The Global Challenges Research fund (GCRF) is a new £1.5 billion fund for UK researchers. Announced in 2016, GCRF is funded by the UK government’s international aid budget, for research that ‘addresses the challenges faced by developing countries’. Developing countries are defined as those on the DAC List.
The fund constitutes many different schemes delivered through many UK funders:
Research Councils
Large multi-disciplinary research projects, often cross council
- RCUK: Research councils UK (as of 2018 renamed UKRI). £377 million
- MRC: Medical sciences research council. £115 million
- BBSRC: Biological sciences research council. £70 million
- EPSRC: Engineering and physical sciences research council. £55 million
- ESRC: Economics and Social sciences research council. £35 million
- NERC: Natural environment research council. £35 million
- AHRC: Arts and humanities research council. £25 million
- STFC: £11 million
The academies. £45 million
Fellowships, travel grants and seed funding
- Royal Society
- British Academy
- Royal Academy of Engineering
- Academy of medical sciences.
Calls
UKCDS (UK Collaborative on development sciences) Funding calls and subscribe to mailing list
ODA compliance
GCRF forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment. Therefore GCRF funding can only be awarded in a manner that fits with Official ODA guidelines. Proposals to the GCRF should be based on deliverable, high-impact research with equitable teams between the UK and the developing countries.