ISPF International Research Empowerment Programme: Grants for capacity strengthening programmes

8 August 2024

International Research Empowerment Programme (IREP) grants are aimed to foster international collaboration, knowledge exchange, inclusion, and capacity building within the global research community.

For Thai researchers, the British Council, in partnership with National Research Council Thailand (NRCT) and Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B), invite applications from UK and Thai institutions for the International Research Empowerment Programme supported by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) under the ISPF thematic priority ‘Tomorrow’s Talents’.

Deadline:

06 October 2024, 12:00 mid-day BST (18:00 hrs. BKK Time)

Thai Partners:

  • National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT)
  • Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B)

Fund:

Total grant up to £80,000

  • Type 1: Co-funding with NRCT
    • UK Maximum: £40,000
    • NRCT Maximum: £40,000
  • Type 2: Co-funding with PMU-B
    • UK Maximum: £40,000
    • NRCT Maximum: £40,000
  • Type 3: No co-funding with Thai partner
    • UK Maximum: £80,000
      *Note: UK institutions will be responsible for disbursing to the Lead Institution in the partner country/territory.

Duration:

12-18 month

Thematic Priority:

“Tomorrow’s Talents”

  • Priority areas for Type 1 (Co-funding with NRCT):
    • Priority 1: Forster Better Engagement and Management Practices in International Research Collaboration.
    • Priority 2: Support Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in International Research Endeavours.
  • Priority areas for Type 2 (Co-funding with PMU-B):
    • Priority 3: Promote Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange in Interdisciplinary Research.
  • Priority areas for Type 2 (No co-funding with Thai partner):
    • Priority 4: Create Opportunities for Researchers and Institutions to Engage with Communities, Policymakers, and Translate Research into Societal Benefits.

Eligibility:

  • Each proposal must have one Project Leader from the UK and one Project Leader from the specified Partner Country/Territory. We will allow only one application per project leader, from either side.
  • Both UK and international partner project leaders must hold permanent positions (research/academic/professional) at eligible institutions and have relevant expertise and capacity to lead the project.
  • Both Project Leaders’ institutions (the ‘Lead Institutions’) must have the capacity to administer the grant, as all grants will be paid to the employing institution of the UK Project Leader, and not to the individuals involved.

Additional eligibility criteria for Thai Project Leaders:

  • For Type 1 (Co-funding with NRCT):
    Applicants must be individuals employed in either the public or private sector, or higher education institution or a research institution recognized as legal entities according to the following criteria:
    • Applicants must be a Thai nationality and have a permanent residence within the country and evidence of employment.
    • Applicants must hold a doctoral degree and have been actively engaged in research, particularly over the past five years. Applicants should have received international recognition from experts in their field, such as securing funding from foreign sources for collaborative research projects. This recognition can also include co-publication of research findings, co-supervising theses, organizing academic conferences, etc.
    • Applicants should possess the capability to conduct and oversee research promptly and continuously throughout the grant duration, ensuring timely completion of research projects with high quality.Applicant’s Team must include Thai young research, and other various stakeholder such as policy maker, end-user, local community, etc.Applicants must submit their proposal through the NRIIS (https://nriis.go.th/), apart from the British Council’s portal.Applicant’s institution must certify the proposal in the NRIIS within the specific deadline.
    • Applicants must comply with the national regulation and NRCT’s rules and regulation.
  • For Type 2 (Co-funding with PMU-B):
    Applicants must be individuals employed in either the public or non-profit organisation, or higher education institution or a research institute in Thailand and comply with the following criteria:
    • Thai Project Leader must be Thai or Non-Thai affiliated with Thai abovementioned organisations.
  • For Type 3 (No co-funding with Thai partner):
    For Thai applicants, only Higher Education Institution Provider, Public Research Institute can apply as a lead applicant.

For more information about eligibility criteria, please click.

Submission Process:

  • For Type 1 (Co-funding with NRCT):
    • Thai Applicants must also submit their proposal in Thai language directly through NRIIS system (https://nriis.go.th/), apart from submission through the British Council’s portal.
    • A complete and identical application form in PDF format (without supporting documents), which is submitted to the British Council portal (https://grants.britishcouncil.org/), must be also submitted in NRIIS to be considered.
  • For Type 2 (Co-funding with PMU-B):
    • There will be only one application to be submitted to the British Council.
  • For Type 3 (No co-funding with Thai partner):
    • There will be only one application to be submitted to the British Council.

Information session for Thai applicants:

The British Council together with NRCT and PMU-B will organize an online information session on aiming to provide related information in applying the IREP programme including the overview how to apply. The session will be recorded and conducted in Thai.

Date: 14 August 2024 16:00 – 17:00 (BKK time)

Register: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a516ee7d-095d-43d0-b483-b72c1b5c18ea@ae6275c1-ccdd-4046-b2a1-6245a2cca3ec

For more information: