The Researcher Challenges Grants 2026 provide grants of up to £40,000 for UK higher education institutions and non-profit research institutions to collaborate with partner institutions in Egypt, Brazil, Morocco, and Palestine.

Overview

The Researcher Challenges Grants 2026 aim to strengthen research collaborations and research capacity to address pressing global challenges, including climate change, sustainable energy transitions, public health vulnerabilities, and food security. The programme supports partnerships that foster knowledge exchange, build capacity among early-career researchers, and promote new research networks across developing countries.

Funding and Benefits

• Grant amount: Up to £40,000
• Grant length: 12 months, starting January 2027
• Eligible countries: UK lead institution partnering with institutions in Egypt, Brazil, Morocco, and Palestine

Objectives

• Build capacity of early-career researchers through mentorship and structured engagement with senior researchers
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and strengthen mentorship relationships across career stages
• Promote new research networks and institutional collaborations within and across developing countries
• Support co-creation of interdisciplinary research ideas addressing global challenges in climate, energy, health, and AI for development
• Encourage innovative, context-relevant solutions to development challenges through collaborative project design
• Provide a platform for dialogue and partnership-building to enable sustained research collaboration beyond the programme

Partnership Activities

Partnerships are expected to conduct a range of activities, including:

• Organisation of a virtual workshop between the UK and international partner organisation attended by established researchers (in the role of mentors) and early-career researchers (as participants)
• Design of a Challenge Prize for early-career researchers to develop projects related to the workshop theme
• Promotion of partnership activities and outcomes to external stakeholders

Eligibility

The programme is open to higher education institutions and not-for-profit research institutions, establishments, and organisations. Full eligibility criteria are available in the Call Guidance document. Online applications can only be started and submitted by the lead UK institution.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted via the online grant platform at https://goingglobalpartnerships.grantplatform.com/ using the form titled "Going Global Partnerships - Multi-country – Researcher Challenges Grants 2026". Registration on the platform is required. An offline sample application form and other documentation are available for download.

Deadline and Contact

Submission deadline: Thursday 17 September 2026, 11:00 a.m. BST

For any questions, contact: goingglobalpartnerships-RCG@britishcouncil.org