GW4 Funding Opportunities
GW4 offers a range of funding and development opportunities across our four universities, available to both staff and doctoral students to support the research endeavour (including collaborative research networks, expert training opportunities and shared resources e.g. GW4 Treasures and shared equipment).
Latest opportunitY:
GW4 BUILDING COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME – GENErATOR FUND
Benefits for staff
The GW4 Generator Fund is an open research call offering up to £20K to support collaborative research and innovation communities across the four GW4 universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter.
Now in its fourth year, this initiative supports both the creation of new GW4 communities and the development of the strongest ideas emerging from our existing communities. Applications across all areas of research and innovation are invited. Applications from Early Career Research (ECR) communities are particularly welcome and supported. Generator funding can be used as a stand-alone award or, in conjunction with other sources of funding. Communities are encouraged to use the scheme as a step towards applying for external funding.
The deadline for applications is 6 February 2023.
Read the GW4 Generator Fund Guidance here (.pdf) and apply via the application form. For more information contact the GW4 Building Communities Manager by emailing communities@gw4.ac.uk.
GW4 Building communities development awards
BENEFITS FOR STAFF
NEW These small awards (<£5K) will support the development and progression of collaborations by funding a single activity or resource. The aim is that communities will use the small awards as a step towards applying for external funding. Applications can come from new or existing GW4 communities.
The awards can be used for a variety of purposes, such as enhancing collaborative relationships (academic, industry or other stakeholders), seminars, community workshops, or public engagement activities.
Projects which include external partners are encouraged, although not required. There is no closing date for applications, with awards set to be made throughout the year.
Read the GW4 Building Communities Development Award Guidance here, and apply via this form.
British Academy ECR Network South West Hub
Benefits for staff
The British Academy has expanded its Early-Career Researcher (ECR) Network – a two-year pilot programme aimed at UK-based postdoctoral researchers in the humanities and social sciences – into the South West region .
GW4 Alliance is acting as the hub and will facilitate networking events and activities for ECRs in the South West together with a consortium of nine universities located in the region – Bath, Bath Spa, Bristol, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Exeter, Gloucestershire, Plymouth and UWE.
BRITISH ACADEMY ECRN SOUTH WEST HUB SEED FUNDING AWARD SCHEME
The aim of this scheme will be to create and support new cross-sector research partnerships and offer the funding to support ECR career development. These small awards (of up to £3K) will support the direct costs associated with activities that support new research, the development of new stakeholder relationships, broadening knowledge of a sector, future career options or accessing resources and facilities.
Applicants must be a member of the BA ECRN and associated with the South West Hub.
Please note applications to this scheme are now closed.
GW4WARD COLLABORATION FUND
BENEFITS FOR STAFF
The GW4WARD Collaboration Fund aims to support the development of technical staff across the partnership, offering small awards up to £500 which are designed to enable collaborative professional development activities across the Alliance.
Other opportunities:
GW4 Crucible
Benefits for staff
GW4 Crucible brings together talented and innovative researchers from the GW4 institutions and develops each of them as a researcher, leader and collaborator. Applications for GW4 Crucible 2023 will open in late 2022.
GW4 Technical Staff Professional Registration Scheme
Benefits for staff
GW4 is offering a competitive professional registration scheme for technical staff at GW4 Universities to become members of professional bodies and learned societies. Our aim is to enhance the visibility of technical staff by enabling them to gain recognition of their knowledge, experience and leadership skills within and across the partner institutions.
Please note applications to this scheme are now closed.
Online Collaboration Guides
Benefits for staff and doctoral students
GW4 PGRs
This resource includes presentations, advice and activities around research collaboration for postgraduate research students. This expert guide can be found on the GW4 Portal – find out more and sign up.
GW4 Staff
Discover GW4’s expert guide to help you plan and manage your research collaboration. It contains advice and experiences from a range of academics from the GW4 Alliance and beyond. Based upon real experiences, this guide features the benefits, challenges and processes of collaboration. This expert guide can be found on the GW4 Portal – find out more and sign up.
GW4 Shared Training Scheme
Benefits for staff and doctoral students
Want to do a workshop or course at another GW4 institution? Staff and postgraduate research students can benefit from access to training and resources from across the four institutions.
Follow the links to view the available options and contact the relevant office for more details.
| Institution | PGR | Staff |
| Bath | Researcher development programme Email: doctoralskills@bath.ac.uk |
Academic Staff Development Contact: Amy Birch. Email: ab3508@bath.ac.uk |
| Bristol |
Personal and Professional Development Programme |
Academic Staff Development
Email: sd-course@bristol.ac.uk |
| Cardiff |
Training and development |
The Cardiff Researcher Email: researcherdevelopment@cardiff.ac.uk |
| Exeter | Researcher Development & Research Culture PGR – Researcher development courses |
Researcher Development Courses Email: ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk |