International Research Funding Circular – 27 June 2025
Please see the latest European and International research funding information, event and opportunity updates.
News
1. REMINDER: Spending Review 2025 – Horizon Europe, FP10 and ISPF https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2025-document/spending-review-2025-html
The Spending Review confirmed DSIT’s current allocation for Horizon Europe and suggested that allocations towards the successor to Horizon Europe, FP10, have been included within the DSIT budgets which also notes the willingness of the government to associate to the programme in principle. This is welcome news. However, exact allocations and timing of DSIT expenditure are still to be determined.
The Spending Review does not make any direct reference to the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). However, DSIT’s allocation looks to remain relatively stable, suggesting that some form of international fund will exist (ISPFv2.0 or otherwise). It’s also important to mention that there is Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocation for science, innovation and technology. However, the allocation will be tailing down over the Spending Review period, as we would have expected given the ODA cut from 0.5% to 0.3%. Because of this, we don’t anticipate much – if any – new low/middle-income country/ODA activity within ISPFv2.0.
Events
2. CHANGED DATE: UKRO webinar for MSCA Doctoral Networks 2025, 10:00-12:00 on 10 July 2025: https://www.ukro.ac.uk/events/save-the-date-2025-msca-doctoral-networks-information-webinar/
UKRO, in its capacity as UK National Contact Point for the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), is holding an information webinar for organisations and individuals interested in applying to the 2025 MSCA Doctoral Networks call (call opens 28 May 2025). The webinar aims to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of the call, including the eligibility criteria, budget, and other points for consideration.
European related funding
3. NEW: Quantum Technologies (QuantERA II) 2025 call pre-announcement: https://quantera.eu/call-2025/
QuantERA II is a European Research Area network focused on quantum technologies (QT). It has issued a pre-announcement of a new call in Quantum Sciences and Technologies scheduled to launch in September 2025. The Call will comprise of two topics: Quantum Phenomena and Resources (QPR) and Applied Quantum Science (AQS). Projects are expected to address one or more of the following research areas: Quantum communication, Quantum computing, Quantum simulation, Quantum sensing and metrology, General quantum science. Projects are expected to last for 24 to 36 months. The project consortia must have a minimum of three eligible partners requesting funding in at least three of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom. The call will be announced in September 2025 with deadline 5 December 2025.
4. REMINDER: Launch of Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) Call 11 https://www.ihi.europa.eu/apply-funding/ihi-call-11
IHI has launched Call 11, an two-stage call with topics on brain dysfunction, the link between infections and non-communicable diseases, pharmacovigilance, type 1 diabetes, and ambulatory surgical centres. IHI is holding online info sessions on the call topics and IHI’s rules and procedures from 23 to 30 June 2025. Registration is free but obligatory. Note: UK entities are eligible to receive funding under topic 1 (Towards precision medicine: platform for transdiagnostic stratification of brain dysfunction HORIZON-JU-IHI-2025-11-01-two-stage), but not eligible to receive funding under topics 2 to 5. Deadline: First stage proposals to Call 11 must be submitted by 9 October 2025.
5. REMINDER: Horizon Europe – Work Programmes 2025 published and early 2026-27 drafts pre-published – SUMMARY CALL TOPICS ATTACHED
The European Commission have published the Horizon Europe Work Programmes for 2025 (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/horizon-europe-work-programmes_en), and also pre-published early drafts of the 2026-27 call topics for a number of the clusters and missions (to download work programmes see here: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/news/insight-into-horizon-europe-work-2026-2027-programmes/). For convenience, we have put together summary tables of all call topic titles in the attached Excel spreadsheets – please use these to browse any topics that are of interest to you and that you may be able to contribute to. Once you have identified a topic(s) of interest, please search their call reference within the relevant full Work Programme PDF available via the above links. Please note that not all 2026-27 work programmes are available (e.g. clusters 2 and 3) but leaked drafts can be found on Science Business website: https://sciencebusiness.net/horizon-papers Keep checking this site regularly for updated versions. Please note we have a NU Horizon Europe Travel Fund to support Newcastle staff travel (all spend before the end of July 2025) to engage with partners for these calls.
6. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Open: https://www.iriscc.eu/open-calls
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral fellowships target researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. The fellowship helps researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors. In a nutshell, an experienced researcher (Fellow), of any nationality, develops a research project with a new supervisor based in Europe (host). The Fellow comes from any country in the world or moves within Europe. Moving country is compulsory. The application will address the fellow’s training and career needs, including training on transferable skills, planning for publications and participation in conferences. Placements or secondments in non-academic environments is strongly encouraged. The application is prepared by the fellow and supervisor who offers appropriate mentoring and support. Regular exchanges between the supervisor and the fellow are the backbone of a competitive application. The fellowships, generously funded, typically last for two years. Application deadline is 10 September 2025. Please let Sarah.Urquhart@newcastle.ac.uk know asap if you are planning to host (as supervisor) an applicant, in order to provide support for the application.
7. MSCA Doctoral Networks 2025: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks
The MSCA Doctoral Networks 2025 are a funding opportunity that aims to train doctoral candidates in research and innovation, with a focus on developing skills relevant for both academic and non-academic sectors. The program supports three implementation modes: Standard Doctoral Networks, Joint Doctorates, and Industrial Doctorates. Applicants apply as a consortium network and with each beneficiary institution/organisation typically hosting a couple of PhD students each. Deadline 25 November 2025.
8. 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.
9. MSCA Staff Exchanges 2025: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/staff-exchanges
The Staff Exchanges action funds short-term international and inter-sectoral exchanges of staff members involved in research and innovation activities of participating organisations. The aim is to develop sustainable collaborative projects between different organisations from the academic and non-academic sectors (in particular SMEs), based in Europe and beyond. Exchanged staff benefit from new knowledge, skills and career development perspectives, while participating organisations increase their research and innovation capacities. Staff Exchanges are open to international consortia of universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs and other non-academic organisations. Deadline 8 October 2025.
10. European Innovation Council Pathfinder Challenges 2025: https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-pathfinder/eic-pathfinder-challenges-2025_en
The EIC Pathfinder enables multidisciplinary research teams to develop the scientific basis to underpin breakthrough technologies. This route supports early stage development of future technologies up to proof of concept. The EIC Pathfinder Challenges topics for 2025 (deadline 29 October 2025) are:
- Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing
- Generative-AI based Agents to Revolutionize 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
11. Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals
The mission of CBE JU is to advance a competitive bioeconomy for a sustainable Europe. To achieve this goal, the public-private partnership is funding projects developing innovative and sustainable bio-based solutions, with a focus on these strategic priorities: feedstock, processing, products, as well as cross-cutting aspects of communication and environmental sustainability. The CBE JU 2025 call for project proposals will open for submission on 4 April 2025 with foreseen deadline of 17 September 2025. Meanwhile, you can already prepare your proposal based on the call topic text published in the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025.
12. Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking 2025 calls
Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking has published its 2025/26 Biannual Work Programme and this includes the 2025 Calls for Proposals (Annex VI, page 141 onward). There is €138.7m available across 10 Topics, nine of which have a planned opening date of October this year with a proposal submission deadline of February 2026.
13. ERC changes to the 2026 and 2027 Work Programmes https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/changes-2026-and-2027-work-programmes
The European Research Council (ERC) has announced changes to the 2026 and 2027 Work Programmes, including new application structures, evaluation criteria, additional funding options, and expanded eligibility for Starting and Consolidator Grants.
14. MSCA Staff Exchanges – new call to co-fund Brazilian-EU research partnerships https://confap.org.br/
The new call by the Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP) will top up selected MSCA Staff Exchanges projects, enabling Brazilian entities to carry out joint research projects with European and international partners and to second their staff in Europe. The scheme will promote mobility of researchers in both directions and create a balanced flow of exchanges. This will strengthen research ties between Europe and Brazil and drive forward scientific and technological progress by enhancing long-term bilateral institutional cooperation and collaborative research. Deadline: 8th October 2025.
15. SNS JU Advanced 5G/6G Trials in Key Vertical Sectors Call Open https://smart-networks.europa.eu/
The Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) has opened the 2025 call for proposals to fund trials and pilots with Verticals (Stream D).
This new call expands the SNS JU commitment to accelerating vertical sector adoption of advanced connectivity technologies. With €24 million in EU funding, it complements the €104 million already allocated under Streams B and C, bringing the total EU public investment for 2025 to €128 million. Deadline: 18 September 2025.
