International Research Funding Circular -18 December 2025

Please see the latest European and International research funding information, event and opportunity updates.

News

 

1. NEW:  UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+: https://www.ukro.ac.uk/news/uk-eu-deal-unlocks-erasmus/

The UK and the European Union (EU) has agreed that the UK will join the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027, widening opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, learners, educational, youth and sport staff to study and train abroad. Erasmus+ offers opportunities around education, training, youth, culture and sport for participants of all ages. Over 100,000 people in the UK could benefit from the scheme in the first year alone. Data shows that studying abroad can boost the career prospects of students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds.

2. NEW: US is ‘demolishing its scientific leadership with a wrecking ball,’ says chief EU research diplomat: https://sciencebusiness.net/news/horizon-europe/us-demolishing-its-scientific-leadership-wrecking-ball-says-chief-eu-research

Signe Ratso, who is in charge of negotiating global access to the EU’s €93.5 billion Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, said that the US was “still our most important research partner” but was “currently demolishing its scientific leadership with a wrecking ball.” Ratso said that, with the US trashing its reputation, “Europe has had to learn the very hard way that we need to defend our strategic interests and our values ourselves, starting with freedom and freedom of scientific research.”

 

Events

 

3. Horizon Europe Reapply Masterclass 2026 – Register now, Early 2026, in-person

This event is designed for those who have previously applied for Horizon funding. It will help you understand the reasons behind past outcomes and explore what you can do differently next time to improve your chances of success. This interactive event will include expert presentations and group exercises.

When and where (please express your interest for ONE of the below visits)

• 4 February – Bristol
• 11 February – Edinburgh
• 4 March – Manchester
• 18 March – London

REGISTER NOW: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/events/horizon-europe-reapply-masterclass-2026/

 

4.  UUKi: UK- Poland Research Collaboration Webinar,  13 January 2026, 2-4:30pm, online: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c60baa27-e588-4a34-85f4-fabe8985beb4@b66c9f75-1b5f-4d62-80ff-8ac626f15ced

Join us for a free webinar dedicated to strengthening research collaboration between the UK and Poland. Building on the UUKi Horizon Europe delegation visit to Warsaw, the event brings together key stakeholders, including UUKi and KRASP (university membership bodies), UK and Polish Embassies, and research-funding agencies from both countries to share strategic perspectives, funding opportunities, and Horizon Europe mechanisms. Chaired by UUKI’s Regional Policy Lead for Europe, Professor Amelia Hadfield (University of Surrey), the session concludes with a Networking Spotlight, where participants can showcase their research and collaboration interests. Who should attend: Researchers and professional services staff from the UK and Poland interested in international research partnerships. Slide submission for the spotlight session and registration deadline: 9 January 2026.

 

5.  International Placement Scheme for PhD and Early Career Researchers 2026: arts and humanities

United States: 21 January 2026, 3-3:45pm, online: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d8cba524-3fdb-43b5-9a08-792db905a1c7@8bb7e08e-daa4-4a8e-927e-fca38db04b7e

Asia: 28 January 2026, 9-9:45am, online: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4b64f39f-d230-4e16-8318-b58aaddf1b97@8bb7e08e-daa4-4a8e-927e-fca38db04b7e

Are you a PhD student, early career researcher, or doctoral-level research assistant at a UK institution? Interested in conducting research at unique collections and building global partnerships in the USA (five institutions) or Asia (two institutions, in China and Japan)? Join us to learn how IPS supports international research placements in the arts and humanities at world-leading cultural institutions.

 

6.  N8 ERC Lunch time Webinar Series: information sessions for academics interested in applying to the European Research Council (ERC), offering guidance on writing competitive proposals though insights from ERC award holders and/or reviewers.

