Award types
These awards allow NetworkPlus members to explore promising ideas rapidly and respond to emerging opportunities, whilst seeding new research collaborations, and supporting early-stage ideas with the potential to grow into significant breakthroughs. Three sizes of award are available, enabling tailored funding depending on the scale and scope of the applicants’ plans.
Small Awards: up to £2,000
These awards will primarily support short visits (e.g. 1–2 days) between UK-based research groups, or short international collaborations, to foster new ideas. These awards will enable researchers to meet, share ideas and lay the groundwork for joint research projects. These visits may be instrumental in developing early-stage collaborations that may later lead to larger-scale research projects, for example.
Call status: Open.
Medium Awards: up to £5,000
These awards will primarily support longer collaborative projects between UK and European groups to build on international connections established during SIG and Showcase meetings and to strengthen cross-border collaborations.
Call status: Open.
Large Awards: up to £25,000
These awards will be available for researchers who need to conduct longer stays to develop and obtain proof-of-concept data or other critical work that lays the foundation for more significant future grant applications. Proposals for Larger Awards must set out a plan that outlines a pathway for obtaining follow-on funding, such as a UKRI grant.
Call status: The first funding call for Large awards will open in April 2026.