International Research Funding Circular – 25 October 2024

News

1.NEW: Horizon Europe Widening Participation draft work programme 2025 https://sciencebusiness.net/sites/default/files/inline-files/HORIZON-WIDERA-2025_10_04_2024_Advanced%20draft.pdf

The draft work programme is here. Summary of new features include:

  • The European Commission is planning to launch the first European Innovation Council (EIC) pre-accelerator calls in 2025 for start-ups in Widening countries, according to a draft work programme detailing Horizon Europe calls next year in the Widening programme.
  • The Commission will launch a pilot call for action plans “for connected regional innovation valleys” in Widening countries.
  • The Hop-on Facility will allow new participants from Widening countries to join ongoing research and innovation actions under Pillar II of Horizon Europe and EIC pathfinder projects that do not have a partner from a Widening country.
  • The Policy Platform for enlargement countries that are seeking to join the EU will continue to provide policy support to the Western Balkan countries and extend its geographical scope to other enlargement countries.

 

  1. REMINDER: NU Horizon Europe Travel Fund:

The purpose of the Horizon Europe travel fund is to support the development of proposals to Horizon Europe funding opportunities. Awards will be made to cover the basic costs of travel and subsistence (typically ~£500-2000) of Newcastle University staff members to meet with EU partners—we request that funds are spent within 3 months of a request being approved. It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange travel bookings. Please complete the travel request form: https://forms.office.com/e/xu0FZ65dif . We will return a decision to you asap, typically within five working days. Should you have any queries, please email sarah.urquhart@newcastle.ac.uk

 

Events

  1. EC MSCA Staff Exchanges 2024 Information Session, 15 November 2024, 09:00 to 11:30 UK time https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/staff-exchanges

The Research Executive Agency (REA) are hosting an online information session to help prospective applicants learn about the key features of the Staff Exchanges scheme as well as how to submit a successful proposal. Attendees can ask REA questions on the 2024 Staff Exchanges call during a live Q&A session. Questions can also be asked in advance via Slido! using the event code #SE2024. No registration is required but please sign up to the R&I community platform via the event webpage to follow the event online on the day.

 

 

European related funding

 

  1. NEW European Innovation Council draft work programme 2025: https://sciencebusiness.net/news/eic-launch-eu300m-call-scale-strategic-technologies

The draft work programme (available here) is dated July 2024, meaning calls, budgets and deadlines could still change before the document is finalised.

EIC Pathfinder

The Pathfinder programme for low technology readiness levels is set to include a €142 million open call for technologies in any field, with successful projects receiving up to €3 million each in most cases. The deadline for submitting proposals is 11 March 2025. The Pathfinder also includes challenges addressing pre-defined priorities in strategic areas. The total budget for these calls is €120 million, with expected funding of up to €4 million per project. The challenge deadline is 14 October 2025. The challenges included in the draft are:

  • Biotech for climate resilient crops and plant-based biomanufacturing
  • Generative-AI based agents to revolutionise medical diagnosis and treatment of cancer
  • Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments
  • Waste-to-value devices: circular production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials

EIC Transition

Transition funds are entirely allocated through an open call for projects that build on proof of concept or technology validated in the lab in a previous project. These prior results must have been achieved through an EIC Pathfinder project, a European Research Council proof of concept project, a European Defence Fund project, or Horizon Europe Pillar II or Horizon 2020 societal challenges and industrial technologies R&I actions. EIC will usually consider proposals for grants between €500,000 and €2.5 million, although larger amounts may be granted in exceptional cases. Deadline 1 7 September 2025.

EIC Accelerator

The Accelerator programme supports the later stages of technology development and scale up of deep tech innovations requiring significant funding over a long period of time.

There will be an open call with a budget of €384 million, and an additional €250 million split evenly across five challenges:

  • Acceleration of advanced materials development and upscaling along the value chain
  • Biotechnology driven low emission food and feed production systems
  • GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI
  • Innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure
  • Breakthrough innovations for future mobility

 

  1. NEW: Holberg Prize 2026 Open for Applications https://holbergprize.org/prizes-and-laureates/holbergprize/

The Holberg Prize is awarded annually to a scholar who has made outstanding contributions to research in the arts and humanities, social science, law or theology. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 edition of the competition. The successful recipient must have had a decisive influence on international research in the field. The Prize has a value of NOK 6 million. Nomination deadline 15 June 2026.