 

RECORDED: Video links for past recorded webinars:

• ERC Advanced Grant, Physical Sciences: https://youtu.be/R2lZdePs8QA
• ERC Advanced Grant, Life Sciences: https://youtu.be/mss3CxxRPbI
• ERC Advanced Grant, Social Sciences: https://youtu.be/wdgY97N6N1o

European related funding

 

7. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Horizon Europe – FINAL Work Programmes 2026-27 published – UPDATED SUMMARY CALL TOPICS ATTACHED

The European Commission have now 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 attached 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 — so we advise to take action asap, if not already. [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**

SUMMARY of 2026-27 updates:

Covering the final two years of the €95.5 billion Horizon Europe programme, the Work Programme 2026-27 is designed to be simpler, shorter and more impactful, introducing a number of measures to simplify processes, enhance transparency and boost inclusiveness. These include:

• Less prescriptive topic descriptions – The average length of topic descriptions has been reduced, making these less prescriptive and thereby allowing applicants more flexibility in how they approach the topics. This includes more open topics introduced across clusters in Pillar II. The length of Work Programme 2026-2027 has therefore been reduced by 33% compared with the Work Programme 2023-2024.
• Fewer topics – The number of topics has been reduced by 35% compared with the Work Programme 2023-2024. This is intended to focus resources on fewer but larger topics, thereby increasing the potential impact. The number of topics funding only one project has also been decreased by 50%.
• Increased use of lump-sum funding – 50% of the call budget of the work programme will be implemented through lump sums. This particularly concerns topics intended to result in grants below € 10 million.
• ‘Newcomer-friendly’ and SME-friendly topics – The work programme includes topics that are specifically designed to be newcomer-friendly, encouraging participation by SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, civil society organisations and small public administrations. These topics can, for instance, use the Fast Track to Research and Innovation Scheme. Similarly, there are more topics that allow for financial support to third parties than in previous work programmes.
• Use of two-stage calls – The programme includes 41 call topics with two-stage evaluation. These will allow applicants to submit a shorter summary proposal and only submit a full proposal if successful at the stage of the short proposal evaluation.
• Reduced complexity of proposal template – Standard templates for the most common type of actions have been updated, simplifying the requirements for the impact and implementation sections and reducing the overall page limits.
• Introduction of horizontal calls, which are designed to connect different parts of Horizon Europe in support of key strategic areas. By combining efforts and pooling resources, they aim to create critical mass and deliver greater impact. These topics are intentionally non-prescriptive, giving applicants the flexibility to propose different approaches for achieving the expected outcomes.

 

8.  NEW: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) 2026 calls: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-2-marie-sklodowska-curie-actions_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) 2026 work programme has been published, and the associated calls for proposals will open in late 2025 and throughout 2026. The work programme supports international research collaboration and researcher mobility across Europe and beyond.

Programme	Purpose	Opening Date	Deadline
Staff Exchanges 2026	International, inter-sectoral, interdisciplinary collaboration via staff exchanges	16 Dec 2025	16 Apr 2026
COFUND 2026	Co-funding doctoral/postdoctoral programmes to spread MSCA best practices	16 Dec 2025	8 Apr 2026
Postdoctoral Fellowships	Support for postdocs to gain new skills through mobility and training	9 Apr 2026	9 Sep 2026
Doctoral Networks	Partnerships to train doctoral candidates and boost innovation/employability	28 May 2026	24 Nov 2026

 

For full details of this call, visit the call page on the EU Funding & Tenders portal

9.  NEW: ERC Plus Grants: https://thesciencetalk.com/news/erc-plus-grants-2026-everything-scientists-need-to-know/

ERC Plus Grants are a new funding instrument aimed at empowering outstanding principal investigators to pursue high-risk, high-reward research. These grants focus on the breakthrough-oriented projects that challenge conventional paradigms and open new directions in science and innovation.

