{"id":18277,"date":"2026-05-29T15:29:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microsites.ncl.ac.uk\/nubsstaffblog\/?p=18277"},"modified":"2026-05-29T15:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T14:29:36","slug":"international-research-funding-circular-29-may-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microsites.ncl.ac.uk\/nubsstaffblog\/2026\/05\/29\/international-research-funding-circular-29-may-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"International Research Funding Circular – 29 May 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Please see the latest European and International research funding information, event and opportunity updates.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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1. NEW:\u00a0<\/b>European Universities Urge Council to align with Parliament on Future EU Research funding:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>https:\/\/www.coimbra-group.eu\/universities-and-research-institutes-call-on-council-to-build-on-parliaments-momentum-on-fp10-and-the-ecf\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Leading European university and research networks have called on the Council of the European Union to build on proposals by the European Parliament in shaping the next EU research and innovation framework, Horizon Europe 2028-2034 (FP10), alongside the proposed European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). In a\u00a0joint statement<\/a>\u00a0issued ahead of key Council meetings in late May and mid-June 2026, the organisations stress the need for swift convergence between EU institutions to help sustain Europe’s competitiveness and innovation capacity.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. NEW:\u00a0<\/b>COST Actions 2025 Announced-opening date to apply to join 12 June\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/www.ukro.ac.uk\/news\/cost-actions-2025-announced-opening-date-to-apply-to-join-12-june\/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet&utm_campaign=latest-ukro-articles-daily-alert-16<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The COST Association last week announced the 80 new COST Actions which were successful in the 2025 open call. The 80 new COST Actions cover topics as wide and varied as psychosis prevention, silent fans, neuromorphic computing, vaccines for overall health benefits, artificial intelligence, conservation of modern art, and parent and child well-being. On\u00a0Friday 12 June 2026\u00a0these new COST Actions (OC- 2025-1) and all Memorandums of Understanding \u00a0will be available on the COST website, so\u00a0if you see a network that is of interest then you can apply to join.<\/p>\n

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3. NEW:\u00a0<\/b>UKRO Website Update: Changes to Access:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/www.ukro.ac.uk\/news\/ukro-website-update-changes-to-access-and-removal-of-elo-section\/<\/a><\/p>\n

UKRO has updated its website to improve accessibility, making all content (including news and events) freely available without login. User accounts and login functionality are being discontinued, although email alerts will continue unchanged. A new UKRI Horizon Europe website resource is planned later in 2026.<\/p>\n

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

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4. NEW:\u00a0<\/b>MSCA Doctoral Networks (DN) Workshop 2-Thursday 25 June 2026, 13:00\u201314:30,\u00a0 PGR Learning Lab (HDB.6.19)<\/b><\/p>\n

Researchers planning to apply to the MSCA Doctoral Networks are invited to attend this practical workshop, which will provide a step-by-step walkthrough of the proposal. The session will guide participants through the structure and key sections, offering useful insights for preparing a strong submission. To register your interest, please email\u00a0Jarlath.mckenna@newcastle.ac.uk<\/a>\u00a0 indicating your wish to attend.<\/p>\n

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5. ERC Plus Grants Webinar, 2 June 2026, 14:00-15:30 UK time:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/p92AWykYJqE<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The call for the new ERC Plus Grants will open on June 2, and this second webinar will provide further guidance and address outstanding points. Join ERC President Maria Leptin and Philippe Cupers, Head of the Scientific Management Department, for an overview of the scheme, including scope, objectives, eligibility, and evaluation. The webinar will be moderated by Martin Penny, Head of Communications at the ERC Executive Agency. No registration required.<\/p>\n

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6. ERC Advanced Grant 2026 Webinar, 8 June 2026, 10:00-12:00:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/www.ukro.ac.uk\/events\/erc-advanced-grant-2026-webinar\/<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The UK National Contact Point for the European Research Council (ERC), is organising a webinar for UK researchers interested in applying for the 2026 ERC Advanced Grant call (ERC-2026-AdG). The webinar will provide information on the submission process, how proposals are evaluated and other elements to consider when designing a project for your research excellence idea. Also joining is Professor Adam Carter from the University of Glasgow, who will share details of his journey towards getting an ERC Advanced grant.\u00a0Registration<\/b>\u00a0for the webinar is required.<\/p>\n

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7. Horizon Europe NEB [New European Bauhaus] Festival 2026 Cohort Visit to Brussels, 9-12 June 2026:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/www.ukro.ac.uk\/events\/horizon-europe-neb-festival-2026-cohort-visit-to-brussels\/<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

The NEB Festival takes place every two years as the European Commission\u2019s flagship conference updating on 5 years of NEB so far and looking forward under the Horizon Europe Work Programme for NEB in 2026-2027 and beyond. Past and current NEB projects and leading experts will be showcasing groundbreaking transdisciplinary NEB projects, ideas and approaches in Brussels across several days at the NEB Festival. These will span all the key NEB touchpoints of sustainability, inclusivity and beauty (aesthetics) in the built environment, common spaces, cultural heritage and communities. Those seeking potential consortium partners for a future NEB project in Horizon Europe would benefit from attending in person and engaging with those presenters from their sub-sector or field of expertise with successful NEB projects. UKRI intend to support a cohort of UK stakeholders to each attend 2 days of this event subject to funding. This is a competitive process,\u00a0EOI deadline 27 May 2026<\/b>\u00a0(noon)<\/p>\n

