Close
UCL and Korea University (KU) are contributing matching funds to support collaborative education and research initiatives through a joint call for proposals for collaborative activities.
Projects
This call invites proposals for partnership development activity in areas of mutual interest and complementary strength that will deepen research and education collaboration between UCL and KU.
Proposals should be co-led by a Lead Applicant at each institution and can involve a wider team of participants from each institution, as appropriate to the activities proposed.
Applications from all fields are eligible but proposals in the following areas are particularly encouraged as they reflect shared priorities of the two universities and align with Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe:
- Health
- Creative Industries, including areas relating to Media and Technology
- Quantum, AI, Advanced Materials
- Climate, Energy and Mobility
Up to five joint projects will be selected for funding. Proposals will be assessed by a panel composed of members from both institutions.
Applications must demonstrate how the proposed activity will provide a platform for longer-term, larger-scale collaboration between UCL and KU in the relevant field, for example, by providing a basis for ongoing joint research and education activity and / or applications to external bodies for research grant funding.
Following South Korea’s association to Horizon Europe in January 2025, applicants are encouraged to consider how this fund can be used to provide a platform for applications to calls under Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe. In section two of the application, applicants should be as specific as possible in outlining next steps, e.g. in identifying the Cluster and call to which they intend to apply, other European partners who may be involved, and providing a broad timeframe.
Eligibility
UCL Applications
Applications are open to UCL staff members with the following roles. Applications from Early Career Researchers, or staff with equivalent professional training, are welcomed:
• Professor or equivalent
• Associate Professor/ Reader or equivalent
• Senior Lecturer/Principal Researcher/Principal Research Associate or equivalent
• Lecturer/Senior Research Associate or equivalent
• Post Doc/Researcher/Research Associate or equivalent
Applicants from UCL must have an open-ended UCL contract or a fixed-term contract which lasts until at least July 2027.
Principal Investigators from UCL should be aware of the rules stipulated on the Partner Funds webpage here.
KU Applications
Applications are open to full-time faculty members at the Seoul Campus, the Sejong Campus and the College of Medicine.
Selection Priority (for KU Applicants): Priority will be given to KU PIs who are participating in any of KU’s global joint seed funding programs for the first time. This is to encourage broader faculty engagement in international collaborations.
Institutional Guidelines
Please check each university’s guidelines regarding research ethics and export controls. Applicants are responsible for reading these guidelines and ensuring projects adhere to each university’s approval policy and process.
UCL’s research guidelines can be found here:
- UCL Research Ethics Committee
- Research Integrity
- Export Controls: academic activity involving international partners or travel may be subject to export controls. Therefore, as part of our awarding process, UCL will need to share the project details of all successful applicants with the UCL Compliance & Assurance (C&A) team. All UCL awards are therefore provisional, subject to a review by the C&A team for export control compliance. Should the C&A team confirm that your project is subject to export controls, your award is contingent upon you being granted an export licence. In such a situation, no project activity can begin until the licencing process is complete. Fortunately, we have yet to have a licence application refused for any projects that require one. Please note that this only applies to the UCL project team.
KU’s guidelines can be found here: Please check your department’s ethics guidelines.
• Research Integrity Commission in Korea University
• Enforcement Rules for Internal Research Fund Administration
• Travel Expense Regulations
Value
Up to five joint projects will be selected for funding to a maximum total value of approximately £10,000 per project (£5,000 by UCL and KRW 10,000,000 by KU).
Timeline
Call for Proposals: 20 May 2026
Deadline for submission of proposal: 11:59 pm (UK time) on 19 June 2026
Communication of results to applicants: By the end of July 2026
Start date of Awards: August 2026
How to apply
1. Download a copy of the full guidance and read it carefully.
2. Use the application form.
3. All applications must be jointly developed by a Principal Investigator from UCL and KU.
4. All applications must be submitted online via the UCL portal. Access here.
5. Only complete submissions will be considered.
6. Late applications will not be considered.
Apply now
Contact
If you have any questions about the UCL-KU Strategic Partner Funds, please contact:
At UCL:
Keiko Tsunekawa
Global Engagement Manager
k.tsunekawa@ucl.ac.uk
At Korea University:
Prof. Pureun Kim
International Research Collaboration Center
purnkim@korea.ac.kr