The key features of the ERC Plus Grants are:

• Funding: Up to €7 million (lump sum)
• Duration: 4-7 years
• Number of Grants: ~30 per year
• Open to all disciplines, with no quotas
• No pro-rata allocation
• No additional funding
• Opening Date: Tentatively end of June 2026, Deadline: 2nd September 2026 (to be confirmed)

Watch the webinar for more details: Webinar on the new ERC Plus Grants

 

10.  NEW: European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS): https://www.thcspartnership.eu/funding/jtc-2026-access-to-care.kl

THCS launches its fourth Joint Transnational Call (JTC) for proposals aiming to fund research and innovation projects that contribute to ensuring equitable access to and utilisation of health and care services and provide policy and decision makers with the knowledge and tools needed to implement resource reallocation as the health and care system transitions to address new and ongoing challenges. 32 funding agencies participate with an indicative budget of €35 million. UK organisations can participate with a budget of £100-500k for the UK component. There is a webinar recording on the website. Pre-proposal deadline 2 February 2026.

 

11.  European Innovation Council calls 2026

Advanced Innovation Challenges: Deadline: Stage 1- 26 February 2026

A two-stage funding model for two challenges:

• Developing disruptive Physical AI and;
• New Approach Methodologies to replace, reduce or refine animal use in the testing of medicinal products.

This pilot will support high-risk, demand-driven deep tech innovation with transformative potential especially in areas where there is extensive research but lack of commercial uptake (€300,000 lump sum).

EIC Pathfinder: Deadline: EIC Pathfinder- 12 May 2026; EIC Challenges- 28 October 2026

Through both open and challenge calls: For multi-disciplinary research teams to undertake visionary research with the potential to lead to technology breakthroughs (grants up to €4 million). Challenges cover:

• A new generation of advanced materials to deliver miniaturised integrated energy harvesting devices;
• Translating ageing research into tangible biopharmaceutical solutions for healthy ageing; and
• Deep Reasoning, Abstraction & Planning towards trustworthy Cognitive AI Systems.

EIC Transition: Deadline: 19 September 2026

To turn research results into innovation opportunities, following up on results generated by EIC Pathfinder, European Research Council Proof of Concept, Horizon Europe Pillar 2 (societal challenges) collaborative projects and Research Infrastructures projects (grants up to €2.5 million).

EIC Accelerator: Deadline: Rolling until November 2026

Through both open and challenge calls:  For start-ups and SMEs to develop and scale up innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones (UK applicants eligible for grants only, worth up to €2.5 million). Challenges cover:

• Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems;
• Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants;
• Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils;
• Boosting the European Critical Raw Materials value chain; and
• Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation.

Applicants must first submit a short proposal, which will be reviewed and if successful applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.

 

12. EIC Launches Pilot Advanced Innovation Challenges to Accelerate Physical AI and Translate NAMs into Practice: https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/advanced-innovation-challenges-pilot_en

The pilot aims to support high-risk, demand-driven deep tech innovation with transformative potential, especially in areas where extensive research has been conducted but commercial uptake is lacking. There are two predefined challenge topics 1. Accelerating Physical AI: Embodied Intelligence for the Next Frontier of AI-Powered Robotics, 2. Translating Disruptive New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) into Practice. The awards follow a two-stage procedure. At the first stage, applicants will receive a lump sum of €300,000 to prepare and benchmark breakthrough solutions Following this, the most promising stage one solutions will apply for additional funding of up to €2.5 million to develop solutions and test them in real world environments over a two a half year period. Deadline: 26 February 2026

13. European Partnership on One Health Antimicrobial Resistance R&I call 2026: https://ohamr.eu/calls/call-2026-new-treatments-to-tackle-amr/

This first EUP OHAMR joint transnational call for projects will explore new treatments to tackle AMR. The call “Treatments and adherence to treatment protocols”, involves 37 funding organisations from 28 different countries with an estimated total call budget of over 31 million Euro. The call is co-funded by the European Union. The call covers:

• TOPIC 1: Identify and develop new combination treatments using existing or innovative antimicrobials or antimicrobial with adjunctive treatments to extend drug efficacy and combat resistance.
• TOPIC 2: Develop tools and methods to improve adherence to treatment protocols.
• TOPIC 3: Assess the impact of antimicrobials for veterinary and agricultural use on the risk of AMR transmission to humans and the environment to inform policies on the restriction of some antimicrobials for human use.

The funding will be provided by the national/regional research funding organisations participating in the call (for the UK this is MRC and Innovate UK). Each of them will fund their national/regional applicants, according to their own eligibility rules. Webinar for applicants on 26 November 2025 with pre-proposal deadline 02 February 2026.

14. LEAP-SE 2026 call – Europe-Africa (EU-AU)  Partnership on Sustainable Energy: https://www.leap-re.eu/leap-se-call-2026/

The Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy (LEAP-SE) is a six-year programme conducted by a consortium of partners from European and African countries dedicated to developing a long-term research and innovation partnership between Europe and Africa on sustainable energy. The second transnational joint Call under the LEAP-SE programme will fund basic research, applied research and experimental development projects that are 12-36 months long and covering all innovation steps. Applications should be submitted by a consortia consisting of at least two independent legal entities from two different European Union Member States or Horizon Europe-Associated Countries and another two independent legal entities from two countries in the African Union. Each consortium must include at least one partner from the institutional research sector (academic, public research centre, non-profit organisation etc) and one partner from a commercial company coming from participating countries. The list of participating countries from each continent are as follows:

• Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia.
• Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Türkiye, UK.

The maximum funding for each project is €1.5 million and the maximum funding per partner in one project is €500,000. The consortium coordinator should submit a pre-proposal by deadline 05 February 2026.

15. DSIT funding UK participation in EuroHPC (European High Performance Computing) Joint Undertaking Calls

UK public research organisations will be eligible for funding to participate in three upcoming research and innovation calls run by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU). The Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is funding UK teams to develop and optimise exascale and AI‑ready software, toolchains and workflows in areas of national importance. These calls will support structured, cross‑border collaboration with leading European computing centres and further develop the UK compute ecosystem in line with recently published Compute Roadmap. Funding is available for UK proposals in the following calls:

• • HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-COE-LH-01-01: Community Centres of Excellence
  • HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-COE-LH-01-02: Transversal Centres of Excellence
  • HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-COE-LH-01-03: Lighthouse Codes for HPC Applications

Individual proposals should not exceed £1.3 million in proposed UK contribution. Call deadlines 20 January 2026.

16. NEW: €50,000 Ernst Schering Prize Announced to Recognise Pioneering Basic Research in Biology, Medicine and Chemistry: https://scheringstiftung.de/en/programm/lebenswissenschaften/ernst-schering-preis/

The Ernst Schering Prize for Pioneering Basic Research in Biology, Medicine and Chemistry honours scientists worldwide whose pioneering research has yielded new, inspiring models or led to fundamental shifts in biomedical knowledge. Eligible nominees are both individual scientists and collaborative teams worldwide. Nominations may be made by well-established scientists, scientific societies and scientific organisations. The prize consists of a monetary award of €50,000. Deadline: 16 February 2026

General international

 

17. NEW: NIH funding opportunities for which foreign organizations and/or foreign components of U.S. organizations may apply: https://files.simpler.grants.gov/opportunities/b6a413a2-36d3-43b6-a38a-c3dfaebc20c9/attachments/322acd11-1445-44ab-8634-5f000d673c70/PAR-26-116-Full-Announcement.html

Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-26-116) Deadline: March 5, 2027

 

18. Huntington’s Disease Foundation Announces 2026 Grant Cycle for Transformative Research: https://hdfoundation.org/transformative-research-awards/

The HDF Transformative Research Award provides funding for collaborative research teams to create innovative ways to study new pathogenic disease mechanisms and treatment modalities in Huntington’s disease (HD). Individual awards can range from $300,000 to $500,000 per year; the maximum grant period is two years. Funding may be used to cover salary for the Principal Investigator (PI), co-investigator, staff scientists, postdoctoral researchers and, where applicable, graduate students. Applications consist of two steps: Letter of Intent (LoI) and Full Application. LoI deadline: 15 January 2026.