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8. British Academy ERC Advanced Grants Webinar, Friday 19 June 2026,\u00a010:30-12:00 UK time:\u00a0<\/b>https:\/\/forms.office.com\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=mNaqV-vazkuTDP-jhsLUf9kLpzhfw55CkU-5X4zalJVUNDU2RFZUR002MzZHNDEyUzdDR0I5VDhBQy4u<\/a><\/p>\n

The British Academy will be hosting its next webinar on\u00a0Friday 19 June 2026,\u00a010:30-12:00 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.\u00a0 If you would like to submit a B1 draft proposal to be considered for feedback during the\u00a0webinar, please register your interest on the registration form and send your B1 draft to Barbora Krasova (b.krasova@thebritishacademy.ac.uk<\/a><\/u>) no later than\u00a0Thursday,\u00a04 June at 12:00\u00a0<\/b>(midday).<\/p>\n

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9. Register: COST Info Day \u2013 16 June 2026, Online, 16 June 2026, 10:00 CEST<\/b>,\u00a0https:\/\/www.cost.eu<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u00a0June. The event will explain how to join or propose a COST Action, outline programme impacts, and highlight the benefits for early\u2011career researchers.<\/p>\n

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

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10. NOW OPEN:\u00a0<\/b>Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026:<\/b>\u00a0https:\/\/marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu\/actions\/postdoctoral-fellowships<\/a><\/p>\n

The\u00a0MSCA 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.\u00a0 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\u00a0sarah.urquhart@newcastle.ac.uk<\/a>.\u00a0Deadline:\u00a09 September 2026.<\/b><\/p>\n

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11. NEW:<\/b>\u00a0Henry Jacques Le M\u00eame Architecture Writing Prize 2026<\/b>:\u00a0https:\/\/sfa.wiin.io\/fr\/<\/a>
\nThe Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 fran\u00e7aise des architectes (SFA) invites submissions for the 2026 Henry Jacques Le M\u00eame 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 \u20ac2,500 for first place, \u20ac1,000 for second, and \u20ac500 for third.\u00a0Deadline: 7<\/b>\u00a0September 2026.<\/p>\n

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12. SPRIND Launches FUNKE Quantum Challenges for Sensing Data Integration:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>https:\/\/www.sprind.org\/en\/actions\/challenges<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0FUNKE Quantum-Driven Intelligence Challenge<\/a><\/b>\u00a0focuses 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 \u20ac200,000 per project. Stage 2 will support 10 teams for two months at \u20ac100,000 per project. The\u00a0FUNKE Quantumsense Exploration Challenge<\/a><\/b>\u00a0supports 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 \u20ac450,000 per project, followed by Stage 2 support for seven teams for two months at \u20ac150,000 per project.\u00a0<\/span>Deadline:\u00a06 September 2026<\/b><\/p>\n

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13. SPRIND Launches Orbital Bioworks Challenge:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>https:\/\/www.sprind.org\/en\/actions\/challenges\/orbital-bioworks<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Bundesagentur f\u00fcr Sprunginnovationen (SPRIND – German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation) has opened its Orbital Bioworks Challenge to support the development and validation of the first commercially viable use cases for orbital biotechnology with a clear microgravity advantage. Projects should create experimental and technological foundations in the three focus areas of cell-free peptide manufacturing, differentiation of stem cells and organ-on-a-chip for drug testing. The goal is to implement biopharmaceutical production processes in LEO in a reproducible, scalable, and economically assessable manner. These developments are intended to be the starting point for the build-up of a European, commercially oriented industry in the field of in-space biomanufacturing. Financial support is stated as up to \u20ac250,00 in Stage 1 and up to \u20ac1.4 million in Stage 2<\/span>. Deadline:\u00a03 July 2026<\/b><\/p>\n

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14.\u00a0COST Open Call 2026 Announced:<\/b>\u00a0https:\/\/www.cost.eu\/open-call\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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. \u00a0Deadline:<\/b>\u00a028 October 2026<\/p>\n

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15.\u00a0Horizon Europe –\u00a0FINAL\u00a0Work Programmes 2026-27 published<\/b><\/p>\n

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:\u00a0https:\/\/research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu\/funding\/funding-opportunities\/funding-programmes-and-open-calls\/horizon-europe\/horizon-europe-work-programmes_en<\/a>\u00a0). For convenience, we have put together summary tables of all call topic titles in the \u200b\u200b\u00a0linked Excel spreadsheet<\/span><\/a>\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/u>\u00a0<\/span><\/a>\u200b<\/u>which has been updated to reflect the final work programmes \u2013 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:\u00a0https:\/\/sciencebusiness.net\/horizon-papers<\/a>] They include:<\/p>\n