Imperial Global Connect Fund

We are looking to fund a range of projects across the following three themes. Your project may relate to one or more themes. (It is fine for projects to relate to one theme only.)

Theme 1: Interdisciplinary research consortia and convergence science

Aims:

• Develop ambitious interdisciplinary research consortia with partners in hub locations and regions.
• Help convergence science programmes to scale up by targeting external funding opportunities in hub locations and regions.
• Foster collaborations with non-academic organisations to translate research knowledge into tangible benefits for society in hub locations and regions.

Example activities:

• Workshops for brainstorming, co-creation, and developing large-scale interdisciplinary research programmes.
• Hosting focused thematic conferences on cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, showcasing the work of the consortia and connecting with potential funders, such as foundations, investors, and government agencies.

• Development of partnerships that support pathways to impact, ensuring translation through engagement with end users, policymakers, hospitals, industry, and NGOs.

Notes

• Priority is given to applications that build strategic interdisciplinary collaborations at group, departmental, or school of convergence science level. The fund is unable to support individual PI-PI interactions.
• Applications focused on developing activities with National University of Singapore (NUS) or Nanyang Technological University (NTU) may be redirected to the Imperial-NUS Research Seed Fund or the Imperial-NTU Research Seed Fund, respectively.

Theme 2: Innovation and enterprise activities

Aims:

• Connect Imperial entrepreneurs and accelerator programmes to networks that help create new businesses and commercialise university technologies.
• Engage industry, tech companies, or investors in our research, innovation, or entrepreneurship.

Example activities:

• International venture treks for Imperial spin-outs, connecting them to global collaborators, investors, and partners.
• Workshops, events or challenge days that develop ambitious industry-research partnership opportunities.

Theme 3: Education and student experience

Aims:

• Develop new teaching, learning, and interdisciplinary student experience opportunities that bring students and staff together (from Imperial and partners) in hub locations and regions for virtual and in-person programmes.
• Harness digital technologies to provide new avenues for developing international exchange and partnerships in education which have the potential to benefit more students than ever before.
• Develop and deliver training programmes or modules that support the demand from students for more opportunities for interdisciplinary activity and convergence science experience.

Example activities:

• Summer Schools, joint projects, hackathons, workshops and experiential learning opportunities that foster student entrepreneurship or convergence science skills.

Notes

• Projects can be either curriculum based or extracurricular.
• Curriculum based opportunities must have approval from relevant committees / faculty.
• Applications focused on developing activities with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) may be redirected to the Imperial-NTU Education Fund.

Eligibility criteria

• The lead applicant must be a current employee of Imperial.
• For lead applicants on fixed term contracts, your contract end date must last at least as long as the project you are applying for.
• Others – including honorary or visiting researchers, students, alumni, staff employed by Imperial Global hubs – are welcome to be involved as co-applicants or collaborators.
• Projects should align with the fund’s key themes and support Imperial Global's international hub activities. See 'Selection Criteria' for details.

Other points

• Short-listed applications may be invited to co-develop their ideas further with the Imperial Global network teams in Singapore, San Francisco, Bengaluru, or Accra, to ensure alignment with the priorities of the network.
• Lead applicants of funded projects are expected to provide a report after project completion, and to engage with the International Relations Office about opportunities to speak about their project.
• In line with Sustainable Imperial, all travel for in-person engagement must be justified by its alignment with programmes offering sustainable, long-term benefits. Applicants should ensure that preparatory and exploratory engagement is conducted online wherever possible to minimise environmental impact.
• Awardees may also be requested to act as reviewers for future seed fund applications.

Funding

• Budget requests should not exceed £8,000. Applicants are strongly encouraged to identify match-funding options, e.g., from partners or other internal development or seed funds.
• Funds must be spent by the end of the Imperial financial year (Aug-Jul). No-cost extensions (beyond 31 July) will not be permitted.
• As funding is limited, we encourage early applications. The scheme may close early if funds are exhausted.

Eligible Costs

• Networking events (e.g., workshops, training academies, seminars) fostering collaboration and new links
• Funding to support capability-mapping or proposal development to target external funding opportunities (e.g buyouts of a PhD student or postdoc time)
• Student support costs (e.g., bursaries)
• Research consumables (up to 10% of the total budget)
• Small project-related equipment
• Travel, accommodation, and subsistence

Ineligible Costs

• Salaries
• Bench fees

• Indirect and estate costs

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts convened by the International Relations Office, including Faculty representatives where possible. Proposals will be assessed against five broad criteria:

• Importance, creativity, and impact
• Scale-up potential
• Wider institutional benefits
• Engagement with the Imperial Global network
• Value for money

Please see below for more details on these criteria, which vary by theme. (Projects may relate to one or more themes. It is fine for projects to relate to one theme only.)

All applicants must complete the Imperial Global Connect Fund Application Form, including a project plan with clear goals and objectives, activities, and a budget breakdown.

Deadlines are set to allow two rounds of proposals per financial year. 

Further deadlines will be confirmed in due course. Please note the scheme may close early if funds are exhausted.

Funds must be spent by the end of the financial year in which they are awarded (Aug-July). No-cost extensions (beyond 31 July) will not be permitted.

Specific case studies and a full list of projects funded by the Imperial Global Connect Fund can be found here.