United Kingdom – Iceland Arctic Science Partnership Scheme

Researchers in the United Kingdom and Iceland are well-placed to develop important new science partnerships that address pressing research questions. These partnerships can support the development of skill- and knowledge-based networks to strengthen both communities; foster the creation of positive, respectful and empowering partnerships; and create lasting research connections.

The United Kingdom’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, working with the British Embassy in Reykjavik, the UK Science and Innovation Network and the NERC Arctic Office, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Icelandic Research Council (Rannís) is funding a new bursaries programme. This will support UK and Iceland-based researchers working in Iceland in 2024-25.

The outcomes of the science partnerships scheme are expected to support and further develop lasting research and collaboration links between researchers in the UK and Iceland; to provide new access opportunities for researchers to work with new partners; and develop ideas for future international projects.

Funding Information

• Eligible costs should not exceed £20,000 in total. Applications for smaller sums are especially welcome. All costs will be funded at 100 percent.

Science Partnership Scheme Details

• This scheme is open to researchers based in the United Kingdom and Iceland in a broad range of science fields. Applications will be particularly welcomed from early career scientists and researchers within groups under-represented across the research community. It is expected that applicants will normally be employed in positions within institutions in the UK and Iceland. PhD candidates undertaking the research as part of their qualification will not usually be eligible. Proposals could be from single researchers from the UK and Iceland working together or a small number of researchers in both countries. The numbers from each country do not need to be equal.
• Applications to the science partnership scheme must be joint between the UK and Iceland-based researchers in order to be eligible. Applications from a researcher or group of researchers based in one country only will not be eligible.
• Timelines: All funded science partnership activity must be completed during the 2024-25 financial year (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025).

Research Fields

• Applications are welcomed from across the full range of Arctic environmental, geological, innovation, technological and emerging tech, AI, space, health, energy and social themes.

Supported Activities

• The expectation is that this will be for practical work, networking and partnership building, including fieldwork and associated research and laboratory work as required, undertaken in the financial year 2024-25 (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025). Applications may be for work which addresses a specific research question or which is part of a wider initiative where the bursary scheme will add value and impact. Applications can also be for work which is focused on capacity and confidence building in new joint teams, sharing skills and techniques, developing practical methods which combine science and traditional and local knowledge and similar initiatives.
• The scheme will not generally be available to support existing UK-Iceland joint research projects but will focus on new or significantly extended collaborations. Researchers with existing partnerships must clearly identify the additional value and the new aspects of the collaboration in their application.

Eligible Costs can include

• Travel, accommodation and subsistence, purchasing/hire/use of special equipment, logistics and shipping costs, specific training and permit/access costs. Where appropriate, travel and related subsistence costs for Iceland-based researchers to visit the UK as part of the project can be eligible. Salary costs and associated costs, such as insurance, will not be eligible. Conference costs may be eligible but should be a minor part of the overall costs of the bursary and link specifically to the outcomes of the bursary. Publication costs will not normally be eligible.
• Funds will be dispersed following the signing of appropriate agreements. Subsequent transfers of funds to Iceland-based partners will be the responsibility of the UK-based researcher and institution.

Eligibility Criteria

• UK-based applicants who are normally able to apply for UK Research and Innovation funding will be eligible to apply. Their Iceland-based partners should normally be eligible to apply for funding through Rannís or similar institutions.

For more information, visit NERC Arctic Office.