Researchers funded by BBSRC can request up to £10,000 to run a workshop being held overseas or in the UK. We want to encourage joint working in topics important to BBSRC’s strategy.
You can run workshops with any country in any area within BBSRC remit, based on current BBSRC research funding.
Successful awards should aim to start from April 2021.
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.
Applicants should contact BBSRC for advice if they have any eligibility concerns on sania.afzal@bbsrc.ukri.org.
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 (Je-S).
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-sponsored scientists.
Benefit one: 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.
Benefit two: 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.
Benefit three: there is return in the form of synergy in the generation of new ideas between the participating countries.
Applications 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 on funding from other bodies.
Workshops can be held in the UK or abroad. The call is open to proposals involving collaborations with any other country, 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.
All applications must be made through the research council’s Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S).
In addition to the Je-S proforma, the application should also include the following attachments:
The case for support should be a PDF document of no longer than three sides (not including appendix) of single spaced 11pt Arial text. It must contain the following sections:
A short proposal letter must be included in the application.
CVs and publication lists are not required; however applicants may wish to include any particularly pertinent recent publications. A letter or support (maximum one side of A4) from, for example, the proposed collaborators may also be included but is not mandatory.
Read detailed guidance on how to complete the Je-S application process (PDF, 183KB).
Applicants must follow travel advice set out by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth 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 international workshop grant.
Applications are assessed internally by BBSRC. This light-touch internal assessment allows 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:
Eligibility queries about this scheme should be addressed to:
Sana Afzal, Assistant International Relations Manager
sania.afzal@bbsrc.ukri.org
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. This scheme has been running successfully for over 10 years to facilitate the coming together of experts.
Since 2005, BBSRC has supported 111 workshops with a total investment of over £1.2 million.
In previous years the 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. A list of awards funded through previous calls is available above.
All grant maintenance requests (for example, grant extension request, extension to start date, transfer of organisation) should be made via the grant maintenance facility in Je-S. All requests for extensions must be made once the required duration is known and before the grant ends.
Read more about making a change to your project.
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.
For international workshops BBSRC expects the following sections in researchfish® to be completed as a minimum requirement:
Read more about reporting your research 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.
By providing your information you are consenting to its use as detailed above.
Further relevant information is available in the:
