International research funding circular – 11 November 2024

News

  1. NEW: UKRI Renews Money Follows Cooperation Agreement with Norway: https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/epsrc/relationships/international-agreements/money-follows-cooperation-agreement-with-research-council-norway/

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) have announced a renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two organisations that aims to reduce barriers to cross-border collaboration. The agreement was initially announced in October 2022 and enables eligible UK Project Leads to submit collaborative applications with Co-Leads employed by Norwegian institutions. It permits Norway Co-Leads to be included in UK-led applications and to receive funding from the participating UKRI Councils. Additionally, UK researchers are able to take part in RCN funding opportunities as international Co-Leads. UK researchers wishing to take part as international Co-Leads in applications submitted to RCN should refer to RCN’s website for further information and contact details. On the UK side, the agreement pertains to all participating UKRI research councils (AHRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC and NERC).

 

  1. NEW: European Research Council (ERC) announces the results of the 2024 call for Synergy Grants: https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/erc-2024-synergy-grants-results

ERC Synergy Grants address ambitious research questions that can only be answered by the coordinated work of a small group of two to four principal Investigators (PIs). This will facilitate the bringing together of complementary skills, knowledge and resources in new and unconventional ways, with the aims to promote substantial advances at the frontiers of knowledge, cross-fertilise scientific fields, and encourage new productive lines of enquiry and new methods and techniques. Awards may be made up to a maximum of €10 million for a period of six years, with an additional €4 million available to cover start-up costs for moving abroad, major equipment, access to large facilities, and fieldwork costs. Applications may be made in any field of research, and proposals that cross disciplinary boundaries, pioneering ideas that address new and emerging fields and applications that introduce unconventional, innovative approaches are particularly encouraged. A total of 548 proposals were submitted in the 2024 round of funding, of which 57 were selected for funding, receiving a share of €571 million.

Many congratulations to Prof Tracy Palmer of Newcastle University who, together with colleagues in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, has received one of the awards for their project “Central roles of mycobacterial type VII secretion systems in intra- and inter-kingdom warfare”.

 

  1. NEW: Consultation on Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Cultural Heritage: https://www.heritageresearch-hub.eu/arche-project-launches-broad-consultation-on-strategic-research-innovation-agenda-for-cultural-heritage/

The consultation for the future SRIA is being carried out until 15 November through a questionnaire available on the EUsurvey platform, in which the whole cultural heritage research and innovation community is invited to participate, as well members from other research and innovation communities, such as climate.

 

Events

 

  1. NEW: OpenAIRE Webinar on Horizon Europe Open Science Requirements, 22 November 2024, 12:00 to 13:30 UK time: https://www.openaire.eu/eventdetail/1252/58%7C272/horizon-europe-open-science-requirements-in-practice

Are you involved in a Horizon Europe project but have doubts or questions about your obligations as a Horizon Europe grant holder in terms of Open Access to publications and Research Data Management? This webinar, hosted by OpenAIRE on November 22, will present the HE requirements for Open Science, followed by a Q&A session with OpenAIRE experts. Attendees will also get a preview of the main tools and services OpenAIRE provides to help project coordinators and research support staff on the requirements’ compliance.

 

  1. 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. The session is then followed by an online brokerage event.

 

 

European related funding

 

  1. NEW: Horizon Europe Draft Work Programmes 2025 – IN CONFIDENCE

We have obtained, in strict confidence, early drafts of some of the Horizon Europe consortium call topics for the 2025 Work Programmes – please note that 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 confidentially:

In addition, here are draft work programmes for:

As a reminder, the European Commission has recently adopted and published the:

Note, one may request funds from the NU Horizon Europe Travel Fund (see below) to support development of partnerships towards any of these calls.

 

  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

 

  1. EIC 2025 work programme adopted https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-2025-work-programme_en

The European Commission adopted the 2025 work programme of the European Innovation Council. It opens funding opportunities worth over €1.4 billion for strategic technologies and scaling up companies.

The EIC work programme 2025 details the funding in four main schemes:

  • EIC Pathfinder (€262 million) for multi-disciplinary research teams to undertake visionary research with the potential to lead to technology breakthroughs (grants up to €4 million).
  • EIC Transition (€98 million) to turn research results into innovation opportunities, following up on results generated by EIC Pathfinder projects, European Research Council Proof of Concept projects and open to project results from Horizon collaborative projects from Pillar 2/ societal challenges (grants up to €2.5 million).
  • EIC Accelerator (€634 million) for start-ups and SMEs to develop and scale up innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones (grants below €2.5 million, investments from €0.5 to €10 million).
  • The EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up (€300 million), which will provide additional equity funding to promising companies (SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs and small mid-caps) driving innovation in critical areas to help them secure larger private co-investment for further scaling their businesses (investments from €10 to €30 million).

In each case, the direct financial support to innovators is complemented with access to a wide range of Business Acceleration Services providing access to leading expertise, corporates, investors and ecosystem actors.

 

  1. 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. 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. 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 March 2025

 

  1. 12. 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. 13. 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. 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. 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:

  • Starting Grants – the deadline has passed, was 15 October 2024
  • 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

 

 

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. 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. UK-Malaysia AI Growth Partnership Study

Call for proposals for an exciting study on AI Growth and Innovation in Malaysia through UK Partnerships. This initiative will dive into how collaboration between the UK and Malaysia can accelerate AI’s transformative impact. Budget £60,000. Deadline 15 November 2024. To receive the application pack, email :uk_evidence_fund_administration@pwc.com

 

  1. Australia-UK platform studies in areas of unmet clinical need https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/australia-uk-platform-studies-areas-unmet-clinical-need/97018

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australia and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) UK are inviting applications for platform studies in areas of unmet medical needs. The total funding available is in the region of £15.5 million/AUD $30 million, with contributions from each funder. For the NIHR UK-based component, there is approximately £2.6 million per award over seven years available (a total contribution of up to £7.8 million). A webinar to support applicants to this funding opportunity will take place on 19 November 2024 (08:00 UK (UTC+0)/19:00 AEDT (UTC+11)). Advance registration is required to attend.

Application is a two-stage process consisting of a mandatory Stage 1 application followed by an invited full application (Stage 2). Stage 1 applications must be submitted by 23 July 2025 (10:00 UK time)

 

  1. British Academy/JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Overseas Researchers https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/jsps-postdoctoral-fellowship-for-overseas-researchers/

Funding is available for UK early career researchers to conduct cooperative research in Japan within the fields of the humanities and social sciences. JSPS provides a round-trip air ticket for the fellow, a monthly maintenance stipend of ¥362,000, a settling-in allowance of ¥200,000 and a research grant for cooperative research-related expenses. Awards can last for 12 to 24 months. Deadline 11 December 2024

 

  1. Two-Year AACR Fellowships available for Mentored Basic Cancer Research Projects https://www.aacr.org/grants/aacr-john-and-elizabeth-leonard-family-foundation-basic-cancer-research-fellowship/

The AACR-John and Elizabeth Leonard Family Foundation Basic Cancer Research Fellowships are intended to encourage and support postdoctoral or clinical research fellows to carry out a mentored basic cancer research project, to give them experience of conducting their own project and support in establishing a successful career path in cancer research. The project proposed for funding may be in any area of basic cancer research. Eligible project costs include salary and benefits of the fellow while working on a mentored basic cancer research project. The award has a value of $130,000 over two years.  Deadline 17 December 2024

 

  1. 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. 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. NEW: 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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