International Research Funding Circular – 06 December 2024

News

1. NEW: Lloyd’s Register Foundation launches ‘Engineering a safer world’ https://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/engineering-a-safer-world-funding-call

The ‘Engineering a safer world’ call supports the delivery of Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s new five-year strategy  enhancing safety across three priority areas:

  • Safer Maritime Systems
  • Safer, Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Skilled People for Safer Engineering:

The aim of the call is to support impactful groups or networks who demonstrate relevant expertise and understanding of local, in-country need, particularly within developing economies in the Global South. It is expected that individual proposals will request up to £1 million. The duration of grants is up to 5 years. Please submit your proposal summary by Friday 10 January 2025.

2.NEW: DSIT is looking for best practice examples of interplay between research funded nationally and under Horizon Europe  

https://www.ukro.ac.uk/news/dsit-is-looking-for-best-practice-examples-of-interplay-between-research-funded-nationally-and-under-horizon-europe/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet&utm_campaign=latest-ukro-articles-4

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is looking for examples of the interplay between research funded nationally and under the Horizon Europe/Horizon 2020 programmes and the impact of such an interplay.

UK researchers and institutions are invited to send examples of the following case studies:

  • Domestically funded R&I project/investments, which went on to receive follow-up funding under the Horizon funding scheme (Horizon Europe or Horizon 2020);
  • Horizon-funded projects or research activities which went on to receive national or other international funding or investment to support the growth and commercialisation of their research results.

 

Please submit case studies and/or feedback, to ukro@ukro.ac.uk by 13 December 2024.

Events

3. REMINDER: Getting those Grants: Quiet Time for Writing

Places still Available!

Colleagues are invited to attend a series of research funding proposal writing sessions.  These sessions are designed to give you quiet time and space to work on your research funding proposal.  The time will be largely for you to write quietly. A Research Funding Development Team colleague will be available.

To attend, you need to have an idea for a research project, programme or fellowship and be ready to start writing to convert this into a funding proposal (or have already started writing).  You ideally need to have identified the funding competition that you are writing for.

The sessions will be two-hour writing sessions.  You are not required to attend every session, although you are welcome to.

Please click here to see more detail and book your place:  Getting Those Grants: Quiet Time for Writing

If you have any questions, please contact Jo Gascoigne-Owens (Johanna.gascoigne-owens@ncl.ac.uk).

4. Conference on The European Research Context for the Humanities and Social Sciences

The British Academy, in collaboration with the Association of ERC Grantees, will be hosting a half-day conference on The European Research Context for the Humanities and Social Sciences on 22 January 2025 from 13:00 to 18:45. This event will bring together leading academics to discuss key aspects of European research in the humanities and social sciences, and to share insights on the ERC grant application process, researcher mobility, and the values underpinning European research initiatives. Participants can register here. For more information or inquiries about the conference, please contact Barbora Krasova at b.krasova@thebritishacademy.ac.uk.

 

5. Training on Horizon Europe projects management, finances and proposal writing, online webinars (Europa Media Team)

We’re excited to announce our next series of free webinars between 9-13 December as a special treat for anyone interested in Horizon Europe projects management, finances and proposal writing.

Due to popular request, we’re bringing back our most demanded topics from 2023-2024 in the format of live 1h sessions starting every day between Monday to Friday at 11:00 CET. It’s also a great opportunity to meet our expert trainers if you haven’t had the chance yet! Register to one (or more) of the following webinars:

Monday 9 December

“Lump sum budgeting – How to prepare the mandatory detailed budget table?” by Krisztina Toth

Register now

Tuesday 10 December

“Horizon Europe personnel cost calculation – The step-by-step approach!” by Gabor Kitley and Gabriella Lovasz

Register now

Wednesday 11 December

“Typical mistakes in Horizon Europe proposals – Showcasing negative comments from Evaluation Summary Reports (ESRs)” by Ömer Ceylan and Gabriella Lovasz

Register now

Thursday 12 December

“Mastering DEC Plans in Horizon Europe: Proven Strategies to Maximise Impact” by Gloria Bevilacqua and Diego Ibáñez Rodríguez

Register now

Friday 13 December

“Short term, mid-term and long-term impact KPIs – How do we define the right KPIs in our Horizon Europe proposal?” by Jelena Kajganović

Register now

These webinars are available to anyone interested in Horizon Europe proposal development, project management and finances, so feel free to share this email with your colleagues and collaborators. To join the webinars, simply register through one of the links provided above and you will receive further instructions for the live sessions via email.