 

  1. NEW: International Call on CASK-Related Disorders https://fondation-maladiesrares.org/le-financement-des-projets-scientifiques/

Fondation Maladies Rares (Foundation for Rare Diseases) and the Association Enfants CASK France (AECF – Children’s CASK Association France) has launched a joint call. The aim of the call is to improve understanding of CASK-Related Disorder, the pathophysiology of the disorders, improve diagnosis,develop better treatment processes and to develop new therapeutic strategies. To address this, the call will support innovative and transdisciplinary research at any stage of development (basic, translational, clinical) on CASK-related disorders. Up to €45,000/project will be awarded for a maximum duration of 24 months. Deadline: 9 January 2025.

 

  1. NEW: Choose France: CNRS AI Rising TalentsProgramme launched https://www.ins2i.cnrs.fr/en/cnrsinfo/choose-france-cnrs-ai-rising-talents

The provides early career postdoctoral AI researchers an opportunity to establish and lead a research programme and associated research team in France for a period of four years. Package of support up to €1 million. Candidates must demonstrate outstanding track records in machine learning (ML) and related fields (computer vision, natural language processing, robotics etc). Deadline: 31 Marc 2025

 

  1. UK-German Funding Initiative in the Humanities Opens for Round Seven https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/collaborate-with-german-partners-on-arts-and-humanities-research-round-seven/

The UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) together run the UK-German Funding Initiative in the Humanities to bring together arts and humanities (including law and linguistics) researchers in the UK and Germany to conduct outstanding joint UK-German research projects. Projects must last between 24 and 36 months starting between January and mid-February 2026. Awards will not exceed, on the UK side, £420,000 (at 100% FEC, of which the AHRC will fund 80%) per project, meaning £336,000 is available per project on the UK side. DFG does not specify a maximum limit to the amount of funding that can be requested for the German component. Deadline 16 February 2025.

  1. AQUARIUS to launch two Transnational Access Calls https://aquarius-ri.eu/access/

AQUARIUS will launch two transnational access funding calls to support research and innovation projects that integrate multiple Research Infrastructures (RI) and contribute to the objectives of the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters.

Call 1, Regional Lighthouse Access Call: Open 11 November 2024 – 20 January 2025
Call 2, Super-integrated Lighthouse Call: Open 2 September 2025 – 28 October 2025

From November 11, 2024, a dedicated Call Platform will be launched for the development and submission of applications. To begin preparing a proposal, potential applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the available infrastructures in the Research Infrastructure Catalogue.

  1. Horizon Europe rare disease partnership calls expected in December https://www.ejprarediseases.org/erdera/

A new Horizon Europe rare disease partnership, European Rare Diseases Research Alliance, (of which Newcastle is a participant) will launch its first calls in December, as it embarks on a seven-year mission to consolidate research and improve treatment. Further information can be found here.

  1. New Call to Co-fund Brazil-EU Research Collaborations under MSCA Staff Exchangeshttps://confap.org.br/en/confap

The Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP) has announced a new call for co-funding projects involving Brazilian entities under the MSCA Staff Exchanges 2024 call. To apply, consortia must include at least one eligible Brazilian organisation in their Staff Exchange proposals. Brazilian partners must also submit a summarised version of the proposal to their respective FAP to confirm eligibility.

For those seeking new Brazilian partners, a free online brokerage event is being held on 15 November 2024.

  1. Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) Call 9: New Applicant Driven Approach + How To Get Ready (Brokerage Event in Brussels on 12-13 Nov and online 14 Nov 2024, and Innovate UK Travel Grants for SMEs)

Horizon Europe’s Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) will be piloting a new, applicant-driven approach for Call 9. Although Call 9 will not open until January 2025, the IHI plans to publish the draft call text on their ‘future opportunities‘ webpage in mid October. To help you get ready for the call there is various support available:

  • a brokerage event (in person in Brussels on 12-13 Nov, with an additional day on 14 Nov for online brokerage). Registration is now open and the agenda will provide you with the opportunity to network face-to-face and start forming consortia. There will also be pitching sessions (the deadline to apply to pitch is 28 Oct) and poster sessions to give those attending the chance to showcase their capabilities. There will also be an ‘ask the experts’ Q&A sessions at the end of both days.
  • the 14 November will be dedicated to online networking with virtual lounges so that new consortia forming can keep working and bring in people who were not able to attend the face-to-face event.
  • the new IHI online brokerage platform will allow you to showcase your own and your organisation’s expertise, and share project proposals with other participants. Once you’ve registered, you will be able to search for and contact potential partners and project proposals that could be relevant for you. The platform will remain open for networking until the call deadline.
  1. European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grants Open: https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/consolidator-grant

The 2025 edition of the ERC Consolidator Grants are now open for applications. The grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators (PIs) at the career stage at which they may still be consolidating their own independent research team or programme. Applicant PIs must demonstrate the groundbreaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific proposal. The 2025 budget for Consolidator Grants is €719.9 million to fund an estimated 354 grants. Applicants may request up to a maximum of €2 million for a period of five years, in addition to a maximum of €1 million in additional start-up costs to move country, purchase major equipment or access large facilities. Deadline 14 January 2025. Please get in touch asap with Jarlath.mckenna@newcastle.ac.uk if you have an interest to apply or wish to discuss.

 

  1. EIT HEI Initiative Call for Proposals 2024: https://eit-hei.eu/calls/call-for-proposals-4/

The EIT HEI Initiative Call for Proposals 2024 has a strong focus on enhancing the quality and competitiveness of European higher education.  It will improve research and technology transfer from higher education and support business creation through strengthening collaboration between HEIs and business partners across Europe. This call aims to fund up to 42 projects, with each selected project having a total duration of 25 months and an overall budget of EUR 1.34 million. Deadline 12 December 2024.

 

  1. MSCA Staff Exchange: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges fund short-term international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities at all stages of the innovation chain. Secondments must be between different countries and should lead to knowledge transfer between participating organisations. The 2024 Staff Exchanges call will have a budget of €99.5 million. The call will open on 19 September 2024 and close on 5 February 2025.

 

  1. DRAFT Climate, Energy and Mobility consortium call topics for Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme

We have obtained, in strict confidence, an early draft of the Horizon Europe Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility consortium call topics for the 2025 Work Programme – please note these are subject to redrafting and change but may help indicate potential call topics to start to find partners and build European country consortia. Formal Work Programmes will not be finalised and published until about April 2025. Please treat for INTERNAL-USE only:  << OLE Object: Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) >>  Cluster 5 call topics WP2025_draft Sept 2024.pdf Should you require more detail behind any given call topic of interest to you, please contact Jarlath.mckenna@newcastle.ac.uk

 

  1. Horizon Europe Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission Call: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/funding-opportunities/calls-proposals/horizon-europe-eur-98-million-available-climate-neutral-and-smart-cities-mission-projects_en

A new call for projects has now launched to support research and innovation under the Cities Mission titled: Changing urban spaces and mindsets to accelerate the transition to climate neutrality. A total of €98 million is available for proposals across the following four topics with deadlines 11 February 2025:

  • Rethinking urban spaces towards climate neutrality, €45 million budget
  • Zero-pollution cities: €20 million budget
  • Mobility management plans and behavioural change: €5 million budget
  • Integrated peri-urban areas in the transition towards climate neutrality: €28 million budget

 

  1. Water4All European Partnership Joint Transnational Call on Water for Circular Economy: https://www.water4all-partnership.eu/joint-activities/water4all-2024-joint-transnational-call

The Partnership’s third joint transnational call for research and innovation projects focuses on the general theme of ‘Water for Circular Economy’. The aim of the call is to stimulate research and innovation to improve water security in the long term. The call is planned to be officially launched on 12 September 2024. Research and innovation proposals submitted under the Water4All 2024 Joint Transnational Call are required to address at least one of the following topics: Topic 1: Enhancement of water circularity in industries. Topic 2: Urban water circularity. Topic 3: Resource recovery and valorisation. Topic 4: Economic, environmental and social implications of water reuse and recovered products. The call follows a two-step application procedure, with a closing date for mandatory pre-proposals of 13 November 2024.

 

  1. canSERV TransNational Access Call for Early Career Researchers: https://www.canserv.eu/calls/challenge-call-training-the-next-generation-of-cancer-researchers/

canSERV is an EU-funded Research Infrastructure cluster project under the Horizon Europe programme that unites leading cancer research services onto a single platform, providing cutting-edge, interdisciplinary and customised oncology services across the entire cancer continuum. canSERV is inviting applications for service provision for early career researchers (ECRs) around the globe through its ‘Training the Next Generation of Cancer Researchers’ Challenge call. The ambition is to provide free access for ECRs to cutting-edge transnational research services and training to enable them to advance their scientific merits and careers. ECRs include PhD students, junior researchers without PhD, postdocs, assistant professors, and young investigators. Deadline 17 December 2024.

[Open Call: https://www.canserv.eu/calls/open-call-for-transnational-service-provision/ Note that there is also an Open Call for any career stage with deadline 28 November 2024.]

