UK-Ireland collaboration in the Creative Economy – Research Networking Awards

This funding opportunity aims to form research networks and conduct collaborative networking and partnership development activities between creative economy researchers and wider stakeholders in Ireland and the UK. Specifically, this opportunity aims to support a diverse range of projects that:

• Build and consolidate new partnerships between researchers and stakeholders in the UK and Ireland and provide a platform for longer-term collaboration;
• Deliver innovative research networking activities that are appropriately tailored to the themes and areas being addressed, such as workshops, seminars and / or other events and outreach, mobility, engagement and knowledge exchange activity;
• Are genuinely collaborative and involve a balance of Research Organisations and industry stakeholders in both countries;
• Promote the sharing of best practice and knowledge exchange between institutions in Ireland and the UK and clearly demonstrate the specific added value of enhanced collaboration in the field.

Under the collaboration between Research Ireland and AHRC agreement, a single joint proposal from applicants in both countries is submitted to UKRI Funding Service. The application is processed according to the normal procedures of AHRC Standard Grants, and funding by AHRC and Research Ireland is decided following a joint assessment process following the recommendation of the AHRC-Research Ireland panel. UK-based research groups will be funded by AHRC and Irish based research groups will be funded by Research Ireland. AHRC will accept joint applications for UK-Ireland Collaboration in the Creative Economy – Research Networking Awards by the call deadline.  The usual guidance for AHRC applicants applies for the UK team, along with the additional guidance provided below pertaining to the Irish co-lead, project co-leads and research programme. Further information can also be found on the UKRI AHRC website.

The UK-Ireland collaboration in the Creative Economy – Research Networking Awards is open to independent investigators only. Applicants will be expected to hold (or be guaranteed) a minimum 50% Full Time Equivalent contract with the host Research Body. Please see the Who Can Apply Policy for more information.

Because they are not considered to be independent investigators at the time of application Postdoctoral Researchers are not eligible to apply to the UK-Ireland collaboration in the Creative Economy – Research Networking Awards call even if their host research body agrees that an academic staff member position will be provided to the applicant in the event of the application being funded.

For applicants, the following employment status criteria applies:

The Irish Co-Lead must be a member of academic staff in a Research Ireland Eligible Research Body, and hold either a permanent contract or a contract that covers the period of the grant,

or

An independent contract researcher with a signed contract in place on the date of proposal submission to Research Ireland. This contract must cover the period of the grant, and the contract researcher must be recognised by the Research Body as an independent investigator and have an independent office and (if applicable) research space at the host Research Body for which the researcher will be fully responsible for at least the duration of the grant.

AHRC is running this funding opportunity in collaboration with Research Ireland via the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service. Please read carefully the Research Ireland Guidance for Irish Co-lead on how to prepare a joint application as well as the additional documentation required by Research Ireland, which will be uploaded as part of the application.

A single joint proposal should be submitted to AHRC via TFS with the UK applicant designated as project lead and the Irish applicant designated as project co-lead (international). Please note this requirement is just for the submission process as there must be a UK and Irish project lead as part of the equitable partnership requirement.

Only the lead UK research organisation can submit an application to UKRI. The UK project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and partners to contribute to the application.

The Irish co-lead is additionally responsible for drawing up a specific programme of work, with detail of milestones and deliverables, associated with the Irish team’s proposed contribution to the joint project, and which is submitted as part of the joint application to UKRI. This work programme must be clearly costed in the Irish budget submission.

Only the UK co-lead needs to register with the Funding Service directly. Project co-leads (both UK and Irish) will receive an email notification when the UK co-lead has entered their details into the system. This email will guide individuals to create an account on the Funding Service by verifying their details. This will allow them to view and read the application.

In the preparation of a joint application, please note the following:

• A maximum request of €35,000 direct costs for durations of 12 months will apply to the total Irish budget. An additional contribution to overhead costs (at 30%) will also be made.
• A letter of endorsement is required from the Irish co-lead’s host Eligible Research Body.
• A letter of support must be provided from each project partner included in the application. This should be submitted as part of the ‘Project partners (UK & Ireland): letters (or emails) of support’ in the TFS.
• The resources and cost justification in the UKRI application form must include the costs requested by the Irish co-lead, making sure that it is clear which costs will be funded by Research Ireland, and which costs will be funded by AHRC if the application is successful.
• The Research Ireland Cover Sheet and associated documents must be included with the Funding Service submission as a single PDF attachment. This document should be submitted as an attachment (this is not used in the peer review process).
• Please note that all proposal documentation will be shared with Research Ireland, including reviewers’ comments.

Full call documentation, including guidance notes and eligibility details, will be available on the UKRI and Research Ireland websites at call launch.

An information webinar for the UK-Ireland collaboration in the Creative Economy – Research Networking Awards can be found below: