International Research Funding Circular -26 June 2026

News

1. NEW: ERC Advanced Grant 2025 results: https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/erc-2025-advanced-grants-results

Congratulations to Prof. Marion Pfeifer (School of Natural and Environmental Sciences), awardee of an ERC Advanced Grant 2025 for her project entitled ‘From Forests to Fields to Sustainable Rural Landscapes: A Multiscale Framework for Quantifying Biodiversity and Climate Interrelationships’. Marion is one of the 319 new ERC Advanced Grant winners (9.6% success rate) as part of a €840 million to support Europe’s leading researchers. The ERC Advanced Grant 2026 call is open with a deadline of 27 August 2026.

 

2. NEW: Australia joins Horizon Europe: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/australia-nz/news/european-union-and-australia-successfully-conclude-horizon-europe

The European Commission and Australia have successfully concluded negotiations on Australia’s association to Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation funding program. Under the transitional arrangement, from January 2027, Australian entities will move from third-country participation rules to being treated as eligible entities from an associated country under Pillar 2.

3. NEW: U.S. researchers face new restrictions on publishing with foreign collaborators: https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-researchers-face-new-restrictions-publishing-foreign-collaborators

Grants managers at two of the U.S. government’s largest funders of scientific research have recently placed unprecedented limitations on the ability of U.S. scientists to publish with co-authors from other countries, researchers say.

4. NEW: UUKi’s response: FCDO’s approach to higher education and research partnerships as part of its development strategy: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/165501/html/

Universities UK international (UUKi) welcome the opportunity to respond to this inquiry given the critical role the higher education (HE) sector has played in supporting global development

 

Horizon Europe Travel Fund

 

5. Horizon Europe Travel Funding still available- don’t miss out before the 8 July deadline- https://forms.office.com/e/R7Swf3Ag2X.

A small pot of funding is currently available through the Horizon Europe Travel Fund, offering a great opportunity to support Newcastle University staff in developing grant proposals. The fund provides small awards (typically ~£1,000) to help cover travel and subsistence costs for meetings with EU partners, National Contact Points, or for attending brokerage events.

The deadline for applications is 8 July 2026, so we encourage you to apply soon to take advantage of this support. Please note that all expenditure must be incurred by 31 July 2026, even if travel takes place afterwards. You can submit your request here: https://forms.office.com/e/R7Swf3Ag2X. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact sarah.urquhart@newcastle.ac.uk.

 

 

Events

 

6. REMINDER: FMS Horizon Europe Symposium 2026, Date: Thursday 9th July, Dame Margaret Barbour Building, 3.17, (10.00-12:30): https://forms.office.com/e/05F4Mc4yKZ

Interested in European funding for research and innovation? Join us at the FMS Horizon Europe Symposium to explore collaborative funding opportunities. The event will provide an overview of Horizon Europe, how to identify and interpret relevant call topics, and build effective EU partnerships. You will also hear first-hand from colleagues with experience of Horizon Europe projects during a panel discussion, sharing insights on working in consortia, delivering impact, and lessons learned. The session will be followed by lunch and a chance to network.  Please register your attendance using this form so we can manage numbers and share follow-up materials and information. Full agenda available on the registration form.

 

7. Horizon Europe Reapply Masterclass: In-person, Birmingham 30 June 2026: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/events/horizon-europe-reapply-masterclass-2026/

Have you applied for Horizon Europe but didn’t secure funding? Innovate UK and the UK National Contact Points are an in-person Horizon Europe Masterclass events for experienced applicants who were unsuccessful in previous submissions. Taking place in Birmingham (30 June 2026), the sessions will help participants strengthen future proposals through sector-specific exercises, collaborative workshops, and guidance on improving applications. Aimed at those planning to reapply to Pillars 2 and 3, the events offer practical support to increase chances of success. Register here. * The Horizon Europe Travel Fund can cover the cost (rail, subsistence) to attend this Masterclass*

 

8.  ERC Starting Grant 2027 Webinar, 2 July 2026, 10:00-12:00:https://www.ukro.ac.uk/events/erc-starting-grant-2027-webinar/

This webinar provides guidance for researchers preparing for the ERC Starting Grant 2027 call, including eligibility, application requirements and the evaluation process. Register to attend.

 

9. Getting Started with COST Actions, Tuesday 14th July, 12:00-13:00, Online, https://www.cost.eu/

Join us for a one-hour online session exploring COST Action networking grants and how they can help researchers, especially early career, build international networks and get started with European funding. The session will include input from the UK Representative on the COST Scientific Committee, along with short talks from academics sharing their experiences of taking part in COST Actions. This session is aimed at researchers who are interested in developing international collaborations and future funding opportunities. Full agenda on the registration form

10. NEW: UUKi research collaboration webinar: UK-India, 14 July 2026, 9:30am – 11:30am (BST): https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/events/uuki-research-collaboration-webinar-uk

This webinar aims to strengthen bilateral research collaboration between the UK and India by connecting research communities from both countries and showcasing key funding opportunities. The session will provide a platform for UK and Indian researchers and professional services staff to network, share insights, and learn about available funding streams from leading research funders. Registration link and further details can be found here.

