– Opens for application today until 24 January 2023!

Overview of the Reconnect Travel Grant 

British Council is opening applications for academics and researchers from universities in Japan, Korea (South), Hong Kong and the UK to apply for our Reconnect Travel Grant. The programme will support the themes and priorities outlined in the UK Innovation Strategy and aligns with the objectives of the UK Science and Innovation Network in the following priority markets.

The themes include: 

Hong Kong themesJapan themesKorea themes
  • Healthy population - health tech and digital health, pandemics, mental health, health inequality, ageing, nutrition
  • Net Zero - clean energy, carbon reduction and sequestration
  • Resilient Planet- Disaster Risk Reduction, environmental protection, adaptation and mitigation
  • Synthetic Biology (particularly genome synthesis and cell programming)
  • Oceans Science (particularly arctic and marine science
  • Infectious Diseases (particularly pandemic preparedness)
  • Healthy Ageing (particularly mental health and obesity)
  • Clean Energy (particularly batteries)
  • Robotics, Advanced Materials, and Quantum Technologies (quantum sensing and quantum biology).
  • Net Zero- clean energy, climate policy and solutions, etc
  • Resilient planet - Disaster Risk Reduction, environmental protection, adaptation and mitigation
  • Tomorrow’s technology 
  • Healthy population
  • Secure Societies


Grant format 

We welcome proposals for groups of 3-4 researchers, with at least one established academic colleague, to plan a study visit for up to four months between 1 April 2023 to 28 February 2024. 

The Grant can cover travel and study activities which deliver the following objectives: 

  • Support relevant research – Travel Grants are intended to support research areas relevant to the above themes and priorities and needs and interests of partners. 
  • Contribute to capacity building of early career researchers – The proposal should include a description of the capacity building potential of the project (both for the individual applicant, and other potential beneficiaries), and the longer-term impact that the project could achieve. 
  • Establish new research links or develop existing links – Travel Grants are intended to either support new links, or to develop existing links with the potential for longer term sustainability. Applications to return to the research group where the applicant carried out their PhD research or have previously taught will only be considered if they clearly demonstrate the latter.
     

Grant details for each country

  • Hong Kong will offer 4 grants worth GBP12,000 each for 3-4 researchers, with at least one established academic colleague, to plan a study visit for up to four months working on the themes on the above table. 
  • Japan: will offer 8 grants worth GB12,000 each for 3-4 researchers, with at least one established academic colleague, to plan a study visit for up to four months on the themes on the above table. 
  • Korea will offer 4 grants worth GBP12,000 each for 3-4 researchers, with at least one established academic colleague, to plan a study visit for up to four months working on the themes on the above table.

How to Apply

Application closes on 24 January 2023 at 11:59pm UK time.  

Information day - have your questions answered
You are invited to join the Virtual Reconnect Travel Grant Information Day on 12 January 2022 at 9-10 am UK’s time. The Information Day will provide information about the Reconnect Travel Grant, guidance on the application form and answer any questions you may have. Register HERE. 

For further enquiries, please contact:

Attachment
Annex 1_ Reconnect Travel Grant _Application form V1.1.docx
Annex 2_ Reconnect Activity Based Budget Sheet.xlsx
Annex 3_ Grant Agreement Template.docx
Reconnect Travel Grant _Guideline for Applications V1.2.pdf