{"id":17725,"date":"2025-09-22T09:36:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T08:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microsites.ncl.ac.uk\/nubsstaffblog\/?p=17725"},"modified":"2025-09-22T09:36:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T08:36:12","slug":"international-research-funding-circular-19-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microsites.ncl.ac.uk\/nubsstaffblog\/2025\/09\/22\/international-research-funding-circular-19-september-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"International Research Funding Circular – 19 September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Please see the latest European and International research funding information, event and opportunity updates.<\/span><\/p>\n

2026-27 DRAFT Work programme call topics<\/a><\/p>\n

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News<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

1. NEW:\u00a0When AI rejects your grant proposal: algorithms are helping to make funding decisions:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-025-02852-9<\/a><\/p>\n

A Spanish foundation using an artificial-intelligence tool to screen grant applications says it makes the peer-review process more efficient, but other researchers say it\u2019s a breakdown in trust.<\/p>\n

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2. NEW:\u00a0Australia and EU launch exploratory talks for Horizon Europe association:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/sciencebusiness.net\/news\/international-news\/australia-and-eu-launch-exploratory-talks-horizon-europe-association<\/a><\/p>\n

Resumption of talks after a two-year gap follows heightened pressure on academic funding down under.<\/p>\n

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3. NEW:\u00a0New application structure for NIH-Funded international collaborations:<\/b>\u00a0https:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/notice-files\/NOT-OD-25-155.html<\/a><\/p>\n

NIH announced that it will no longer be accepting new applications that request funds for foreign components using the traditional grant subaward\/consortium structure. The purpose of this Notice is to announce a new application and award structure for applications that request funding for foreign component organizations.<\/p>\n

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4. NEW:\u00a0ERC President explains changes in the ERC evaluation procedures:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/erc.europa.eu\/system\/files\/2025-09\/Changes_to_ERC_evaluation_procedures_background_rationale.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

The European Research Council (ERC) Scientific Council continuously monitors the quality of the submission and evaluation processes, ensuring they are optimised to serve the needs of the European research community. Drawing on feedback from applicants, panel members, and the broader research community, the ERC Scientific Council has decided to introduce a set of improvements in the 2026 and 2027 calls for proposals.<\/p>\n

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Events<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

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5. NEW:\u00a0AI humanities sandpits: Canada, UK and US:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/opportunity\/artificial-intelligence-humanities-sandpits-canada-uk-and-us\/<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Apply to join a humanities-led, interdisciplinary research sandpit putting humanities insights and methodologies at the heart of artificial intelligence (AI) tech design. Up to 60 researchers from the UK, Canada, and the US are invited to express an interest in a series of in-person and virtual workshops, where they will co-develop and refine project ideas for applications. Funding is available for up to four collaborative projects.<\/p>\n

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6. REMINDER:\u00a0Horizon Europe Brokerage Visits:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/iuk-business-connect.org.uk\/opportunities\/horizon-europe-brokerage-visits-2025-2026\/<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Up to 15 UK-registered organisations (including corporate companies, small businesses and universities) can apply to be selected to join Horizon Europe Brokerage visits, with travel\/subsistence costs covered.\u00a0Opportunities remain<\/u><\/b>\u00a0for\u00a0Sustainable Agriculture<\/b>\u00a0(deadline 22 Sept) and\u00a0Advanced Materials\/Technologies\/AI for Manufacturing<\/b>\u00a0(deadline 13 Oct) to Netherlands, and\u00a0Automotive Mobility<\/b>\u00a0(deadline 30 September) to Belgium.<\/p>\n

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7. NEW:\u00a0Lump Sum funding in Horizon Europe webinar, 09:00-11:00 UK time, 02 October (and recorded):<\/b>\u00a0https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/research\/participants\/docs\/h2020-funding-guide\/other\/event251002.htm<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Lump Sum Funding in Horizon Europe: How does it work? How to write a lump sum proposal? Practical experience with lump sum grants.<\/p>\n

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8. NEW:\u00a0ERC Grants webinar: what to expect in 2026 calls, 08:30-10:30 UK time, 24 September (and recorded):<\/b>\u00a0https:\/\/erc.europa.eu\/news-events\/events\/erc-grants-what-expect-2026-calls<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Participants will receive practical guidance on the application process with a focus on: \u2022 the new proposal structure, \u2022 the updated rules for the extension of the eligibility period, \u2022 the additional relocation funding, \u2022 the new resubmission restrictions.<\/p>\n

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European related funding<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

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9. NEW:\u00a0UUKi UK-France Science, Innovation, and Technology pump-priming scheme \u2013 call two:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/www.universitiesuk.ac.uk\/topics\/international\/uk-france-science-innovation-and-1<\/a><\/p>\n

This programme of competitive grants is available to use in the context of research and innovation partnerships with France. We are welcoming creative applications from institutions for activities that support the development of new, recently established or dormant partnerships between the UK and France as they relate to research and innovation, with a goal of developing and submitting a Horizon Europe application building on their grant idea for the first time. Priority will be given to those with a particular focus on: \u2022 energy transition and hydrogen, \u2022 space and earth observation, \u2022 artificial intelligence including ethics, \u2022 quantum. Deadline\u00a013 October 2025<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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10. NEW:\u00a0Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026\/27 for British researchers:<\/b>\u00a0https:\/\/www.sbfi.admin.ch\/en\/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships#1658819252<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships give early-stage British researchers (Master\u2019s degree or recent PhD) the opportunity to pursue a research project at postgraduate, doctoral or postdoctoral level at any of Switzerland\u2019s universities or national research institutes. Applicants need to propose a research project that is supported by an academic supervisor at their institution of choice. Maximum duration is 12 months for research projects and 36 months for pursuing a PhD. Deadline\u00a05 December 2025<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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11. Horizon Europe – Work Programmes 2026-27 early drafts pre-published \u2013\u00a0SUMMARY CALL TOPICS ATTACHED<\/b><\/p>\n

The European Commission have pre-published early drafts of the 2026-27 call topics for a number of the clusters and missions (to download work programmes see here:\u00a0https:\/\/iuk-business-connect.org.uk\/news\/insight-into-horizon-europe-work-2026-2027-programmes\/<\/a>). For convenience, we have put together\u00a0summary tables of all call topic titles in the attached Excel spreadsheets<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 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 link. Please note newer leaked drafts can also be found on Science Business website:\u00a0https:\/\/sciencebusiness.net\/horizon-papers<\/a>\u00a0Keep checking this site regularly for updated versions<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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12. European Research Council 2026 Work Programme adopted:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/erc.europa.eu\/news-events\/news\/erc-work-programme-2026-adopted<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The 2026 Work Programme confirms a number of key changes recently set out by the ERC. This includes a change of structure to ERC applications, which will now consist of a concise five-page Part I outlining the scientific idea and objectives, and a more detailed Part II focused on implementation and methodology. Feasibility will now only be assessed at Step 2 of evaluation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The grants and their scheduled opening and deadline dates are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n