Call for Proposals: WUN Research Development Fund 2025 – £10,000 Seed Grants for Global Research Collaboration

Introduction

The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) is now accepting proposals for the 2025 spherical of its Research Development Fund (RDF). This initiative presents seed grants of as much as £10,000 to assist collaborative analysis amongst college at WUN member universities. Projects funded by way of the RDF are anticipated to foster sturdy, impactful analysis collaborations that lead to high-quality publications and improve the competitiveness of analysis groups for future main funding.

Since its inception in 2009, the RDF has awarded over £3.2 million to assist analysis on international challenges, reinforcing WUN’s place as a frontrunner in worldwide tutorial cooperation.

Research Priorities for 2025

Aligned with the WUN Strategic Plan 2023–2026, RDF 2025 invites proposals targeted on sustainable improvement, with specific emphasis on the next themes:

1. Social justice and human rights, together with inequality

2. Sustainable world: cities and urbanization, vitality transitions, water and meals safety

3. Health and wellbeing: psychological well being, child and maternal well being, ageing

4. Ethical and accountable functions of Artificial Intelligence

Proposals that undertake a comparative, interdisciplinary, or cross-regional perspective are particularly inspired.

Eligibility

The RDF is open to tutorial employees (college members) at WUN member universities. Additional eligibility pointers embody:

• Each mission should interact a minimum of three WUN member universities from two or extra international areas (e.g., North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania).

• Projects led by early profession researchers (outlined as these within the ultimate yr of their terminal diploma or inside seven years of their first college appointment) are notably inspired.

• External establishments and non-WUN companions could also be included, however the core workforce should include WUN universities.

• Matching money contributions are welcome however not required and won’t affect proposal evaluation.

Assessment Criteria

All functions will likely be reviewed by a committee of a minimum of six members of the WUN Academic Advisory Group and evaluated on the next:

• Academic Quality – Novelty, rigor, and contribution to advancing information

• Relevance to RDF Themes – Alignment with the decision’s sustainable improvement focus

• WUN Advantage – Projects leveraging the worldwide and interdisciplinary strengths of the WUN community

• Research Team – Multidisciplinary, cross-regional, and well-qualified collaborators

• Outcomes and Impact – Clear plans for publications, coverage affect, or future funding bids

Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures

Eligible Costs Include:

• One in-person occasion requiring air journey

• Formation of collaborative networks

• Exploratory or pilot analysis

• Student engagement and visitor lectures

• Data assortment, surveys, transcription, prototype manufacturing

• Open entry publication charges (as much as £1,500)

• Software and platform entry

• Project dissemination supplies and web sites

Ineligible Costs:

• Salaries or stipends for researchers already funded

• General college overheads or administrative charges

• Equipment depreciation

• More than one air travel-based assembly

• Business or first-class airfares

Application Process

• Proposals should be submitted through the WUN online application portal, which opens on 13 June 2025.

• The ultimate deadline for submission is Friday, 17 October 2025 at 21:00 UK time.

• Each member college could submit as much as two proposals as lead establishment. There is not any restrict on the variety of submissions as co-investigators.

• Internal college critiques and deadlines could apply; candidates should contact their local WUN Coordinator nicely prematurely to provoke this course of.

Required Documents:

• Online application form

• Program funds (template offered)

• Principal Investigator’s 1-page CV (with hyperlinks to co-investigator bios)

Incomplete or late submissions is not going to be thought-about.

Timeline

• 13 June 2025: Online portal opens

• 17 October 2025: Application deadline (21:00 UK time)

• 15 December 2025: Announcement of profitable candidates

• February 2026: Funds disbursed (upon invoicing and mission web page setup)

Reporting and Acknowledgement

Successful candidates are required to:

• Establish a mission web page on the WUN web site

• Acknowledge WUN funding in all outputs

• Submit a temporary ultimate report after the 12-month funding interval, and take part in annual surveys thereafter

• Ensure that unspent funds are returned if unused after 12 months

Conclusion

The WUN Research Development Fund is a strong alternative to provoke impactful worldwide analysis collaborations. With a transparent emphasis on sustainable improvement, cross-regional cooperation, and early profession management, RDF 2025 presents an opportunity to place your analysis workforce on the forefront of worldwide tutorial innovation.

For extra particulars and to view the application portal and templates, go to the official WUN RDF web page.

For extra alternatives, go to