This year, research culture funding looks a little different. Most of our funding is being directed towards the priorities shared by the community as part of our Research Culture Action Plan.

However, we want to continue to create spaces for new ideas to emerge, and to support existing project to continue to make progress on their ideas.

The deadline for funding applications is close of play on Friday 24 January 2025. Applicants can expect to hear back about their project proposal from week commencing 10 February 2025. Projects must be complete with all funding spent by Thursday 31 July 2025. Find out more and explore our two main funding opportunities below:

Research culture pilot funding call

This year, one of our funding opportunities will support a small number of innovative or radical ideas that contribute to the areas of our strategy where we feel we need to push further. We’re looking for inspiring ideas, motivated teams, and a credible approach - not fully formed lists of outputs or outcomes. You may not know exactly what the outcome will be yet, and that’s OK. If you have a kernel of an idea but are unsure how to take it forward, please reach out for support to build your application.

This grant supports new ideas that might otherwise be considered ‘risky’ and provides them with the resources to experiment and learn. Some projects might show real potential and need to find ways to embed, scale and/or expand. Others might not go anywhere, and that’s alright too as this is still an opportunity to learn and grow. We would particularly like to see projects in the following areas, but any aligned to the research culture pillars will be considered:

  • radical approaches to improving inclusion and equity in research, or practical and proactive support to minoritised communities
  • thriving environments that last– innovations which help communities be better connected and more collaborative for the long-term
  • sustainable research – initiatives which contribute towards the university’s target of Net Zero Carbon by 2040 in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions
  • generous leadership – ideas to embed, support, develop or that value generous leadership
  • psychological safety and embracing risk – ideas that help create an environment where people feel able to speak up with ideas, take risks, (for example with major grants, new partnerships, innovative approaches), ‘fail’ safely, and use their learnings positively to drive forward.

To apply for funding, complete the application form with your responses to the questions below:

  • what is the issue/ opportunity for change you are looking to explore or address?
  • what approach will you take?
  • what kinds of impacts might emerge?
  • who will be involved?
  • how will you evaluate the impact of the project?

We have allocated £40,000 to this pilot funding call and you can apply for a grant of up to £8,000 for your project. Complete this form to apply

Follow-on funding grants

We want to continue to support colleagues that may have ongoing resource needs to embed, scale and/or complete their projects.

Colleagues who secured research culture funding in the previous year may submit their applicant details and answers to three core questions (estimated 10-15 minutes completion) to secure up to £1,200 to continue their project. Funding will be awarded to those who demonstrate a clear need, and a clear anticipated impact from the follow-on fund.

You will be required to answer the following three questions as part of your application:

  1. What is the issue/ opportunity follow-on funding will help you address?

  2. How will you use the funding to achieve this?

  3. What buy-in/ infrastructure would you need to sustain or embed this initiative, and what indications do you have that this is in place?

Please consider whether you can secure match-fund commitments to scale your project further.

We have allocated £15,000 to follow-on funding and you can apply for a grant of up to £1,200 for your project. Please complete this form to apply