European related funding

 

6. NEW: Funding for Research Groups at the Bielefeld Centre for Interdisciplinary Research https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/einrichtungen/zif/funding/research-in-groups/ 

Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research – ZiF) at Bielefeld University fosters outstanding and innovative interdisciplinary research projects. The ZiF is an independent thematically open research institution and is open to scholars from all disciplines and all countries. ZiF offers a grant of €50,000 to up to €400,000 to cover the costs for travel and accommodation. Deadline 24 April 2025.

7. NEW: Bridge Fellowships to Support Applications to Philipp Schwartz Initiative for Researchers at Risk https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/apply/sponsorship-programmes/philipp-schwartz-initiative#h44449

Within the Philipp Schwartz Initiative, the Foundation’s Bridge Fellowship now supports universities and research institutions to host Schengen-based researchers at risk in Germany. The aim is to prepare a joint application for funding in the main programme of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative. Up to 75 fellowships are awarded. The prerequisite for funding is a commitment by the host institution that a nomination for Philipp Schwartz Initiative will be submitted by 14 February 2025. The initiative grants a monthly stipend of €2,700 for a period of three months (1 March 2025 to 30 June 2025). Deadline of 3 January 2025.

8. NEW: ISblue Support for International Mobility of Marine Science PhD Students To and From France https://isblue.fr/en/tous-les-appels/call-for-international-phd-mobility/

Sblue is an interdisciplinary graduate school which brings together research teams and laboratories in western France to increase knowledge and promote technological innovation and training in the area of marine science.Funding is available through the ISblue International PhD Mobility scheme to support research visits by doctoral students. The only eligible costs are the actual costs of travel within the limit of the allocated package of support.The total budget allocated to this scheme is €90,000 per year. Deadline 15 February

9. Horizon Europe Teaming call opened https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-ACCESS-01-01-two-stage

Teaming funds establish new centres of excellence in Widening countries or modernise existing ones with the help of leading institutions from elsewhere in the EU or associated countries. The last Teaming call of Horizon Europe is scheduled to open on 3 December. Teaming is a two-stage call, with the deadline of first stage applications on 10 April 2025. Successful applicants in the first stage are invited to submit complete applications to the second stage by 20 January 2026.

10. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and The British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/the-alexander-von-humboldt-foundation-and-the-british-academy-knowledge-frontiers-symposium/

Deadline: 15 January 2025, 7-9 May, 2025 in Berlin, Germany The British Academy and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation are inviting applications for early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to attend a research collaboration symposium on the broad theme of belonging which will be held May 7-9, 2025 in Berlin, Germany.

11. COST Actions Networking Grants 2025: https://www.cost.eu/funding/open-call-a-simple-one-step-application-process/

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is an intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research, including social science and humanities. COST does not fund research itself, but funds the expenses of interdisciplinary research networks called COST Actions (networks that engage a team of proposers from at least 7 COST member countries with at least half from inclusiveness target countries). These support a range of networking tools, such as workshops, conferences, training schools, short-term scientific missions (STSMs), communication activities, and virtual networking tools. COST Actions enable researchers from academia, SMEs, public institutions and other relevant organisations to investigate a topic of their choice for four years. No budget forecast is requested when submitting a proposal. An estimated €125,000 is made available for a COST Action in its first year and an average of €150,000 per year for the other three years. Deadline is 21 October 2025.

 

12. British Academy Horizon Europe Pump Priming Funding: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/Horizon-Europe-Pump-Priming-Collaboration-between-UK-and-EU-Partners/

Principal Investigators (PIs) at universities and research institutions can apply for a grant of up to £10,000 to help them in their preparations for submitting a Horizon Europe proposal for Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness. The ambition is to support the effective uptake of the opportunities provided by the UK’s association to Horizon Europe. The purpose is not to implement the proposed projects that will be submitted to Horizon Europe, but to give the UK-based partners the resources needed to collaborate with EU organisations and stakeholders to further develop the idea and the market opportunities. The expectation is that the funding will be utilised in a variety of ways but could include feasibility studies, application advice and training, partnership building, and dedicated resource to take forward an application. Proposals are welcome in all disciplines, including engineering, natural sciences, medical and health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. The British Academy is holding a series of webinars providing further information about the opportunity and details of how to apply. Applicants can register to attend the webinars online, which will be held on the following dates: 19 November 2024, 14:00-15:00 [past, but see ​pptx icon slides]; 8 January 2025, 14:00-15:00; 5 February 2025, 14:00-15:00. Assessment will be undertaken over multiple rounds, while funds remain. The round deadlines are: • 4 December 2025 (17:00) • 15 January 2025 (17:00) • 12 February 2025 (17:00) • 5 March 2025 (17:00).

