SULSA Updates
Published: 25 September 2024
Recent Newsletter from SULSA
Strategic Updates:
International Collaboration Funding (SFC, Scottish Government)
SULSA has been working with the SFC to support dissemination of Scottish Government funding aimed at strengthening existing and building new connections with European research partners, to drive engagement with Horizon Europe and FP10. The funding has been delayed by 4 weeks and timelines are tight but we are delighted that they have chosen Research Innovation Scotland as a platform to disseminate the funding with SULSA providing the administrative support. We have ~£60,000 available for seed funding of activities. Please see the advert below and promote widely.
All disciplines, all sectors (not life sciences specific).
Deutsches Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG Delegation
In the first week of September, SULSA had the great pleasure of hosting a delegation of 23 academics from German Universities of Applied Sciences for a week-long tour of Scotland and its Higher Education Institutes (see graphic). This trip was part of the German Research Foundation (Deutsches Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) Networking for Research Initiative, a year-long programme to support the internationalisation of German Universities of Applied Sciences. Scotland was the chosen European destination to host this global pilot. The delegation travelled from Glasgow to Edinburgh, to St Andrews to Inverness over 5 days meeting 29 academics from SULSA’s 13 members. Attendees for the week also included six members of DFG staff, including DFG Vice President Prof Karin Jacobs, Research Innovation Scotland partners, Deputy Consulate General, Holger Thiessen, German General Consul, Christiane Hullmann and Minister Graeme Dey.
Academics have been encouraged to apply for Initiation of International Collaboration Funding with German connections made during the week. There will be a follow up event which will welcome a larger audience in November.
Other
Since my last communication SULSA has met with the UK Ambassador for Germany and has been asked to consult on policy roundtables on University Spin-Out creation, UK-Germany treaty development and a Scottish Government Horizon Scanning exercise.
The Strategic Delivery Plan for SULSA’s 2025-2030 term will be with your Executive Committee representative w/c 23rdof September. I am available to meet and discuss our plans over the next month or so to meet our deadline of a fully signed MOA by November 30th.
Upcoming Activities to promote:
- International Collaboration Fund - LIVE – Closes Oct 21st
- RS MacDonald Trust – Seed Fund - Information Session and Launch (Opens Sept 23rd and Info Session Oct 1st)
- Life Sciences Pitching Bootcamp – Glasgow Oct 23rd
International Collaboration Fund (not in newsletter due to timing of SFC decision)
NEW FUNDING: RIS International Collaboration Fund
SULSA are delighted to launch this new funding call which is being delivered by Research Innovation Scotland funded by Scottish Government via the Scottish Funding Council.
Scope of Funding
This fund aims to promote connectivity between Scotland and European research partners with the aim of strengthening existing, and seeding future, research relationships and creating paths to European research funding. Funding can be sought for (1) visits and exchanges between Scotland and a European partner(s) and (2) preparatory activities for Horizon Europe opportunities.
Eligibility
Applications can be from any discipline or department within a Scottish University of Research Institute. We welcome projects from all fields of STEAM, this fund is not specific to the life sciences.
Further Information
Full details on eligibility and how to apply can be found on the SULSA website.
Important Dates
- Call Opens: Wednesday 18th September 2024
- Call Closes: Monday 21st October 2024
- Activity Deadline: All planned activity must take place by 31st March 2025
RS MacDonald Trust – Seed Fund - Information Session and Launch
NEW FUNDING CALL: RS MacDonald Facility Access Fund
We are delighted to be launching our NEW CALL working in partnership with SINAPSE and funding from the RS MacDonald Trust on September 23rd.
You can REGISTER NOW To find out more at our Information Session on October 1st at 10 am!
The RS MacDonald Facility Access Fund will support research projects that access Scottish facilities and deliver within the RS Macdonald scope of neurological conditions and retinal disease.
Applicants are invited to apply for up to £10,000 for research projects within the scope, we will fund between 8-10 applications.
Applications must be led by a SULSA/SINAPSE member university/institute but can include co-applicants from across the UK and internationally. We encourage technical staff to be considered as co-applicants for SULSA relevant projects.
Eligibility and how to apply can be found on the SULSA webpage
Important Dates:
Opens 23rd September 2024
Information Session: 1st October 2024 10 am – 11 am (register free here)
Closes: 16th December 2024
Life Sciences Pitching Bootcamp
Interested in turning your research project into a business idea in the future and learning key entrepreneurial skills in a fun and relaxed environment? Or just want to learn about how to communicate about your research to a broad audience and grow your networks?
Then join the SULSA Life Sciences Pitching Bootcamp in Glasgow on October 23rd at the Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow.
Open to - PhD students and postdoctoral researchers looking to develop key skills needed to advance in their research career, whether in commercialising their research or building new collaborations with academics or industry.
Although useful, you do not need to have a research idea ready for commercialisation to attend this event, your own research project and how to ‘pitch’ that can be used as an example for your elevator pitch – a very useful networking tool!
Find out more about the programme at the SULSA webpage
SULSA supports researchers from across the spectrum of life sciences, not just biomedical, and we can support researchers from any discipline
First published: 25 September 2024
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