Royal Society Funding Opportunities Neil Meemaduma, Grants Scheme Manager 8 September
Introduction to the Royal Society Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to promoting excellence in science. The Society is the oldest scientific academy and celebrated its 350 th anniversary in 2010 The Society s work is supported by 1400 Fellows and Foreign Members. 44 new Fellows are elected each year. The Society funds 2700 researchers, including 810 fellowship holders in a financial year 135 staff members are employed by the Royal Society at Carlton House Terrace, London The new Kavli Royal Society International Centre 2
Funding portfolio Early Career Fellowship Schemes Support scientists and academics at the start of their career. Senior Fellowship Schemes Provide long-term support to established scientists. Innovation Schemes Support innovation and links between science and industry. Research Capacity and Infrastructure Schemes Help purchase equipment and renovate laboratories. Collaboration and Travel Schemes Support international travel and joint research. Wednesday, November 09, 3
Early Career Fellowship Schemes University Research Fellowship Scheme 5 years funding with the opportunity to renew for a further 3 years (80% FeC) URFs are expected to obtain a permanent post at the end of their Fellowship 7% success rate Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship Scheme 5 years funding (80% FeC) Applicants must demonstrate a need for flexible working 5% success rate Newton International Fellowship Scheme Aims to attract the best post-doctoral researchers to the UK from abroad for 2 years Excellent opportunity to bring an early-career collaborator over to work in your institution 7-8% success rate 4
Senior Fellowship Schemes Research Professorships 10 years funding for internationally recognized scientists of outstanding achievement and promise. Previous holders of Royal Society Research Professorships include five Nobel Laureates and five Presidents of the Royal Society. Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowships Relieves scientists of teaching and administrative duties for up to a year to allow them to concentrate on their research Wolfson Research Merit Awards Salary enhancement scheme. Enables universities to attract or retain scientists of outstanding achievement and potential. Lasts for five years and cannot be transferred between institutions 5
Innovation Schemes Brian Mercer Awards Brian Mercer Award for Innovation and Feasibility Supports the transformation of an already proven concept into a near-market product - 250,000 Allow researchers to test the economic and/or scientific feasibility of a project for commercialisation - 30,000 Eligible topics: built environment, nanoscience/nanotechnology, clean technology, energy, electrotechnology Industry Fellowship Scheme Allows an academic researcher to work in industry, or an industrialist to work in academia on collaborative projects Funded by the Royal Society, EPSRC, BBSRC, NERC, Rolls Royce, Astra Zeneca and BP 6
Research Capacity and Infrastructure Schemes Research Grants Up to 15,000 (incl. VAT) for the purchase of specialised equipment, essential consumable materials and services, and travel and subsistence for essential field research. The grant is for a maximum period of 12 months Wolfson Laboratory Refurbishment Scheme Up to 400,000 which covers refurbishment and infrastructure costs. Awards may be held for a maximum of 2 years Paul Instrument Fund The scheme provides a grant of up to 75,000 for the design and construction of apparatus. The length of tenure is 1-3 years. 7
Research Capacity and Infrastructure Schemes Leverhulme Royal Society Africa Awards Develop a collaborative research project between the UK and research institutions in either Ghana or Tanzania 3 Year project grant 50,000 per year Applications encouraged in agriculture (including animal health); water and sanitation; basic human health research (including medicinal chemistry); biodiversity (including medicinal plants and green chemistry) and energy (including renewables). India-UK Scientific Seminars This scheme is for mid-career scientists who want to organise a small three-day scientific seminar between groups of scientists from India and the UK 8
Collaboration and Travel Schemes International Exchanges For scientists in the UK who want to undertake a collaboration with scientists overseas through either a one-off visit or bilateral travel up to of 3,000 for one-off travel lasting up to 3 months up to 6000 for multiple visits to be completed within 1 year (including a maximum of 1000 for research expenses) up to 12,000 for multiple visits to be completed within 2 years and cost share projects fixed at 2 years (including a maximum of 2000 for research expenses) 9
Application Process Advice: The application will be read by experts but they may not have specific subject knowledge (Lay report is important: this should be accessible to an educated non-expert) Researchers and supporting statements need to convey enthusiasm and talent for research Further tips: Follow the instructions: read the scheme notes first! Ensure terms and conditions of funding are understood - eligibility; what is supported, what is not; who is supported, who is not. Don t be scared to contact us! Wednesday, November 09, 10
Further information: www.royalsociety.org/grants 11