 

  1. Driving Urban Transitions European Partnership Joint Call: https://dutpartnership.eu/dut-call-2024/

The purpose of this Call for proposals is to support transnational research and/or innovation projects addressing urban challenges to help cities in their transition towards a more sustainable economy and functioning. The challenges are grouped into three themes called ‘Transition Pathways’: Circular Urban Economies, 15-minute City and Positive Energy Districts. Deadline 28 November 2024.

 

  1. European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Research Training Fellowship: https://ectrims.eu/fellowships/ectrims-postdoctoral-research-fellowship-exchange-programme/

The ECTRIMS Research Training Fellowship Programme is a one- or two-year research-focused fellowship for young, postdoctoral neuroscientists to undertake training in basic, clinical or applied research related to MS at a host institution in Europe. The overall goal of the programme is to maximise exchange of information between MS research/training institutions and researchers and to help grow the pool of well-trained research scientists focused on problems in MS. The annual fellowship stipend is €55,000 for one or two years. Deadline 01 December 2024.

 

  1. European Research Council (ERC) 2025 call deadlines adopted

The European Research Council (ERC) is the European Commission’s leading funding organisation for supporting bottom-up, investigator-driven frontier research. This approach to research funding ensures that support is aimed primarily at new and promising opportunities, with a greater degree of flexibility. Research funded by the ERC is expected to lead to advances at the frontiers of knowledge and to set a clear and inspirational target for frontier research across Europe. The ERC has published the preliminary opening and deadline dates for its calls to be released for the 2025 cycle of applications:

  • Consolidator Grants – For excellent researchers with 7 to 12 years’ experience after PhD: Opening 26 September 2024, closing 14 January 2025 
  • Synergy Grants – For groups of two to four PIs to address ambitious research questions requiring coordinated work: Opening 11 July 2024, closing 6 November 2024
  • Proof-of-Concept Grants – For previous and current ERC grantees who want to explore the commercial or societal potential of their work. Opening 13 November 2024, closing 13 March 2025 and 18 September 2025

Note on ERC 2025 Starting Grant webinars: slides and recordings available for Webinar 1 and Webinar 2.

 

  1. MSCA Doctoral Networks: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks support doctoral programmes, by partnerships of universities, research institutions and infrastructures, businesses including SMEs, and other socio-economic actors from different countries across Europe and beyond. These doctoral programmes will respond to well-identified needs in various research and innovation areas, expose the researchers to the academic and non-academic sectors, and offer research training, as well as transferable skills and competences relevant for innovation and long-term employability. The 2024 Doctoral Networks call will have a budget of €608.6 million. The call will open on 29 May 2024 and close on 27 November 2024.

 

 

Official development assistance (ODA) related funding

 

  1. International Writing Workshops, The British Academy https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/writing-workshops/

Invitations are open for proposals for Writing Workshops in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or LDC’s. These workshops should aim to develop the skills of early career researchers, including supporting and promoting the uptake of their research in journals and publications. Closes 25 January 2025

 

  1. CLARE (Climate Adaptation and Resilience) R4I Opportunities Fund: https://clareprogramme.org/update/clare-r4i-opportunities-fund/

CLARE is a UK-Canada framework research programme on Climate Adaptation and Resilience, aiming to enable socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards in Africa and Asia-Pacific. The purpose of the Opportunities Fund is to enable the tailoring of existing knowledge towards useful outcomes that support the needs identified by decision-makers and other knowledge users. Towards this purpose, the CLARE R4I Hub will: collate the needs expressed by decision-makers and other knowledge users; assess for eligibility and, if needed, prioritise the requests based on set criteria; and fulfil these established needs through identifying, directing, adapting, and deploying existing research outputs. The Opportunities Fund is an essential tool for achieving CLARE’s strategic objectives of: getting research and evidence into use; and strengthening agency in the Global South to do and use research on adaptation. Small-scale requests (around £35k) from decision makers by using existing evidence to meet local adaptation priorities. The focus of the fund is on tailoring existing research towards useful outcomes that support adaptation knowledge.

 

  1. British Academy ODA Global Innovation Fellowships 2024: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/oda-global-innovation-fellowships-2024/

The objective of the ODA (Official Development Assistance) Global Innovation Fellowships is to provide opportunities to UK-based early- and mid-career researchers from across the humanities and social sciences to develop their skills, networks and careers in the creative and cultural, public, private and policy sectors to address challenges that require innovative approaches and solutions. Awards are for up to £150,000 for 12 months, with application deadline 6 November 2024.

