International Science Partnerships Fund International Collaboration Awards
Offered by The Royal Society
This Royal Society award supports newly independent research leaders in the UK working with partners in Brazil or South Africa. The programme funds jointly developed natural-science research addressing development challenges in health, energy, climate, food, nature or the environment.
- Deadline
- 3 December 202650 days left
- Who can apply
- A UK-based independent research lead applies jointly with an eligible independent lead in Brazil or South Africa. Both must hold eligible posts for the grant; the proposal must be ODA-eligible.
- Last verified
- Checked today at the official source
Opportunity overview
This Royal Society award supports newly independent research leaders in the UK working with partners in Brazil or South Africa. The programme funds jointly developed natural-science research addressing development challenges in health, energy, climate, food, nature or the environment. Awards can provide up to £300,000 over three years. Both leads must hold eligible independent research posts, and the project must satisfy Official Development Assistance requirements. The current round closes on 3 December 2026.
Who can apply
A UK-based independent research lead applies jointly with an eligible independent lead in Brazil or South Africa. Both must hold eligible posts for the grant; the proposal must be ODA-eligible.
Both UK and overseas leads must be newly independent researchers building their own groups, with a PhD or equivalent, their own laboratory access and the ability to recruit research staff/students. As guidance, the scheme typically expects three to eight years of active post-PhD research, or no more than five years of an independent research career, with specified career-break adjustments. The UK lead must reside and work in the UK; the overseas lead must reside and work in Brazil or South Africa, throughout the award. Both need an independent permanent/fixed-term academic post or named independent fellowship lasting for the grant. Postdocs and researchers paid from another principal investigator’s grant are excluded. UK hosts must be eligible HEIs, research institutes or public-sector research establishments. Both heads of department must support the application. Only one application to this call and one active ISPF International Collaboration Award are allowed. The jointly developed natural-science project must primarily benefit developing countries and address health, energy, climate, food or nature/environment. Clinical/interventional human research, social sciences and humanities are excluded unless explicitly permitted by the scheme.
Check the provider’s complete eligibility and country rulesBenefits and funding
How to apply
- Apply through Royal Society Flexi-Grant. Complete the required departmental support and host-institution approval before submitting. The deadline is 3 December 2026 at 15:00 UK time; consult the linked scheme notes for every required field and document.
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