Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: February 4, 2027, 4:00pm UK time (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: £19 million total; England-only pilots: £100,000–£1 million for up to 24 months; cross-UK seed funding: £1 million–£5 million for up to 36 months
Summary: Supports higher education providers testing institutional collaborations that improve cost-effectiveness and connect complementary UK innovation strengths.
Key Information: Institution-led collaborations must involve at least two higher education providers; collaborative research projects are not eligible.
Description
Research England, within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), runs this opportunity to test new institutional collaborations for a sustainable, cost-effective research and innovation system. England-only pilots support practical and ambitious approaches such as joint administrative or specialist services, shared facility management models, and streamlined services for businesses, investors and other partners. The focus is on enabling research and innovation through institutional joint working, rather than funding collaborative research.
The cross-UK seed funding element connects complementary innovation ecosystems across two self-defined UK geographical areas to deliver economic growth. Partnerships should bring together higher education providers and wider partners, respond to geographical strengths and local government priorities, and achieve more together than individually. Both elements aim to reduce the risks of testing new collaboration models and generate learning to inform longer-term interventions.
