Apply Now: RSE Research Collaboration Grants (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 21-Oct-2026

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Research Collaboration Grants support interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research projects led by academics and practitioners based in Scotland. Grants of up to £10,000 are available for collaborative projects lasting up to 24 months, helping researchers explore significant topics, build partnerships, and exchange knowledge across disciplines and institutions. What Are the RSE Research Collaboration Grants? The RSE Research Collaboration Grants were established in autumn 2023 through the merger of two previous RSE schemes: Research Workshops and Research Networks. The grants are designed to encourage innovative research partnerships that bring together complementary expertise and perspectives.

The scheme aims to:

- Encourage interdisciplinary research. - Strengthen collaboration between institutions. - Support innovative approaches to significant research topics. - Facilitate knowledge exchange. - Build connections between Scottish and international researchers. - Promote engagement between academia, practitioners, policymakers, and cultural institutions. - Strengthen research collaboration within and beyond Scotland. How Much Funding Is Available? Successful applicants can receive up to £10,000 for a collaborative research project. Projects can run for a maximum of 24 months. The funding can support activities that enable researchers and collaborators to develop and advance their proposed collaborative work. Applicants should ensure that the requested budget is directly connected to the project’s research and collaboration objectives. What Types of Projects Are Supported? The scheme is open to projects across any academic discipline or subject area. Proposals can focus on significant research topics and may involve collaboration between different disciplines, institutions, professional communities, or sectors.

Potential collaborations can include:

- Universities - Higher education institutions - Research institutions - Cultural institutions - Practitioners - Policymakers - Scottish organizations - UK-based institutions - International research partners The strongest collaborations are expected to bring together complementary skills, knowledge, and expertise. What Is Interdisciplinary Research? Interdisciplinary research involves researchers from different academic disciplines working together to address a shared research question or challenge. For example, a project could combine expertise from: - Environmental science and economics - Agriculture and social sciences - Technology and humanities - Health and psychology - Engineering and public policy Applicants should explain how the different areas of expertise contribute to the overall research objectives. What Is Inter-Institutional Collaboration? Inter-institutional collaboration involves researchers or practitioners from different institutions working together on a common project. The collaboration may involve Scottish institutions as well as partners elsewhere in the UK or internationally. The goal is to create research partnerships that provide added value beyond what could be achieved by a single institution or researcher working independently. Who Can Lead an Application? The lead applicant must be based in Scotland.

Eligible applicants can include:

- Full-time academics - Part-time academics - Retired academics with ongoing institutional links - Research-active staff at Scottish cultural institutions Applicants must have contracts that extend for at least three months beyond the planned project end date. Are PhD Candidates Eligible? No. PhD candidates are not eligible to apply as principal or co-applicants under the Research Collaboration Grants. However, the scheme allows collaborators to participate without necessarily meeting the same eligibility requirements as principal or co-applicants. Can International Researchers Participate? Yes. Co-applicants may be affiliated with institutions elsewhere in the UK or internationally. Collaborations can therefore bring together Scottish researchers and specialists from overseas universities, research institutions, cultural organizations, and other relevant partners. This international flexibility can help applicants build broader research networks and introduce expertise that complements the Scottish research team. Who Can Be a Collaborator? Collaborators can come from a wide range of professional and institutional backgrounds.

They may include:

- Academic researchers - Research institutions - Universities - Cultural institutions - Practitioners - Policymakers - Other relevant experts Collaborators do not necessarily have to meet the same eligibility conditions that apply to principal applicants and co-applicants. Why Are Joint Applications Encouraged? The RSE encourages joint applications that bring together complementary skills and expertise. A strong collaborative proposal should demonstrate: - Why collaboration is necessary. - What each participant contributes. - How the partners complement one another. - How knowledge will be exchanged. - What the collaboration will achieve collectively. - How the partnership could create longer-term research opportunities. The emphasis should be on genuine collaboration rather than simply listing multiple participants. What Research Activities Can Be Proposed? The program supports collaborative research activities that help researchers explore significant topics and develop meaningful partnerships. Depending on the proposed project, activities may include: - Collaborative research meetings - Interdisciplinary workshops - Knowledge exchange - Research networking - Joint exploration of emerging research questions - Engagement with practitioners - Engagement with policymakers - Collaboration with cultural institutions - Development of future research partnerships Applicants should clearly connect proposed activities to their research objectives. Why Is Knowledge Exchange Important? Kn