 

European related funding

11. NEW: Innovate UK: 3rd UK–Switzerland Bilateral Innovation Call, opens 1 July 2026: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/3rd-uk-switzerland-bilateral-call-for-joint-innovation-projects/

Innovate UK and Innosuisse will jointly invest up to £3m and CHF 3m in collaborative innovation projects. Open to UK and Swiss partners, the call aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration in emerging technologies, with a focus on semiconductors, life sciences and engineering biology. Deadline: 3 September 2026, 11am.

 

12. NEW: RADIANCE MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Handbook 2026 – published: https://www.ukro.ac.uk/news/radiance-msca-postdoctoral-fellowships-handbook-2026-published/

The RADIANCE MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Handbook 2026 has been published. Developed by MSCA National Contact Points, in close collaboration with the European Research Executive Agency (REA) and the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Unit.

 

13. Grants for short-term STEM post-graduate study at University of Padova:  https://newcastle.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/hub/rai/rfd/IQCkwKsEl0qoSZi3rrXBS6IMAcRKHHEKgxPfXG6xLVt-VKg?e=0J4wGS

The Fondazione Ing. Aldo Gini, at the University of Padova, Italy, has released a call for grant applications to support short-term PG study in Padova.  The grants are specifically for students who already hold a Masters qualification, so could be suitable for many of our current PGR students in SAgE who might relish the opportunity to work in Italy for a short time next academic year – for example, to continue with their PhD research under the supervision of an academic at Padova, or perhaps to pause their studies here at Newcastle to undertake a period of adjacent study at Padova. Only STEM disciplines are included in the call – specifically Agriculture, Engineering, and  Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences. For more details and how to apply, download this document. Application deadline 15 September 2026.

14. EU Award for Gender Equality Champions Opens for 2026: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/prizes/eu-award-gender-equality-champions_en

The European Commission has launched the 2026 Horizon Europe Award for Gender Equality Champions, recognising organisations with strong outcomes from implementing Gender Equality Plans (GEPs). Open to universities and research organisations across eligible countries, the award promotes inclusive policies and institutional change. Applicants may apply to one of three categories—Sustainable, Newcomer, or Inclusive Champions—with four prizes of €100,000 available. Deadline: 29 September 2026.

15. 2026 Sophie Germain Funding Scheme: https://uk.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/node/71/cooperation-higher-education-research-and-innovation

The 2026 call will support projects on two priority themes: artificial intelligence (AI) and health. These two themes are cross-disciplinary and open to all disciplines, including the humanities and social sciences. Initiated on a bilateral level, these projects are intended to lead to broader cooperation on a European scale, as part of an application to the Horizon Europe programme. For the 2026 call, projects will receive up to €50,000 in funding. Deadline: 13 July 2026.

16. NOW OPEN: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships

The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 call will open in April. Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) target researchers holding a PhD with up to eight years of research experience who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.  If you are interested in hosting (as named supervisor) a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow currently based overseas we encourage you to reach out to them and get in touch with sarah.urquhart@newcastle.ac.uk. Deadline: 9 September 2026.

 

17. Wiko Early Career Fellowships Open for Researchers Across Disciplines Worldwide: https://www.wiko-berlin.de/en/becoming-a-fellow/wiko-early-career-calls

The Institute for Advanced Study Berlin (Wiko) is inviting applications for its Early Career Fellowship Programme, which offers residential fellowships in Berlin for outstanding postdoctoral researchers aiming to advance a defined research project. The programme includes two streams: humanities and social sciences, and life and natural sciences. Applicants must hold a PhD and demonstrate strong publication records, such as a monograph for humanities scholars or multiple high-impact articles for science and social science candidates. Fellowships last 10 months for humanities and social sciences, and three to five months for life and natural sciences, with financial support provided through teaching replacement costs of up to €60,000. Deadline: 1 September 2026 for humanities and social sciences, and 1 November 2026 for life and natural sciences.

 

18. Virtual Institute for the Carbon Cycle (VICC): https://www.schmidtsciences.org/vicc/

The goal of VICC is two-fold: (a) improve understanding and reduce uncertainty of both natural and anthropogenic components of the global carbon budget to inform (detect/attribute) mitigation in carbon emissions, and (b) improve understanding and reduce uncertainty on future changes in the global carbon cycle, including carbon-climate feedbacks, to inform climate policies. VICC is soliciting short EOIs for projects that will enable these two goals. They aim to support several multidisciplinary and international teams of researchers by providing sustained funding for up to 5 years and networking support to pursue research with revolutionary promise. Projects may hinge on improving mechanistic understanding of key components of the carbon cycle, modeling, observational, or data assimilation improvements, or any combination thereof. Deadline: 28^th August 2026

19. Jérôme Lejeune Foundation – Autumn 2026 Call (Down Syndrome Research): https://www.fondationlejeune.org

The Jérôme Lejeune Foundation invites applications for its Autumn 2026 call supporting research on Down syndrome (trisomy 21). Grants fund fundamental, translational and clinical projects aimed at advancing understanding or developing new therapeutic approaches. Two grant types are available: pilot grants (up to €50,000) and advanced grants (up to €80,000). Applicants must hold a PhD, MD (or equivalent) and a permanent position at an academic institution. Open internationally. Deadline: 14 August 2026

20. ERC Plus Grant Launched 2026: https://www.ukro.ac.uk/news/erc-plus-grant-2026/

The European Research Council has introduced the ERC+ Grant 2026 to provide additional support to leading researchers building on ERC-funded projects. The scheme aims to strengthen research impact and capacity. Further details on eligibility and implementation are expected. The submission deadline is on 2 September 2026.

