UCL-Zhejiang University Strategic Partner Funds 2025-26

UCL and ZJU are contributing matching funds to support collaborative education and research initiatives through a joint call for proposals.

The Office of the Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation, Global Engagement) at University College London (UCL) and the Office of Global Engagement at Zhejiang University (ZJU) are contributing matching funds to support collaborative education and research initiatives through a joint call for proposals for the development of collaborative activities.The Office of the Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation, Global Engagement) at University College London (UCL) and the Office of Global Engagement at Zhejiang University (ZJU) are contributing matching funds to support collaborative education and research initiatives through a joint call for proposals for the development of collaborative activities.

Project

This call invites proposals for partnership development activity in areas of mutual interest and complementary strengths that will deepen collaboration between UCL and ZJU. 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. 

Only proposals from the following fields are eligible:

• Carbon Neutrality (e.g. Climate Change, Sustainable Construction, Clean Waste)
• Health and Wellbeing (e.g. Life Sciences, Global/Public Health)
• Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Studies (e.g. Museology, Conservation, Cultural Heritage)

Up to four joint projects will be selected for funding. Proposals will be assessed by a committee composed of members from both institutions. 

Eligibility

Applications are open to UCL and ZJU staff members in the following roles:

UCL
•    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

ZJU
•    Professor or equivalent
•    Associate Professor or equivalent
•    Principal Researcher or equivalent

Applicants from UCL must have an open-ended UCL contract or a fixed-term contract which lasts until at least July 2027.

Proposals are to be prepared jointly but only one joint proposal should be submitted by the UCL Lead Applicant through the submission link.

Principal Investigators from UCL should be aware of the rules stipulated in the Partner Funds webpage here.

Value

Up to four successful proposals will be selected for a funding period of up to two (2) years, with each project awarded up to £30,000 in funding.

The funding will be jointly provided by UCL and Zhejiang University (ZJU), with 50% allocated to the lead academic at each institution. At UCL, funds will be transferred to the Principal Investigator (PI) via IDT each year and must be fully spent by 31 July of each funding year. Funds cannot be carried over into the following year. For example, if the UCL portion of the award totals £15,000, this will be allocated in two instalments: £7,500 in the first year and £7,500 in the second year via IDT.

Timeline

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 ZJU.
4.    All applications must be submitted online via the UCL submission portal. Access here.
5.    Only complete submissions will be considered.
6.    Late applications will not be considered.

Apply

Contact

If you have any questions about the UCL-ZJU Strategic Partner Funds, please contact:

UCL: 
Zhou Kuang
Global Engagement Manager
zhou.kuang@ucl.ac.uk

Zhejiang University:
TONG Jun
Senior Manager, Global Engagement
tj@zju.edu.cn