Collaboration for a Sustainable Future: pilots & UK seed funding

The Collaboration for a Sustainable Future (CSF) programme, administered by Research England and UK Research and Innovation, seeks to identify barriers and opportunities for institutional collaboration within the research and innovation system to ensure a cost-effective and sustainable future. The initiative is divided into two primary funding streams: England-only pilots, providing approximately 4 million pounds for projects between 100,000 and 1 million pounds with a duration of up to 24 months, and cross-UK innovation partnerships, offering 15 million pounds in seed funding for projects between 1 million and 5 million pounds with a duration of up to 36 months. The primary goal is to test new collaborative models and generate evidence-based implementation plans to inform long-term interventions for sustained joint working. Applications are evaluated based on the quality of the proposed activity, the expertise and ability of the applicant to deliver, and the overall relevance and feasibility of the proposal. Research England may employ a portfolio approach to award funding to mitigate geographical inequalities. Applicants must submit their proposals through The Funding Service and include specific sections for Facilities and Justification of Resources. Additionally, successful recipients are expected to prioritize equity, inclusion, and diversity, ensuring that new collaborative approaches positively impact the culture and environment of the higher education research and innovation system. The response deadline for this solicitation is February 4, 2027.