 

21. Henry Jacques Le Même Architecture Writing Prize 2026: https://sfa.wiin.io/fr/
The Société française des architectes (SFA) invites submissions for the 2026 Henry Jacques Le Même Prize, an architecture writing competition exploring the relationship between writing and the built environment. Applicants must submit a text (max. 20,000 characters, in French) offering a detailed depiction of a place centred on a constructed building; entries may be in any literary genre and submitted individually or in teams of up to three. The competition is open to all, regardless of nationality. Prizes are €2,500 for first place, €1,000 for second, and €500 for third. Deadline: 7 September 2026.

 

22. SPRIND Launches FUNKE Quantum Challenges for Sensing Data Integration: https://www.sprind.org/en/actions/challenges

Bundesagentur fur Sprunginnovationen (SPRIND, German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation) has opened applications for two FUNKE challenges focused on quantum sensing and data use. The FUNKE Quantum-Driven Intelligence Challenge focuses on connecting high-precision quantum sensor data with existing data sources, models and sensor systems to derive decision-relevant information that is not otherwise accessible. Supported projects are expected to develop practical applications or scenarios where quantum sensing integration materially improves existing systems, models or analytical methods. Stage 1 will support 15 teams for four months at €200,000 per project. Stage 2 will support 10 teams for two months at €100,000 per project. The FUNKE Quantumsense Exploration Challenge supports teams developing methods to identify and leverage new quantum sensors or quantum systems for sensing applications more rapidly, systematically and at greater scale. Possible approaches include AI-supported exploration based on physical simulations and systematic, AI-assisted analysis of cross-disciplinary scientific literature. This second challenge will support 10 teams in Stage 1 for five months at €450,000 per project, followed by Stage 2 support for seven teams for two months at €150,000 per project. Deadline: 6 September 2026

23. Horizon Europe – FINAL Work Programmes 2026-27 published

The European Commission has published the final versions of the 2026-27 call topics for all the clusters and missions and a number of the other main funding instruments (to download work programmes see here: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/horizon-europe-work-programmes_en ). For convenience, we have put together summary tables of all call topic titles in the ​​ linked Excel spreadsheet​​​ ​which has been updated to reflect the final work programmes – please use these to browse any topics that are of interest to you and that you may be able to contribute to (if you have looked at earlier versions, please check in case of changes). Once you have identified a topic(s) of interest, please search their call reference within the relevant full Work Programme PDF for full details. Many of the 2026 call topics have deadlines in March-April with some later around September — while we advise you to already start taking action for the 2027 calls. [For reference, you can find historic and future draft work programmes at: https://sciencebusiness.net/horizon-papers] They include:

• Cluster 1 – Health: FINAL
• Cluster 2 – Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society: FINAL
• Cluster 3 – Civil security for society:  FINAL
• Cluster 4 – Digital, industry, space: FINAL
• Cluster 5 – Climate, energy and mobility: FINAL
• Cluster 6 – Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment: FINAL
• Missions: FINAL
• New European Bauhaus Facility: FINAL
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: FINAL
• European Research Council: 2026 (2027 is expected around May 2026)
• European Innovation Council: FINAL
• European Innovation Ecosystems: FINAL
• WIDERA (Widening, European Research Area): FINAL
• Research infrastructures: FINAL
• Horizontal activities: FINAL

For reference: General Introduction and General Annexes

**Please do reach out to the Research Funding Development team for support: jarlath.mckenna@newcastle.ac.uk or sarah.urquhart@newcastle.ac.uk**

 

24. Opportunities for Researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in Horizon Europe: https://horizoneuropencpportal.eu/sites/default/files/2026-01/ssh-opportunities_2026-27_final.pdf

A guide that maps all Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) funding opportunities for 2026–2027, including an in‑depth analysis of SSH‑relevant topics across the entire Work Programme has been released.

25. NOW OPEN: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks 2026: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/doctoral-networks

MSCA Doctoral Networks fund doctoral programmes, consisting of a European consortium recruiting up to 15 PhD studentships, designed to respond to identified needs in various research and innovation areas. MSCA Doctoral Networks design doctoral programmes to develop entrepreneurial, innovative doctoral candidates. The aim is to equip these candidates with the right combination of research-related and transferable competencies, enhancing their career perspectives both within and outside academia. The funded Doctoral Networks will hold open recruitment procedures throughout the course of the maximum 48-month project and the recruited candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria outlined in the MSCA Work Programme. Please reach out to jarlath.mckenna@newcastle.ac.uk if interested with the next annual deadline 24 November 2026.