16. European Prize for Women Innovators Opens for 2025 https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-prizes/european-prize-women-innovators-powered-eic-eit_en
For 2025, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) are delivering prizes to the most inspiring women entrepreneurs whose groundbreaking innovation is creating a positive impact for people and planet. The Prize aims to demonstrate the central role women play in creating a new more sustainable Europe, and to inspire other women and girls to realise their full potential as the EU’s future scientists, innovators, and tech leaders. Deadline: 25 September 2025
17. CNRS-Insmi ‘Postes Rouges’ France Visits for Researchers Worldwide https://www.insmi.cnrs.fr/fr/postes-rouges-2026
CNRS-Insmi has launched a call for proposals enabling researchers from outside France to take up medium-term positions (known as postes rouges) within CNRS Unités Mixtes de Recherche (UMR – Joint Research Units), Fédérations de Recherche (FR – Research Federations), International Research Laboratories (IRLs) or International Research Networks (IRNs), alongside a partner belonging to the chosen laboratory. Travel costs, visas, accommodation and meals will be covered for the duration of the visit. The visit will last for three months. In 2026, a maximum of 60 months of funding will be awarded. The following funding options are available:
- Fixed-term contracts (CDD). This will require the research to open a French bank account.
- Positions offered as ‘missions’, where the host laboratory will cover all expenses. In this case, CNRS-Insmi will provide a lump sum of €3,000/month to the host laboratory.
Deadline: 30th September 2025
Official development assistance (ODA) related funding
18. NEW: British Academy International Writing Workshops 2025: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/writing-workshops/
The intention of the Writing Workshops is to cultivate professional networks and mentorship and provide access for early career researchers in developing countries to the academic requirements of journals, including international journals, and to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to publish in these journals. The British Academy is inviting proposals for Writing Workshops in Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and/or Least Developed Countries. 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.
19. British Council – ISPF research collaboration grants 2025: https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/short-articles/opportunities/stay-tuned-ispf-research-collaboration-grants-2025
Get ready to submit your expression of interest for the research collaboration grants, opening on 2 June and closing on 23 June 2025, as part of the International Science Partnerships Fund. This third call for Research Collaboration invites UK institutions to partner with counterparts in Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey. A total of £1.4 million is available for UK institutions to support up to 24 bilateral projects across 6 countries/territories. Deadline is 23 June 2025.
General international
20. NEW: NERC-NASA Pre-announcement: multiple model assessment of biological influence on ocean carbon: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/multiple-model-assessment-of-biological-influence-on-ocean-carbon/
This is a pre-announcement for a funding opportunity to deliver the multiple model assessment of biological influence on ocean carbon component of the Biological Influence on Future Ocean Storage of Carbon (BIO-Carbon) research programme, and NASA’s Export Processes in the Ocean from Remote Sensing (EXPORTS) programme. Apply for funding for a UK-US project to incorporate new representations of key processes regulating ocean carbon storage in contrasting global models. US researchers must be affiliated with a US institution at the time of application submission.
The full economic cost (FEC) of the UK component can be up to £625,000. It is expected to open in February 2026.
ALSO NEW: NERC-NASA Pre-announcement: Biological influence on ocean carbon: novel modelling approaches: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/biological-influence-on-ocean-carbon-novel-modelling-approaches/
Apply for funding for a UK-US project to develop new representations of key processes regulating ocean carbon storage for use in global models. The full economic cost (FEC) of the UK component can be up to £312,500. Opening date to be confirmed.
21. NEW: Leducq Foundation International Networks of Excellence 2025 call: https://www.fondationleducq.org/international-networks-of-excellence-how-to-apply/how-to-apply/
The International Networks of Excellence in Cardiovascular and Neurovascular Research Program (INEP) was created to promote internationally collaborative basic, translational and clinical research into cardiovascular and neurovascular disease. The annual programme brings together a network of international researchers with complementary expertise and resources to generate new knowledge with the potential to advance the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and/or neurovascular disease. Networks are awarded up to $8.5 million over five years. A total of four grants will be awarded during the application cycle. The INE program is open to investigators worldwide. Network coordinators must be from different continents. All Leducq networks should demonstrate the added value of international collaboration for their research program. The Letter of Intent deadline is 3 September 2025.
22. NEW: US-UK and Germany-UK collaborative research: seed funding in semiconductor security: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/us-uk-and-germany-uk-collaborative-research-seed-funding-in-semiconductor-security/
Apply for funding to initiate collaborative projects with either the US or Germany in the field of semiconductor security. Applicants may request up to £100,000 for short term visits or short-term projects, to be completed by 31 March 2026. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding. Applications from early career researchers or including post-doctoral researchers are particularly welcome. Deadline 31 July 2025.
