Collaboration for Success (13 March 2024, Birmingham): https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/horizon-europe-insight-day-birmingham/
- European Commission Research and Innovation Week (18 – 21 March 2024, Brussels): https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/events/research-and-innovation-week_en
The Research and Innovation Week (R&I Week) is the 2024 European Commission’s flagship event on research and innovation which will take place between 18 and 21 March 2024 in Tour & Taxis (Brussels, Belgium).
6. NEW: Slides from UKRO annual visit to Newcastle University: on 16 February 2024, available for Introduction to Horizon Europe and ERC Grants Overview
European related funding
- NEW: MSCA Doctoral Networks 2024: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-doctoral-networks-2024
To implement doctoral programmes by partnerships of organisations from different sectors across Europe and beyond to train highly skilled doctoral candidates, stimulate their creativity, enhance their innovation capacities and boost their employability in the long-term. Deadline 27 November 2024.
8. NEW: MSCA COFUND 2024: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-cofund-2024
Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND) supports new or existing doctoral programmes and postdoctoral fellowship schemes. Deadline 26 September 2024.
- COST Open Call 2024: https://www.ukro.ac.uk/funding-and-opportunities/cost-open-call-2024/
COST Actions provide researchers from all sectors with funding for a broad range of networking and collaboration activities and opportunities within a network. COST does not provide funding for research itself, but for a broad range of networking and collaboration activities and opportunities, including meetings, workshops, conferences, training schools, short-term scientific missions (STSM), and dissemination activities. COST Actions are bottom-up and can be on any topic, however they must fulfill certain criteria in order to be approved, such as including researchers from at least seven COST Member countries, half of whom come from the Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC). Deadline 23 October 2024.
- ERC Proof of Concept Grant Call 2024: https://www.ukro.ac.uk/funding-and-opportunities/erc-proof-of-concept-grant-call-2024-first-cut-off-date/
Proof of Concept grants provide support for previous and current ERC grantees who want to explore the commercial or societal potential of their work. Current ERC principal investigators (PIs) or ERC PIs whose grants ended less than 12 months before the 1 January of the year of the work programme. Deadlines of 14 March 2024 and 17 September 2024.
Official development assistance (ODA) related funding
- NEW: FCDO The effects of interventions designed to build low-carbon and climate-resilient health systems in low- and middle-income countries: https://www.gov.uk/international-development-funding/the-effects-of-interventions-designed-to-build-low-carbon-and-climate-resilient-health-systems-in-low-and-middle-income-countries
Deadline: 13 March 2024
The FCDO invites tenders to conduct a rapid evidence assessment of the research literature on interventions designed to build health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
- NEW: FCDO: Children’s learning: effects of climate change and environmental degradation in low- and middle-income countries: https://www.gov.uk/international-development-funding/the-effects-of-interventions-designed-to-build-low-carbon-and-climate-resilient-health-systems-in-low-and-middle-income-countries
Deadline: 15 March 2024
The FCDO invites tenders to conduct a systematic review of the effects of climate change and environmental degradation on children’s learning in low- and middle-income countries.
- MRC/SAMRC South Africa-UK Health Research Collaboration calls:
MRC and South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) have launched three collaborative calls for proposals through the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). The joint research programme aims to promote collaboration between researchers based in South Africa, the UK and other African countries.
- Climate and health, one health and zoonosis call – deadline 17 April 2024
- Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) call – deadline 12 April 2024
- Multimorbidity of infectious diseases and NCDs call – deadline 15 April 2024
For each call, up to 70M South African Rand (~£3M) is available to fund several three-year projects per topic. Webinar (tbc) expected in February, with April deadlines as above.
- Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (with MRC/NIHR) call: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/gacd-management-of-multiple-long-term-conditions/
Global health funding to address the management of multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) in the context of non-communicable diseases (NCD)—in partnership with low or middle income countries. Clear implications for reducing health inequalities. £5M available to fund several projects, over 3-5 years. Stage 1 deadline 15 May 2024.
- MRC-Southeast Asia Collaboration on Infectious Diseases: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/ukri-southeast-asia-collaboration-on-infectious-diseases/
Apply for funding to collaborate with partners in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Singapore on infectious diseases with antimicrobial resistance and epidemics potential. Multilateral research teams including more than two partners are encouraged. You can apply for up to £1,000,000 from UKRI. Southeast Asia funding partners will provide co-funding to support their national research teams. Opening 14 March with deadline 30 May 2024.
- British Academy ODA Challenge-Oriented Research Grants 2024: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/programmes/oda-challenge-oriented-research-grants-2024/
Proposals invited on specific global challenges for researchers based in the UK and Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries to develop and/or deepen international research collaborations. The themes are:
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Culture, Heritage and Climate Action
- Environmental Resilience and Climate Action
- Pandemic Preparedness
- Power and Voice in Climate Action
- Societal Challenges and Approaches to Responsible Technologies
- Social Determinants of Health
- Women and Climate Action
Awards of 18 months and up to £200k to begin end of June 2024. Deadline 10 April 2024.
- NERC/AHRC Amazon +10 initiative: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/amazon-10-initiative-research-expeditions-to-the-amazon/
Apply for funding from this Brazil-led programme to collaborate with Brazilian partners on research expeditions to increase our knowledge of the biodiversity and socio-cultural diversity of the Brazilian Amazon. A total of £4M is available for four projects (£1M fEC of UKRI component), up to 3 years. Deadline 30 April 2024.
