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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, will be available from the 1 August 2025 from your Faculty ring-fenced budget. Each faculty will therefore consider and process applications for consideration of funding and final sign off for all applications will be by the Head of Research Development.
Ulster University Internal ISPF Funding Opportunity for 2025-26 Networking (Call 3)
Ulster University have been awarded funding via the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) to support applications from researchers to set up and develop networking opportunities in relation to their work which contributes to one of the four themes under ISPF.
Eligible activities include:
- Building new collaborative links and consolidate existing partnerships and stakeholders, to address issues within the 4 themes of ISPF (Resilient Planet, Transformative Technologies, Tomorrows Talent and Healthy People, Animals & Plants).
- To support other relevant activity directly related to the development of proposals to ISPF initiatives.
- Projects can pump-prime new areas (in relation to the 4 ISPF themes) or build on existing work and collaborations.
More information on the call can be found within the guidance document below. If you require further support please contact John Mooney.
If you wish to be considered for one of the awards applications, please submit an outline application (below) via email to A.Harbinson1@ulster.ac.uk by 12.00 noon, Friday 5 December 2025.
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.
BBSRC: Mid-range equipment for biosciences research: Alert 2025
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has announced the Mid-range equipment for biosciences research to support bids for capital equipment between £200,000 and £1.5 million (including VAT) with projects to be started by 3 August 2026 and last no more than 12 months and aligns with the BBSRC infrastructure strategic framework and the BBSRC forward look – UKRI.
In developing your application for this funding opportunity, you may wish to consider the eligibility criteria on the funders website and attend an information webinar being held at 10:30 on 5 November 2025.
Each institution have been asked to conduct their own prioritisation exercise.
If you are interested in applying for this call, please submit an Outline Application via email to Andrew Harbinson by 4pm Friday 28 November 2025.
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NIHR: Clinical Future Leader Fellowships (FLF)
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have recently launched the first Clinical Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) call. This NIHR funding aims to help clinicians across nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, regulated clinical and practitioner psychologists, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, and healthcare science to establish their own research teams. Further guidance on eligibility can be found on the Clinical FLF award page or by contacting your Faculty’s Research Development Manager.
The 7-year programme covers the fellow’s salary for protected research time (up to 100% Full Time Equivalent) and provides leadership development opportunities to enable fellows to transition from postdoctoral researchers to research leadership roles.
The Clinical FLF call aims to:
- expand national support for clinical academic careers and increase overall numbers
- help researchers transition into research leadership roles and establish their own research teams
- provide long-term career support to establish a new and sustainable cohort of clinical academic leaders
Each institution is limited to three applications.
If you wish to be considered for this call, please submit a NIHR CFLF Outline Application form via email to Andrew Harbinson by 5pm Monday 8 December 2025.
This call is only open to registered Health and Care Professionals (HCPs), please contact your Research Development Manager to discuss eligibility.
