International Research Funding Circular – 15th May 2026

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

News

1. NEW: MSCA “Choose Europe for Science” 2025 call results: https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/whats-new/news/msca-choose-europe-for-science-2025-call-results

The MSCA pilot will fund 16 projects across 25 countries to improve postdoctoral careers through better working conditions, training, and long-term opportunities. Projects are expected to start from August 2026, with job opportunities advertised from September 2026, supporting Europe’s aim to attract and retain top research talent

Events

2. NEW: British Academy ERC Proposal Reading Day, Monday 1^st June, In-person, London

The Academy will host an in-person ERC Proposal Reading Day in London on Monday, 1 June 2026, for Starting and Consolidator Grant applicants, offering participants the opportunity to review a curated set of 50 successful proposals to gain insight into developing competitive applications. The two-hour session involves pre-selecting up to three proposals to read, with limited places available, optional travel reimbursement, and registration required in advance. Interested parties can register online for the Reading Day using an institutional email address.

3. British Academy ERC Advanced Grants Webinar, Friday 19 June 2026, 10:30-12:00 UK time: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=mNaqV-vazkuTDP-jhsLUf9kLpzhfw55CkU-5X4zalJVUNDU2RFZUR002MzZHNDEyUzdDR0I5VDhBQy4u                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The British Academy will be hosting its next webinar on Friday 19 June 2026, 10:30-12:00 UK time for UK based researchers in the humanities and social sciences interested in applying for European Research Council (ERC) grants. The webinar will focus on the ERC Advanced Grants.  If you would like to submit a B1 draft proposal to be considered for feedback during the webinar, please register your interest on the registration form and send your B1 draft to Barbora Krasova (b.krasova@thebritishacademy.ac.uk) no later than Thursday, 4 June at 12:00 (midday).

4. Lump Sum Funding in Horizon Europe: How does it work? How to write a proposal? 04 June 2026, 09:00-11:00 UK time: https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/docs/h2020-funding-guide/other/event260604.htm

For additional documents and links, please check dedicated lump sum page: Lump Sum funding in Horizon Europe on the Funding & Tenders Portal

5. REMINDER: Getting Those Grants – Early Career Research Fellowships – Places Available

Course: Getting Those Grants: Early Career Research Fellowships: The Foundations. Are you an early-career academic or research associate looking to learn more about fellowships?  This session will explain what an early-career fellowship is and to help you prepare for fellowship success. The two sessions below have places available: • Developing a fundable research idea Session 2
• Writing a successful research funding proposal  Session 3

Booking details are on the Learning Management System. Places are limited—please only book if you can attend. You can read more about all of our training at Research Funding Training.   Queries: Jo Gascoigne-Owens (Johanna.gascoigne-owens@ncl.ac.uk).

6. Register: COST Info Day – 16 June 2026, Online, 16 June 2026, 10:00 CEST, https://www.cost.eu

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks. An online session open to researchers and innovators at any career stage and from all disciplines will take place 16th June. The event will explain how to join or propose a COST Action, outline programme impacts, and highlight the benefits for early‑career researchers.

7. MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 Call Information Webinar, Online, 18 June 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 UK time:https://www.ukro.ac.uk/events/msca-doctoral-networks-2026-call-information-webinar/

The event is free to attend and aimed at researchers and staff in UK academic and non‑academic organisations who intend to apply to the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call, which opens on 28 May 2026 and closes on 24 November 2026. The session will provide an overview of the call, including eligibility rules, the funding framework, novelties in the 2026–27 Work Programme, and evaluation criteria. It will also feature contributions from Edward Ricketts (European Research Executive Agency) and Professor Richard M. Hall (University of Birmingham), who will share insights from their experience with the programme.

8. Horizon Europe Cluster 4 and 6 Brokerage Event, 10-11 June 2026,  Newcastle/Darlington, Express interest now: https://info.iukbc.org.uk/cr/AQiqlwgQtNGoARiD2I-NAjD2otISb5aq1a-C6hQuwJHbv86Z1ANSIIpqh9DFMAEx6385VAo

Innovate UK are pleased to announce the latest brokerage event for happening across the UK between 10-11 June. These visits will enable delegates to build partnerships, strengthen collaboration, and to accelerate joint participation in Horizon Europe. This in-person event will include pitches, and pre-arranged meetings involving UK and EU delegates based on their interested WP 2027 topic(s) in scope. Innovate UK will also host site visits, enabling delegates to informally network with each other and tour facilities along the way.

