Apply for funding to run an international workshop abroad or in the UK.
You must hold a current BBSRC research grant that:
The full economic cost of your project can be up to £10,000. BBSRC will fund 100% of the full economic cost.
Your project must start from April 2023.
Applications must be made by a principal investigator who is currently in receipt of BBSRC research funding. In addition, the associated BBSRC grant must have started before the application deadline and must have at least six months remaining from the start of the award.
The following applicants are eligible to apply:
The following applicants are not eligible to apply:
Full details of eligibility criteria for BBSRC funding can be found in the BBSRC research grants guide.
We encourage joint applications by consortia of UK partners, which could include industrial and non-BBSRC funded partners. However, a BBSRC funded applicant must lead the consortia and submit the proposal using the Joint Electronic Submission system.
BBSRC does not issue a prescriptive list of objectives for international workshops but a successful workshop would usually include:
These international workshops give rise to a number of benefits for BBSRC funded scientists.
Firstly, there is a clear gain in exposure to different approaches and ideas, especially when coupled with access to both new expertise and facilities.
Workshops tend to be targeted towards new areas and those in which extensive international networks do not already exist.
Secondly, these workshops can provide the contacts and links that are essential to the formation of consortia for accessing other funding sources such as the EU Framework Programme Horizon Europe.
Thirdly, there is return in the form of synergy in the generation of new ideas between the participating countries.
Applications to this funding opportunity can be for workshops with any country in any area within BBSRC remit, based on current BBSRC research funding. International workshops can be held in the UK or overseas and should always present an international dimension to them, for example in its location, participants or partners.
Many workshops are used as a platform to look for new, long term partnerships which may be eligible for BBSRC International Partnering Awards or funding from other bodies.
Workshops can be held in the UK or abroad. The funding opportunity is open to proposals involving collaborations with any other region, although BBSRC is particularly interested in promoting further links with:
Experience has shown that there is no set formula for a successful workshop and that there is a need to be flexible according to the needs of the subject area.
Best practice from previous workshops suggests the following factors:
The format usually includes a mixture of seminar-style presentations followed by smaller group discussions and feedback sessions to the whole workshop.
Workshops are often held within institutes or universities and there may be value in persuading the visiting side to give presentations to larger groups working in the field that are not actually attending the workshop.
Finally, the wrap-up session is an important element of the workshop, which can be overlooked in the enthusiasm of information exchange. The workshop is about the future and it is essential that enough time is left to prepare an action plan for the way forward. Please indicate in your case for support if you would find it helpful for BBSRC to be represented at the workshop.
The earliest start date of the award is 1 April 2023.
The full economic cost of your project can be up to £10,000. BBSRC will fund 100% of the full economic cost.
Applications should be made at current costs in accordance with subsistence and travel regulations at the applicant’s institution. For each main activity, indicative costs should be shown.
BBSRC may index approve costs so awards made will include an allowance for inflation. Any award made will be cash limited, and whilst funds should be used for the activities requested, the use of funds to allow activities that were not originally envisaged will be allowed as long as they are in pursuance of the overall objectives of the partnering award and within the guidelines.
You must follow travel advice set out by your institutions and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before departure and should check travel guidance for countries of interest when preparing an application.
BBSRC will not cover the cost of any time spent in quarantine as a result of travelling on an BBSRC International Workshop grant. To manage risks associated with travelling, you should make optimal use of remote working solutions.
No indirectly incurred costs can be applied for under the international workshop scheme.
You can request additional care costs as part of an International Workshop Award grant proposal. These may cover the additional care requirements for visits, meetings and overseas travel undertaken as part of the supported activity.
Costs which form part of someone’s normal care arrangements must not be included and making arrangements for the care to be provided is the responsibility of the carer themselves.
Costs should be reasonable and outlined on the Joint Electronic Submissions system in the ‘Other Directly Incurred Costs’ section. Funds for supporting people with caring responsibilities should form part of the overall budget envelope.
You can find advice on completing your application in the Je-S handbook.
We recommend you start your application early.
Your host organisation will also be able to provide advice and guidance.
Before starting an application, you will need to log in or create an account in Je-S.
When applying:
This will populate:
Once you have completed your application, make sure you ‘submit document’.
You can save completed details in Je-S at any time and return to continue your application later.
BBSRC must receive your application by 10 November 2022 at 16:00.
You will not be able to apply after this time. Please leave enough time for your proposal to pass through your organisation’s Je-S submission route before this date.
You should ensure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines that may be in place.
Your application should also include the following attachments.
The case for support should be a maximum of three sides of A4. It should be written in single spaced Arial, Helvetica or Verdana typeface font size 11 and margins must not be less than 2cm.
The case for support must contain the following sections:
A short cover letter must be included in the application.
A letter of support (maximum one side of A4) from, for example, the proposed collaborators may also be included but is not mandatory.
CVs and publication lists are not required. However, you may wish to include any particularly pertinent recent publications.
For a full list of information required for collaborative grants with industry and other users, please refer to the BBSRC grants guide (section 2.9 to 2.18).
This is an additional optional attachment, which can be added under ‘Other Attachment’. The equality, diversity and inclusion attachment can be up to a maximum of one side of A4.
Within this document, you may wish to include an outline of how you have taken a meaningful, yet proportionate consideration of the steps taken to ensure an inclusive partnership.
Read more about the equality impact assessment guidance and template (PDF, 153KB).
Applications are assessed internally by BBSRC. This light-touch internal assessment allows international workshop applications to be processed swiftly and can be applied as they are based on an existing BBSRC grant, which has already undergone robust peer review.
Proposals are assessed against the following criteria:
Further details about BBSRC’s science and strategic priorities may be found in BBSRC’s delivery plan.
The success of each workshop will be measured against the following criteria:
For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.
Email: sania.afzal@bbsrc.ukri.org
01793 444164
BBSRC appreciates that the best research and ideas often come about from collaboration with other individuals, located both in the UK and around the world.
The BBSRC International Workshops scheme has been running successfully for over 10 years to facilitate the coming together of experts. Since 2005, BBSRC has supported 114 workshops with a total investment of over £1.2 million.
In previous years the BBSRC International Workshop scheme has provided around six awards of up to £10,000 each. Awards are aimed at developing relations in topics relevant to current BBSRC strategic priorities.
Previous BBSRC sponsored workshops have created good international synergy. Many have led to successful international research projects that have provided considerable added value to UK science.
Previous international workshop awards, 2005 to 2021 (PDF, 289KB).
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and BBSRC are:
You are expected to consider these issues from the earliest stage of building your teams through to the delivery of awarded projects.
Consideration of EDI is important for all applications to BBSRC for funding. We expect particular care to be taken for projects which involve diverse partnerships, international travel and extended overnight stays. For example, those supported through the BBSRC International Partnering Award scheme.
UKRI’s key principles for equality, diversity and inclusion.
All grant maintenance requests (for example, grant extension request, extension to start date, transfer of organisation) should be made through the grant maintenance facility in the Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) system. All requests for extensions must be made once the required duration is known and before the grant ends.
All grant holders must use Researchfish to record key findings and specific outputs from their grants. Grant holders can enter information into Researchfish at any time throughout the year and submit during the annual submission period.
Read more about reporting your project outcomes.
BBSRC carries out the processing of personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.
The information you provide will only be used by BBSRC for the purpose of carrying out reviewing and assessment for making a funding decision.
Guidance for Je-S application process (PDF, 145KB)
Equality and inclusion impact assessment (PDF, 153KB)
BBSRC International Workshops previous awards (PDF, 289KB)
Full guidance document (PDF, 261KB)
