Collaboration and Innovation Grant
The Collaboration and Innovation Grant supports new collaborations of researchers, engagement professionals, and partners from cultural, creative, charity, and community sectors. It funds experimental, practice-led teams to co-design and deliver inclusive public engagement, with a key emphasis on cross-pollination, innovation, and relationship-building.
Successful projects will be vibrant sites for innovative practice, teambuilding, and knowledge exchange that cuts across sectors, disciplines and functions, and generates lasting connections.
Applications for the Collaboration and Innovation Grant are now open. Please complete your application via Survey Monkey Apply. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 26 May 2026, 5pm.
Amount available
Funding of up to £10,000 is available. The amount funded must be matched at 25% by the lead applicant’s institution, either directly or in-kind. We anticipate making up to 6 awards in this year’s round of funding.
Applicants can request a contribution to personal access costs in addition to the funding outlined above (see the full guidance for further information).
Eligibility
Applications must be submitted by a lead applicant who is employed as a researcher by an Higher Education Institution (HEI) or UKRI-recognised Independent Research Organisation (IRO). This application will be made on behalf of a proposed team consisting of researchers, HEI/UKRI-recognised IRO professional staff and non-HEI partners or individuals. Details of eligible project team members can be found in the full guidance.
Grant pilot
The grant has been piloted through two projects: one exploring the theme of Walking, Power, and Inclusion, and the other centred on Community Gardening. These pilots have worked with researchers and public engagement practitioners from a broad range of disciplines, including history, literature, languages, and cultures, performance, human geography, and sociology.
Learning and insights from this pilot phase have shaped the grant open call.
Help to apply
Our Public Engagement Officers can support applicants with questions about the guidance or making an application. You can email [email protected] with questions or book in a 10-minute call.
The guidance is available in accessible formats, including formatted PDF, Plain Text and large print. If you require an alternative format please get in touch.
We will be hosting an application webinar on Monday 9 March 2026, 2-3pm. This webinar will include conversations with researchers who recently took part in the Collaboration and Innovation Grant pilot, including their reflections and tips for grant applicants. The webinar will be recorded and the recording will be shared with attendees afterwards.
Key documents
Please note: Applications can be prepared in advance using the Word document, but final applications must be submitted through Survey Monkey Apply
Key dates
| Call for applications | Tuesday 10 February |
| Application Deadline | Tuesday 26 May 5pm |
| Notification of outcomes | July 2026 |
| Grant starts | September 2026 |
| Grant ends | By the end of June 2027 |
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