 

European related funding

 

9. NEW: SPRIND Launches Continuous Hormone Monitoring Challenge for Sensor Technology Teams: https://www.sprind.org/en/actions/challenges/continuous-hormone-monitoring

Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen (SPRIND – German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation) has launched a Continuous Hormone Monitoring Challenge to fund R&D into sensor technologies capable of continuously measuring at least four key hormones over seven days in biological fluids. Open to research teams, companies and start-ups across Europe, associated countries, Israel and the UK (with a minimum TRL 3), the programme offers up to €6 million per team across three stages. Deadline: 26 June 2026

10. NEW: NETIAS Opens Constructive Advanced Thinking Call for 2027-2029 Research Teams: https://netias.science/calls-for-applications/constructive-advanced-thinking-cat/open-call-constructive-advanced-thinking

The NETIAS Constructive Advanced Thinking (CAT) programme supports teams of 3–5 early-career researchers working collaboratively on innovative ideas to address societal challenges. Teams must be international and include members with PhDs awarded from 2017 onwards, with the PI holding a stable position. Successful teams benefit from funded short research stays over up to three years to develop ideas and build networks, with applications for the 2027–2029 call closing. Deadline: 13 September 2026.

 

11. Global Research Initiative on Open Science Call for Evidence Synthesis Projects: https://www.esf.org/grios-launches-open-call-for-evidence-synthesis-on-open-science/

The Global Research Initiative on Open Science (GRIOS) Call for Evidence Synthesis Projects, managed by the European Science Foundation, offers up to €80,000 in funding over a 12‑month period to support in-depth evidence synthesis reviews on priority Open Science policy topics. The call is open internationally and focuses on incentives for Open Science uptake and the effectiveness of research data‑sharing policies. Deadline: 20^th July 2026

 

12. Total of 29 Positions Available in the FIAS 2026 Fellowship Programme: https://www.fias-fp.eu/fellowships/call-applications-20272028

FIAS administers a Fellowship Programme to strengthen scholarship and mobility in the social sciences and humanities by offering academic residencies in France to experienced international researchers. The programme is now accepting applications for the 2027/2028 academic year, with a total of 29 positions available across the institutions. Researchers from all countries are eligible to apply, as long as they have spent no more than 12 months in France during the three years immediately prior to the application deadline. Eligible applicants must hold a PhD and have at least two years of full-time research experience at the time of the application. Fellows will each receive a minimum net income of €2,200 per month for the duration of the 10-month fellowship. Social security, support for accommodation and travel expenses and a €2,500 research and training budget will also be provided. Deadline: 25 July 2026

 

13. COST Open Call 2026 Announced: https://www.cost.eu/open-call/

COST will launch its 2026 Open Call for new COST Actions 31st July, with funding available for up to 80 new research networks. The call supports innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research networks across all fields. COST Actions enable researchers, innovators, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to collaborate internationally. Updates on what to expect in this year’s call, including any changes and new features.  Deadline: 28 October 2026

14. ZiF Visiting Research Groups Call (Bielefeld Centre for Interdisciplinary Research), https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/(en)/zif/

The Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung (ZiF) at Bielefeld University is inviting applications for its Visiting Research Groups scheme. The programme supports innovative interdisciplinary collaborations, enabling groups of at least three post‑doctoral researchers to explore new topics, develop partnerships, finalise interdisciplinary publications, or conduct small research projects over 1–3 months. The scheme is open to researchers from all disciplines and all countries, with international participation strongly encouraged. ZiF provides €50,000 to cover travel, accommodation, workshops, and conferences. Deadline: 29 October 2026

15. 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.

16. 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**

17. Opportunities for Researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in Horizon Europe: https://horizoneuropencpportal.eu/repository/fe369bb2-b2b1-47ff-81ec-590b17d5b021

To assist SSH researchers in identifying funding opportunities, the European Commission (EC) has established a search engine within its online Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. Certain topics with substantial SSH aspects have been “flagged” by the EC as SSH-relevant, and the search engine offers the option to quickly search for the specific priority ‘Social sciences and humanities’. It also allows for keyword and full-text search.

18. 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.

19. 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.