 

13. UUKi UK – France Science, Innovation, and Technology mobility scheme: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/topics/international/uk-france-science-innovation-and-0

Following the bilateral research dialogue between France and UK which took place in London on 29 February 2024, the UK government has committed £400k funding to boost and foster UK-France research collaboration. We are delighted to announce that following the launch of our pump-priming scheme last month, we have now launched the call for the second strand, a mobility programme. A total funding pot of £300k is available for mobility activities of UK researchers to institutions in France, with the aim of developing collaborative activity between the UK and France which supports both institutional and UK-wide research and innovation priorities and prepares a submission to a Horizon Europe or other international collaborative funding bid. Mobilities are expected to take place between April 2025 and January 2026. Deadline 12 January 2025. For any general enquiries, please email UK-France-grants@international.ac.uk.

14. REMINDER: 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.

 

15. ERC Proof of Concept Grants 2025: https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/proof-concept

Proof of Concept grants are open to ERC grant holders of a frontier research project that now want to explore the commercial or societal potential of their work. All Principal Investigators in one of the ERC frontier research main grants (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced or Synergy) are eligible to participate and apply for an ERC Proof of Concept Grant. Principal Investigators in an ongoing main grant, or Principal Investigators in a main grant that has ended after 1 January 2024, are eligible to apply. The Principal Investigator must be able to demonstrate the relation between the idea to be taken to proof of concept and the ERC frontier research project (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced or Synergy) in question. The call deadlines for submissions are: 13 March and 18 September 2025.

 

16. 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

17. Choose France: CNRS AI Rising Talents Programme 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

 

18. 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.

19. 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.

 

20. MSCA Staff Exchanges https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-staff-exchanges-2024

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.

NEW: UKRO has recorded two information sessions for prospective applicants

Please follow the links below to watch the recordings.

21. 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

22. 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

 

23. British Academy Evidence-informed policymaking grants

The British Academy is inviting proposals related to evidence-informed policymaking in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries. The aim of this call is to support ODA-eligible international collaborations. The Academy is looking to support awards that work in the following fields: • Environment, sustainability and nature, • Transformative technologies, • Health and wellbeing, • Cities and urbanisation, • Global order, geopolitics and international affairs. The Principal Investigator must be a researcher in a discipline within the social sciences or humanities and either UK-based with co-applicants that include at least one researcher who is based in the above countries, or vice-versa. The value of the award is set at a maximum of £150,000 for 12 months. Deadline 19 February 2025.

 

24. 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

 

General international

 

25. NEW: Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships https://www.acu.ac.uk/funding-opportunities/for-students/scholarships/queen-elizabeth-commonwealth-scholarships/

The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS)  offer the opportunity to study a two-year Master’s degree in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country.

Aimed at students who are committed to creating change in their communities, the scholarships are a life-changing opportunity to experience a new country and culture, to broaden horizons, and to build a global network. Applicants must be a citizen of or hold refugee status in a Commonwealth country https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries  other than the intended host country. Deadline 14 January 2025 deadline.

 

26. NEW: British Council report: Skills levies in Africa – A Way Forward https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/features/skills-levies-africa-way-forward

The British Council has published a new report exploring the objectives, structures, and implementation practices of skills levy systems in seven African countries participating in the Going Global Partnership programme: Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania, as well as the UK. The report offers insights for policymakers, educators, and institutions looking to strengthen skills development funding and maximise impact. 