- British Council Grants for UK-Brazil research partnerships: https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/news/opportunities/scientific-expeditions-call
We invite UK researchers to partner up with their legal Amazon counterparts to apply for this opportunity. Grants for UK researchers’ participation will range from £80k up to £100k to develop sustainable development models for the Brazilian Amazon. Duration up to 24 months, deadline 29 April 2024.
19. UKRI Ayrton challenge programme (outlines): https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/the-ukri-ayrton-challenge-programme-outlines/
Apply for funding for interdisciplinary, challenge-led research projects enabling the transition to low carbon energy in developing countries. UKRI will fund around 10 projects between £2 to £3 million for up to three years. UK component funded at 80% fEC while partners in countries on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list will be funded at 100% of fEC. Deadline 9 April 2024.
General international
- NEW: Association of Commonwealth Universities Early Career Conference Grants 2024: https://www.acu.ac.uk/funding-opportunities/for-university-staff/grants/early-career-grants/
Deadline: 3 April 2024
Early Career Conference Grants help to ensure that emerging researchers – and the universities that employ them – can benefit from the valuable opportunity of attending and taking part in in-person conferences in Commonwealth countries. £2000 available and ECRs must be within 7 years of the start of their academic (research/teaching) career, with the exception of those who have had career breaks. Identify a conference that they would like to attend in a Commonwealth country, taking place between August 2024 and February 2025.
- NEW: Innovate UK Canada-UK critical minerals: sustainability and circularity: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/canada-uk-critical-minerals-sustainability-and-circularity/
Deadline: 3 April 2024
Please note that the application must be lead by a business but that universities can participate as a project team/collaborator. UK registered organisations and Canadian micro, small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can apply for a share of up to £5.4 million for joint research and development projects focused on driving circularity in critical minerals. This competition is open to Canada and UK collaborations only.
- NEW: AI Futures Grants: https://find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/ai-futures-grants-1
Deadline: 19 March 2024
The UK Government is launching a new grant scheme to help organisations hire international AI talent with exceptional promise. The AI Futures Grants scheme will be open to universities, research institutes and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to meet relocation costs of exceptional early to mid-career AI researchers and engineers moving to the UK to work in their organisation. If you have any questions about the scheme, please email the team here.
- NEW: NIH funding opportunities for which foreign organizations and/or foreign components of U.S. organizations may apply:
- Transformative Research on the Basic Mechanisms of Polysubstance use in Addiction (R01 – Clinical Trials Optional) (RFA-DA-25-043). Application due date: July 17, 2024
- Translational Neural Devices (R61/R33 – Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-24-151). Application due date: Multiple dates, see announcement.
- BRAIN Initiative: Scaled reagent resources for brain cell type-specific access across vertebrate species (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-MH-25-100). Application due date: Multiple dates, see announcement.
NIH funding opportunities for which foreign components may apply:
- Consortium for Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-AG-25-002). Application due date: July 2, 2024
- BRAIN Initiative: Production and distribution facilities for brain cell type-specific access reagents (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-MH-25-105). Application due date: Multiple dates, see announcement.
- INCLUDE (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-OD-24-007). Application due date: Multiple dates, see announcement.
- NEW: Innovate UK UK-South Korea Collaborative Research & Development 2024: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/uk-south-korea-crd-2024/
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £6 million for the purpose of developing innovative proposals with South Korea. Academic institutions may partner. Deadline 22 May 2024.
25. BBSRC/JST Japan-UK engineering biology: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/japan-uk-engineering-biology-for-discovery-research-and-cross-cutting-technologies/
Apply for grant funding to support research projects focused on the fundamentals of engineering biology and cross-cutting technologies. Your proposal must involve researchers from Japan and the UK. Projects up to 3 years funded at £1M (80% fEC) for the UK component and ¥234M for the Japanese component. Deadline 16 April 2024.
- MRC/AMID Japan-UK engineering biology: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/uk-japan-engineering-biology-for-novel-therapies-and-diagnostics-research-collaboration/
Apply for funding to support research projects focused on engineering biology for novel therapies and diagnostics research. We are looking for internationally competitive, full-scale collaborative and innovative partnerships. This funding will support joint research activities with specific funding to enable a comprehensive mobility element. Medical Research Council (MRC) will provide matched funding and bi-lateral support with the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) for up to three years. Expression of interest deadline 28 February 2024 with full proposal deadline 16 April 2024.
- NERC Environmental sciences: Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund 2024: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/environmental-sciences-global-partnerships-seedcorn-fund-2024/
Apply for funding to create new and sustainable global partnerships within Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) remit. Applications must include at least one new international partner, focus on activities that require international expertise, and show long-term potential. The maximum full economic cost (fEC) is £100k, for up to two years. Applications including partners in Brazil or Taiwan may be eligible for co-funding. Deadline 25 April 2024.
Project Initiation Form (PIF): https://www.cognitoforms.com/NewcastleUniversity1/NewcastleUniversityNuTHProjectInitiationFormV2
If you’re in the process of developing a research proposal please ensure you submit a PIF as soon as possible. The PIF is not just a mechanism to initiate a costing, it enables the research support team to identify and engage on your behalf the varying types of research and business support beneficial to your bid. Please note you don’t need to define all resources required before engaging with the team. To maximise the support available to you, PIF submission is advised at your earliest convenience.