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Research Development manage restricted calls and support researchers through various funding streams.
Internal Funding Opportunities
The Research Development Strategic Fund (RDSF)
Funding is available to support early stage activities leading to the submission of an external research grant application supported by your Research Development Manager. This may include, but is not limited to, activities such as consortia building, visits to a partner institution and/or collaborative meetings to prepare a grant application. Attendance at conferences and seminars must be directly related to a specific research grant application.
Funding for the 2025-2026 financial year has now been distributed. The fund is forecast to reopen on 1 August 2026.
Restricted Calls
What are Restricted calls?
In order to ensure that external research grant applications submitted by Ulster University are of the highest quality, we are sometimes required to initiate a process for restricted calls or demand management.
Restricted calls are a funder requirement and managed in line with the funder guidelines and capped number of applications. Non-adherence to the funder requirement may result in all applications being rejected.
MRC: Purchase mid-range equipment for Biomedical Research
The Medical Research Council (MRC) 's Purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research: MRC Equip – UKRI call aims to build world class laboratory capability that will enable research to deliver MRC’s mission by providing funding to purchase equipment within the MRC’s remit, to be used within Biomedical research, with applications relating to the MRC’s priority areas being particularly encouraged. Applications may be for equipment which allows for new capability or replacement equipment for existing capability and capacity (applications for second-hand or beta-testing equipment are also eligible) between £200k- £1m (including VAT and funded at 100% FEC). Projects must start by 1 June 2027 and end of 31 December 2027 (7 month duration).
Each institution can only submit two applications to this round.
If you wish to be considered for this call, please submit a MRC Outline Application via email to Andrew Harbinson by 4pm Friday 25 September 2026._