 

  1. British Academy ODA Global Innovation Fellowships: South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)

The British Academy call ODA Global Innovation Fellowships: South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) is supported under the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund. The £337 million International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) is designed to enable potential and foster prosperity. Fellowship award holders will embed themselves in a South Africa office (Johannesburg or Cape Town) of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). SAIIA is an independent public policy think tank advancing a well-governed, peaceful, economically sustainable and globally engaged Africa. Their work spans foreign policy, governance, the environment, economic policy and social development. The fellowships are worth up to £150,000 at 80% full economic costing (fEC) over 12 months. One or two awards will be given. Deadline 27 November 2024.

 

 

General international

 

  1. NEW: BBSRC-NRF UK-Singapore engineering biology for specialty chemical production: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/uk-singapore-engineering-biology-for-specialty-chemical-production/

Apply for funding to create a UK-Singapore research consortium focused on engineering biology to develop platform technologies for specialty chemical production. Apply for up to £2 million (80% FEC) for the UK component and up to SGD3.45 million (including 30% overhead expenses) for the Singapore component. Closes 12 December 2024

 

  1. NEW: British Council: Call for experts in tech transfer and commercialisation: https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/news/opportunities/call-experts-tech-transfer-and-commercialisation

The British Council seeks to engage experts with experience in technology transfer and commercialisation in the UK who will share their knowledge and expertise in crafting a policy framework in the Philippines. Closes 28 October

 

  1. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Gates Foundation are looking for epidemic modellers

CEPI and the Gates Foundation are launching a new network of partners that could provide rapid epidemic modelling to inform the response to future infectious disease threats. To build the network, CEPI and Gates are looking for experts to offer training and mentorship activities to researchers and professionals in Global South institutions on epidemic and pandemic data analytics and infectious disease modelling. Multidisciplinary teams with expertise in infectious disease modelling, public health and related or relevant disciplines and track records in modelling outbreak-prone diseases to inform or contribute to policy decisions are encouraged to apply. Up to three years of funding is available. Further information can be found here. Deadline 15 January 2025.

  1. JSPS Summer Programme 2025 https://www.jsps.org/latest_calls/2024/10/jsps-summer-programme-2025.html

The JSPS Summer Programme Fellowship offers the opportunity for pre/postdoctoral researchers to receive an orientation on Japanese language and culture and research systems as well as pursue research under the guidance of host researchers at Japanese universities and research institutes over a period of two months during the summer. Applicants should be a British national and at the time the Summer Programme goes into effect either be enrolled in a PhD or MPhil course at a UK university or have obtained their PhD within the last 6 years (on or after 2 April 2019). Programme Duration: 2 month fixed period from 16 June through to 26 August 2025. Deadline: 25th November 2024 at 09:00 (am) UK time.

  1. British Academy International Writing Workshop https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/writing-workshops/

Invites proposals for Writing Workshops in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or LDC’s. These workshops should aim to develop the skills of early career researchers, including supporting and promoting the uptake of their research in journals and publications. Closes 25 January 2025

 

  1. UK-Singapore engineering biology for specialty chemical production https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/uk-singapore-engineering-biology-for-specialty-chemical-production/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

This international joint funding opportunity will support a new UK-Singapore consortium in engineering biology, biomanufacturing and specialty chemical production. Applications must involve teams from the UK and Singapore, with project co-leads from at least three research organisations in each country. Applicants must be eligible for BBSRC or NRF funding and the Singapore project lead must be based at the National Centre for Engineering Biology (NCEB).

You may request up to:

  • £2 million (80% FEC) for the UK component
  • SGD3.45 million (including 30% overhead expenses) for the Singapore component

Deadline: 12 December 2024 4:00pm UK time

 

  1. Applications Open for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Specialized Center of Research Program (SCOR) https://www.lls.org/research/apply-specialized-center-research-program

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds cutting-edge research around the world for every type of blood cancer, including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other rare types of blood cancers. LLS’s Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) grant programme is intended to bring together established investigators from one or several institutions to develop a focused research programme, foster new interactions and cooperation and enhance interdisciplinary research among the participants. A main emphasis in the SCOR grant programme is on clinical translation of scientific results. Preferably, a SCOR application will propose a combination of basic and translational laboratory research that will lead to eventual clinical translation. Applications are welcome worldwide from academic institutions and researchers of any nationality. The maximum total award is $5 million over five years. Letters of Intent must be submitted online by the deadline of 6 December 2024 (15:00 EST). 

  1. NIH funding opportunities for which foreign organizations and/or foreign components of U.S. organizations may apply:

NIH funding opportunities for which foreign components may apply:

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.

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