Research Councils UK are pleased to announce that a second GCRF Collective Fund call will be launched in late summer 2017. This call will establish a cohort of large-scale Global Challenges Interdisciplinary Research Hubs, which will be expected to deliver integrated and innovative international research programmes meeting the aims of Official Development Assistance (ODA).

These flagship GCRF investments will bring together UK researchers and researchers from DAC list countries to work in collaboration to more effectively understand and address key development challenges both across and between the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Due to the complex nature of these development challenges, Hubs will be expected to incorporate new collaborations and partnerships in order to redefine how we approach development challenges in innovative, transformative and inter-disciplinary ways.

The purpose of this pre-announcement is to allow potential applicants to begin the process of identifying appropriate collaborators and project partners with a view to assembling interdisciplinary teams. A full call document will be released in due course outlining further details and how to apply.

There will be a multi-stage application process; any Research Organisation on the RCUK IRO list will be eligible to apply as PI to the call; additional eligibility will be outlined in the call documentation when the call is formally open for applications. Overseas research organisations are not eligible to apply as the lead organisation to the call, but will be expected to play a very significant role in the development of and leadership within the Hubs.

For further information contact:
RCUK GCRF Team
Tel: 01793 444014 or email: gcrf@rcuk.ac.uk

The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) is a £1.5 billion fund announced by the UK Government to support cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries through:

• challenge-led disciplinary and interdisciplinary research
• strengthening capacity for research and innovation within both the UK and developing countries
• providing an agile response to emergencies where there is an urgent research need.