Networking Grants

We are pleased to be working with the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society to offer Networking Grants funded through the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).

This will allow UK-based researchers and innovators to collaborate with international partners on multidisciplinary projects. Furthermore, it will help the UK and its partners to deliver bigger, better science than one country can do alone.

The grants will help to:

• Deliver important science that can only be fully realised by working internationally.
• Tackle global challenges and develop future technologies, positioning UK researchers and innovators at the heart of global solutions.
• Enable international partners to collaborate in an agile way.
• Strengthen the influence and connections of the UK Research and Development (R&D) community domestically and around the world.

The Networking Grants will be available to all researchers operating within the remit of one, or more, of the four UK National Academies (the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society). This can broadly be described as research within natural sciences, including physics and chemistry, mathematics, computer science, engineering, agricultural, biological and medical research, social science, humanities, the scientific aspects of archaeology, geography and experimental psychology and clinical or patient-oriented research.

Submissions must be made jointly by a lead applicant based in an eligible country outside the UK and a co-applicant based in the UK.

To be eligible to apply, both applicants must:

• Have completed a PhD or have experience at an equivalent level.
• Have proven research experience in their field.
• Hold a permanent position, or a fixed term contract for the duration of the award, at an eligible institution (please see the scheme guidance for more information).

Lead applicants must not be affiliated to a profit-making and/or commercial organisation.

Applications will not be considered if there is more than one UK co-applicant.

Networks funded by round one should start their activities in March 2024, and the funds must be spent within one year, though no-cost extensions will be considered. Full details of eligibility for Networking Grants are outlined in the scheme guidance. Please read the guidance carefully before submitting an application.

This funding stream is for researchers looking to build a network with the UK from a selection of developed countries that have been identified for support by the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).

Applicants from the US, Canada, South Korea, India, Japan, Israel and Switzerland have been identified as a priority for the scheme.

However, applications are also welcomed from Singapore, China, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, France and Netherlands.

Although researchers based in DAC-listed countries will not be able to participate in networks funded through this stream, they are invited to seek support through the parallel funding stream detailed on the next tab.

This funding stream is for researchers looking to build a network with the UK from a selection of developing countries that have been identified for support by the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF): Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, South Africa and Vietnam.

In addition, researchers based in all countries on the Least Developed Countries list are eligible to apply for a Networking Grant.

Guidance

This funding stream forms part of the UK Government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), which promotes economic development and welfare in developing countries. In order for applications for this grant to be eligible, submissions must clearly show that their application’s aims are in-line with those of the ODA. The delivery partners for this scheme have provided some ODA guidance for applicants.

Remit

In addition to the requirement highlighted in the eligibility tab, ODA networks should provide direct benefit to DAC-listed countries and address at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

This scheme is targeted at experienced researchers who are looking to form new international collaborations. The maximum amount available is a one-off payment of £25,000, of which up to £5,000 can be used for consumables needed to obtain pilot data, archival research or fieldwork. Up to £20,000 can be used to contribute towards travel and subsistence costs, costs associated with networking events, administrative support and access to technical support. This grant cannot be used to pay salary costs or to employ research assistants, PhD students or postdoctoral staff.

The Awards Panel includes:

Professor Rajesh Kalaria FMedSci (Chair), Newcastle University

Dr Sarah Alderson, University of Leeds

Professor Ginny Bond, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Professor Jo Crotty, Edge Hill University

Professor Ben Davis FRS FMedSci, University of Oxford

Professor Peter Fryer FREng, University of Birmingham

Dr Stamatia Giannarou, Imperial College London

Professor Vivek Jha, The George Institute for Global Health, India

Professor Dame Tina Lavender, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Professor Johnjoe McFadden, University of Surrey

Professor Rhiannon Owen, Swansea University

Professor Robert Pal, Durham University

Professor Dragan Savic FREng, University of Exeter

Professor Dimitra Simeonidou FREng, University of Bristol

Professor Laura Sjoberg, Royal Holloway, University of London

Professor David Wales FRS, University of Cambridge

Professor Thomas Williams FMedSci, Imperial College London

Applicants should not approach Panel members to discuss their application. All queries must be directed to the Academy Grants team at NetworkingGrants@acmedsci.ac.uk.