Royal Society of Edinburgh announces major new funding stream
A new international academic partnership, worth over £1,000,000 over the next two years, has been agreed by research leaders in Scotland and Germany.
Representatives from the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy, and the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony in Germany, signed the agreement at the RSE building on Edinburgh’s George Street on Wednesday 12 February 2025.
The partnership will take the form of two separate funding streams.
The first stream – known as the development track – is being administered and funded by the RSE due to the generous support of the RSE Scotland Foundation and the Caledonian Research Fund, and is planned to help early- to mid-career academics foster new international collaborations with researchers in Lower Saxony.
The second stream – known as the excellence track – entails larger grants funded by the Ministry for Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, supported by the European Centre for Academic Research (ECAS) and the Volkswagen Foundation, and is designed for existing academic projects to upscale and continue their work.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the RSE and Lower Saxony, will support joint research projects in any area of academic research, but with a particular focus on themes that have been identified by the research sector such as energy, life sciences, social mobility and security sectors.
The MoU states that it will “reaffirm that elevating international cooperation across scientific research, technology and innovation will strengthen the bonds and understanding between Lower Saxony and Scotland.”
It is hoped that it will bolster existing academic cooperation between institutions and create a basis for joint research funding applications to Horizon Europe and other funders.
Professor Anne Anderson FRSE, the RSE vice president of research, said: “I am very proud that the RSE and our German colleagues will be able to support research partnerships between Scotland and Lower Saxony.
“By strengthening scientific ties and fostering academic exchange, this new partnership will enable researchers in both our countries to thrive for the benefit of all.”
The State Secretary for the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, Professor Joachim Schachtner, added: “The Memorandum of Understanding is more than just a formal agreement. It is a bridge between our communities, marking a significant milestone in the scientific collaboration between Scotland and Lower Saxony. The Royal Society of Edinburgh is widely recognised for its exceptional expertise and unwavering commitment to scientific excellence – qualities that align closely with the strength and dynamism of the scientific landscape in Lower Saxony. This agreement, along with our joint research funding programme, paves the way for a balanced and mutually beneficial exchange that will advance the research capabilities of both our regions in the years to come.”
ECAS Academic Director, Professor James Conroy, said: “The Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme is a fitting testament to the necessity of investing time into the building of partnerships that lead to long-lasting relationships of trust and mutual interest, which in turn drives the creation of excellent research. In the past five years ECAS has supported the development of this strong alliance between the regions of Lower Saxony and Scotland, their higher education institutions, and key actors, such as the Lower Saxonian Ministry of Science and Culture, the Volkswagen Foundation and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.”
Professor Markus Reihlen, also Academic Director of ECAS, added: “We look forward to the roll out of the new funding programme as it fosters and supports new opportunities for collaborative, cutting-edge research and we will continue our task of building a bridge across the North Sea to foster sustainable academic relations, between Lower Saxonian and Scottish science communities and research partners.”
Dr Georg Schütte, secretary general of the Volkswagen Foundation, said: “Cooperation across Lower Saxony’s borders is essential in order to meet future challenges like renewable energies or digital transition. That is why we are intensifying our cooperation with Scotland. We seek to enable excellent researchers on both sides to bring their collaborative projects on track to joint applications in prestigious calls – namely in Horizon Europe.”
When does the award open for applications?
The RSE’s Scotland-Lower Saxony Research and Innovation Scheme – stream one, development track – will open for applications on 20 February 2025 as part of the Society’s Spring 2025 Research Awards Programme open call.
The call, which comprises of five different funding opportunities covering all career stages and academic disciplines, will run until noon, 9 April 2025.
Visit rse.org.uk/programme/research/funding to find out more.
The Ministry for Science and Culture of Lower Saxony’s award – stream two, excellence track – will open on 20 February 2025, and run until 30 June 2025.
Visit Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme: Stream II – Excellence Track to find out more.