23. NEW: EPSRC Canada-UK NetworkPlus in semiconductor research: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/canada-uk-networkplus-in-semiconductor-research/
Apply for funding to build a Canada-UK academic NetworkPlus in semiconductor research, share expertise in areas of joint interest and seed future projects. Funding for this activity is unilateral. It will develop a roadmap and vision for a longer-term larger scale Canada-UK initiative in semiconductors. The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £1,125,000. Deadline 10 September 2025.
24. British Academy International Interdisciplinary Research Projects 2026: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/knowledge-frontiers-international-interdisciplinary-research/
The British Academy is inviting proposals for the next round of its International Interdisciplinary Research programme. Projects will be led by UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences working with international partners and wishing to develop genuinely interdisciplinary projects that range across all SHAPE and STEM disciplines on the theme of Transnational and Planetary challenges. The total funding available per award in this call is up to £300,000 over 2 years. Deadline: 17 September 2025.
25. Royal Society International Science Partnerships Fund International Collaboration Awards, Japan: https://royalsociety.org/grants/international-collaboration-awards-ispf/
The International Science Partnerships Fund International Collaboration Awards, Japan will provide funding to enable outstanding emerging research leaders in the UK and Japan jointly to develop bilateral research collaborations. Royal Society covers science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Applications can apply to the Royal Society for up to £225,000 over three years (£75,000 per year). Deadline 08 July 2025.
26. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Equity in Access Research Program: https://www.lls.org/research/equity-access-research-grants
We are reissuing the RFP Building Evidence for Effective Interventions to Increase Therapeutic Cancer Clinical Trial Accrual: Promoting Access for Patients from Underrepresented Groups. Awards will be a maximum of $2.5 million each over 5 years. Specifically, we seek proposals that will implement and evaluate interventions designed to:
· Mitigate multilevel barriers to therapeutic clinical trial accrual for underrepresented groups
· Quantitatively measure the impact of these interventions on patient accrual
We are particularly interested in proposals that address systemic, institutional, and/or clinician-related barriers that impede clinical trial participation. It is not necessary for applicants to have previously conducted research in blood cancer. The due date for Letters of Intent is September 11, 2025, at 3 pm ET. Join us on June 18, 2025 at 12pm ET for a pre-application webinar that will provide an overview of the RFP, including objectives, application instructions, and review criteria. You can register for the webinar here.
27. OECD International Event Sponsorship and Individual Travel Fellowship Awards: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/co-operative-research-programme.html
The OECD’s Co-operative Research Programme: Sustainable Agricultural and Food Systems (CRP) exists to strengthen scientific knowledge and provide relevant scientific information and advice that will inform future policy decisions related to the sustainability of agriculture, food, fisheries and forests. We welcome applications from anyone interested in organising an event (conference, workshop or symposium) on state-of-the-art research issues in agriculture, food, fisheries or forests or who would like to spend time working with researchers in another country. Deadline 10 September 2025.
28. JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan: https://www.jsps.go.jp/file/storage/j-fellow/j-fellow_14/application_requirements/2026/2026_applicationguideline_e.pdf
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is the leading research funding agency in Japan, established by the Japanese Government for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science. Our Invitational Fellowships provide the opportunity for researchers based outside of Japan to conduct collaborative research activities with leading research groups at Japanese universities and research institutions for single visits of between 14 days to 10 months. Eligible applicants need to be established researchers with an excellent record of research achievements. Eligible research fields are not limited. A JSPS invitational fellowship can be awarded to the same researcher multiple times. Deadline: 29 August 2025
29. Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (GBSF) grant funding: http://www.gbsf.org.uk/grants/overview/
The Foundation’s aim is to develop good relations between the United Kingdom and Japan by advancing the education of the people of both nations in each other’s culture, society and achievements. It seeks to promote mutual understanding and cooperation through financial support for activities in the following fields: • Arts and Culture • Humanities and Social Issues • Japanese Language • Medicine and Health • Science, Technology and Environment • Sport • Youth and Education. The Foundation’s awards are intended to provide “pump-priming” and not core funding of projects. Standard travel grants between the UK and Japan are £2,000, and up to £2,500 for visits of more than two weeks. This also includes travel for PhD students from UK universities wishing to visit Japan for dissertation research or to complete fieldwork. Applications for longer-term fieldwork of six months or more in Japan can be considered, with grants of up to £5,000. The UK office holds three annual awards meetings, with remaining application deadlines on 15th September and 15th December.
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.