 

19. LEO Foundation Opens 2026 Grants Programme for Dermatological Research Projects: https://leo-foundation.org/en/grants-and-awards/research-grants/

The LEO Foundation is one of Denmark’s largest commercial foundations. It provides Research Grants to support high-quality dermatology research projects worldwide. Applications are invited for research projects that improve the understanding of skin biology as well as the underlying medicinal, biological, chemical, or pharmacological mechanisms of dermatological diseases (excluding skin cancer) and their symptoms. The foundation also supports projects that address clinical issues among people who are at risk of developing, or have developed, a skin disease, including how it impacts their quality of life and the societal costs involved. Typically, research grants are between DKK 2-4 million for a period of one to three years. Funding may be used to cover salary, running costs/operating expenses, equipment, publication costs, travel and conference expenses, tuition fees for PhD students, and overheads up to 5%.

Applications to the 2026 programme must be submitted by one of the following three call deadlines: • Call 1: 8 January 2026 (16:00 CET). • Call 2: 19 March 2026 (16:00 CET). • Call 3: 25 August 2026 (16:00 CET).

 

20. BIRAX: Healthy Ageing Call 2025: https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/short-articles/opportunities/funding-opportunity-birax-healthy-ageing-call-2025

BIRAX (Britain–Israel Research and Academic Exchange) is a multi-million-pound initiative of the British Council and the British Embassy in Israel, together with the Pears Foundation, supporting world-leading research jointly undertaken by scientists in Britain and Israel. This new phase focuses on one of today’s most pressing global challenges: healthy ageing. We invite joint proposals from British and Israeli scientists that deepen understanding of ageing and its impact on health and well-being. Projects should take a holistic approach, using pioneering techniques, state-of-the-art technologies, and interdisciplinary methods. Up to £400,000 available per project over a period of three years. Deadline 01 March 2026.

21. Darwin Plus Local Grants scheme: https://darwinplus.org.uk/how-to-apply/local-applications/

Darwin Plus Local funds projects that protect the unique biodiversity and improve resilience to climate change within the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). It supports small scale environmental projects in the UKOTs, with the aim of improving outcomes for biodiversity, building capacity in-territory and contributing to local economies. Projects must contribute to measurable outcomes in at least one of the Darwin Plus themes (ie biodiversity, climate change, environmental quality, and capability and capacity building) with a clear focus on biodiversity and the natural environment. Projects are encouraged that propose to implement evidence-based proven solutions as well as innovative approaches. Preference will be given to discrete projects implementing environmental solutions, action on the ground or discrete work that aims to deliver a tangible change. Applications must be made by a lead entity, which can be an organisation or individual. The lead entity must be based in one of the UKOTs. Darwin Plus Local will provide grants of up to £50,000 for organisations and up to £20,000 for individuals. Applications will be accepted for projects implemented between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027 (i.e. projects can last for up to 12 months). Deadline 29 December 2025.

22. AHRC/ESRC International Placement Scheme 2026 (pre-announcement): https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/international-placement-scheme-2026/

Apply for a funded placement at an international institution. Placements are available at the following institutions:

• United States: 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 £2,500 for each month of the fellowship. You can apply for two to six months of funding. Deadline 19 March 2026.

23. Roux Prize for Disease Burden Research: https://www.healthdata.org/about/awards/roux-prize

The Roux Prize is awarded by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) to recognise innovation in the use of disease burden research. A prize of $100,000 is awarded to an individual or group that has successfully applied health evidence in innovative ways to safeguard public health and make people healthier. Nominations are invited for an individual or group, based anywhere in the world, that has applied health evidence in innovative ways. The award can be used by the winner for any research, educational or personal purpose. Deadline 03 March 2026.

 

24. 2026 Ernst Mach Grant Worldwide: https://grants.at/en/

The grant programme invites students and young researchers from foreign universities to go to Austria for a research or study visit for a maximum of nine months.

Areas of study or research which are of particular interest to OeAD include: natural sciences; technical sciences; human medicine; Health Sciences; agricultural sciences; social sciences; arts and humanities. Applications are accepted from candidates from all countries except Austria. The maximum age for candidates is 35. Good knowledge of English and/or German, particularly in the respective subject area, is a prerequisite. A monthly grant is awarded for the duration of the stay, up to a maximum of nine months. The monthly rate of the grant is €1,300. Deadline 01 February 2026.

 

25. Millennium Technology Prize: https://millenniumprize.org/

For groundbreaking technological innovations that benefit millions of people around the world. All fields of technology are eligible, excluding military technology. The prize supports technological innovations that broadly improve the life of humankind and promote sustainable development, and that demonstrate present and/or future applications with global commercial viability and industrial exploitation. Innovation should: • Enhance quality of life. • Promote sustainable development, such as the efficient use of Earth’s resources, biodiversity, and mitigation of climate change. • Generate applications with global commercial viability. • Create new accessible socioeconomic value. • Stimulate further cutting-edge research and development in science and technology. Candidates can be either individuals or research groups/teams, but not institutions or organisations. One nomination can include multiple nominees and nominators are encouraged to name everyone whose contributions to the innovation deserve the prize. A total of €1 million will be awarded to the winner(s). Deadline 27 February 2026.

  

26. AHRC-DFG Research Grants: Round Eight (2025 to 2026): https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/ahrc-dfg-research-grants-round-eight-2025-to-2026/

Apply for funding to conduct arts and humanities research projects with German partners. Projects must be composed of two highly integrated national teams based in the UK and Germany. All proposals must demonstrate the added value of international collaboration to research objectives.

The full economic cost of the UK-component of your project can be up to £420,000. Your project can last between 24 to 36 months. Deadline 26 February 2025.

 

27. Health Outcomes of Pet Ownership and Human-Animal Interaction research funding: https://habri.org/grants/funding-opportunities/rfp-addressing-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-hai

Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is inviting proposals for its Addressing Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction funding scheme aimed at exploring the health benefits of human-animal interaction. This initiative supports research that examines the health outcomes associated with pet ownership and animal-assisted interventions (AAI) for both humans and animals. Eligible studies should focus on areas such as the role of pet ownership in promoting wellbeing, the impacts of therapy animals and the effectiveness of AAI in addressing social issues like anxiety, loneliness and trauma. Research proposals must include a solid theoretical framework and aim to produce actionable recommendations for policymakers, veterinarians and health practitioners. HABRI will award approximately five to six grants annually, with an average funding amount of $50,000 per project and a typical duration of 20 months. Deadline 26 February 2025.

28. UKRI (all councils) collaborate with researchers in São Paulo, Brazil: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/collaborate-with-researchers-in-brazil/

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and FAPESP have signed a memorandum of understanding to support collaborative applications. It provides for a lead agency assessment whereby participant UKRI research councils receive and assess joint applications from eligible UK and Brazil-based researchers from the state of São Paulo on behalf of both organisations. UKRI and FAPESP will co-fund applications submitted to participant UKRI councils’ selected responsive mode funding opportunities. No deadline.

29. Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Funding Opportunities https://www.acu.ac.uk/funding-opportunities/funding-opportunities-calendar/

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is currently offering a range of grants, fellowships, and scholarships for university staff and students. These opportunities provide valuable support for research, professional development, and academic collaboration across the Commonwealth. View the ACU Funding Calendar (opportunities also listed below) to see upcoming deadlines throughout the year and plan your applications in advance. Please note that the ACU grants offer is under review and may be subject to change.

• Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships for 2026/27 (application cycle 1) Fully-funded scholarships to study in low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Opens 19 November 2025. Deadline 14 January 2026.
• Supporting Research Community Training Grants Funding staff at ACU member universities to organise and deliver training for their early career researchers. Opens 4 February 2026. Deadline 8 April 2026.
• Gender Grants Funding projects that promote gender equity and equality on university campuses. Opens 5 March 2026. Deadline 6 May 2026.
• Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships for 2026/27 (application cycle 2) Fully-funded scholarships to study in low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Opens 9 April 2026. Deadline 3 June 2026.
• ACU Fellowships Funding collaborative research and the exchange of knowledge, skills and ideas between ACU members. Opens 28 April 2026. Deadline 25 June 2026.

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.