Global Challenges Research Fund

What is the aim of the Global Challenges Research Fund?

The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) aims to promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries by funding international research.  The three key themes are:

• Equitable access to sustainable development
• Sustainable economies and societies
• Human rights, good governance and social justice.

The Royal Society is working with the national academies and UK research councils to fund research that addresses the global challenges faced by developing countries.  Through the funding we will:

• Fund exceptional research programmes and researchers that are addressing global challenges
• Promote international collaboration between researchers in the UK and those in key partner countries
• Build research capacity in developing countries
• Support the next generation of research leaders in developing countries.

What organisations are involved?

GCRF is a five year £1.5 billion fund which is part of the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) focusing on outcomes that promote the long-term sustainable growth of countries selected by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC).

The overall strategy is being delivered through a range of grant schemes run by the four national academies and eight UK research councils.  An overview and guidance is available for potential applicants.

What does the Royal Society offer?

The Royal Society is using GCRF funds to launch new grant schemes and enhance the support offered to our early career researchers.  The schemes are for exceptional researchers to address the key global challenge themes.  

• International Collaboration Awards enable outstanding researchers in the UK to partner with the best research groups in developing countries on projects that address issues faced by developing countries.
• We are supporting future research leaders working in areas directly relevant to the GCRF themes through our University Research Fellowship and Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship.
• Challenge-led Grants provide support for interdisciplinary Research Consortia composed of one UK research group and two developing country research groups working collaboratively to address significant and complex resilience problems facing developing countries.
• Future Leaders – African Independent Research (FLAIR) Fellowships are for talented African early career researchers who have the potential to become leaders in their field. 

Closed schemes:

• Challenge Grants were for our Research Fellows to form international collaborations and address global development issues.  This scheme is now closed.

New grant schemes will be launched throughout the five year fund.

Any applications will need to comply with the ODA GCRF guidelines.

The Royal Society is also delighted to be working with the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Academy of Medical Sciences to deliver several other GCRF programmes as part of the Academies’ GCRF Resilient Futures Initiative. These programmes include the Networking Grants, led by the Academy of Medical Sciences but open to applicants across all academy disciplines, and the series of interdisciplinary and international Frontiers of Development symposia led by the Royal Academy of Engineering.