 

27. NEW: British Academy: Call for Discussion Papers: Global (Dis)Order https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/international/call-for-discussion-papers-global-disorder/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=info_international&utm_content=copy

The British Academy and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace are inviting applications for the Call for Discussion Papers: Global (Dis)Order – the first call for evidence-based insights to inform a new multi-year international policy programme on Global (Dis)Order during its first year, beginning with a launch conference from 13-14 January 2025 in London. The fee paid for each paper will be £2500. The first two-stage deadline is as follows:

  • Expression of Interest deadline with confirmation that the applicant would be able to attend in person the conference in London on 13-14 January 2025: Thursday 12 December 2024 at 17:00 (GMT)
  • Applicant must confirm in writing in their abstract/outline that the contributor(s) will be available to attend in-person a kick-off discussion with the programme at the British Academy on 13-15 January 2025. The Academy will cover reasonable travel and accommodation costs incurred.

Please submit a proposal comprising a brief two-page only CV, and a short outline or abstract that describes the paper you would like to contribute. These should be sent by email to p.strigel@thebritishacademy.ac.uk and s.rahman@thebritishacademy.ac.uk

28. NEW: Open for Applications: Royal Academy of Engineering Postdoctoral Fellowship for Intelligence Community Research https://funding.myresearchconnect.com/Scheme/View/RAEng-UK-IC-Postdoctoral-Research-Fellowship-Programme-GRUKRES!S16787

Award funding of up to £250,000 over two years to support outstanding postdoctoral science or engineering researchers undertaking unclassified basic research in areas of interest to the UK intelligence, security and defence communities. The awards will fund up to 80% (fEC) of projects that address any of the priority topics, which are identified by members of the UK Intelligence Community. Application is open to early career postdoctoral researchers, within five years of award of a PhD, who are citizens of Australia, Canada, the EEA, New Zealand, the UK or the US. Deadline 29 April 2025.

29. UK-India Collaboration: Grants Available for Industrial Net Zero Research Projects https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2080/overview/437c2e0e-6be8-4fee-ad4d-e5968dbf8577

The initiative, jointly run by Innovate UK and India’s Department of Science and Technology, aims to accelerate innovations in areas like advanced materials, renewable energy, and decarbonising manufacturing. Grants ranging from £100,000 to £300,000 are available for UK participants, with a total allocation of £2 million for this funding round. Deadline 12 February 2025 (11:00 GMT)

30. AHRC/ESRC International Fellowships for PhD and Early Career Researchers 2025: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/international-fellowships-for-phd-and-early-career-researchers-2025/

Apply for a funded fellowship at an international institution. Fellowships are available at:

  • USA: Harry Ransom Center, Huntington Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, Yale Centre for British Art
  • Japan: National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU)
  • China: Shanghai Theatre Academy

You will receive £1,000 for travel and visa costs (£1,200 for travel to Japan and China) and £1,925 for each month of the fellowship. You can apply for two to six months of funding. Deadline 13 March 2025.

31. Academy of Medical Sciences Professorship Scheme https://acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/grant-schemes/academy-of-medical-sciences-professorship-scheme

The Academy of Medical Sciences is delighted to announce the call for applications to its Professorship Scheme. Working in partnership with UK Higher Education Institutions, they will be providing an attractive package of support to biomedical and healthcare researchers taking up a full Professorship in the UK. These awards will offer flexible support to biomedical and healthcare researchers, who have moved to the UK, during the initial years of a full Professorship. Deadline: 8 January 2025

32. Google Research Scholar Program: https://research.google/programs-and-events/research-scholar-program/

The Research Scholar Program aims to support early-career professors [UK-speak] who are pursuing research in fields relevant to Google (see list of areas in the link) – applicants must have received their PhD within seven years of submission. The funds granted will be up to $60,000 USD and are intended to support the advancement of the professor’s research. Deadline 27 January 2025.

 

33. REMINDER: UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships Round 10: Newcastle University Selection and Support Now Open: https://newcastle.sharepoint.com/hub/rai/rfd/news/Pages/FLFRound10.aspx

Newcastle University’s Selection and Support Exercise for Round 10 of the UKRI Future Leader Fellowships is now open. The scheme is open to early career researchers and innovators and welcomes applicants from around the world. While not strictly international funding, we encourage you to reach out to your international contacts to encourage them to consider to be hosted at Newcastle. Awards are for an ambitious programme of research and to support career development for up to four years, with the ability to extend for a further three years, to focus and continue your development. Newcastle is limited by the funder to making 6 applications in this round.  We will therefore be holding a Selection and Support Process.

34. NEW: NIH funding opportunities focusing on global health and foreign collaboration:

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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