UCL-Fudan University Strategic Partner Funds 2026/27

UCL and Fudan University 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 Fudan.
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: 
•    Climate change (green and sustainable science and technology)
•    Health and healthcare (clinical research, public health, and healthcare engineering)
•    Cultural heritage (preservation, conservation, and digital heritage)

Up to three 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 Fudan 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. 

Eligibility

Applications are open to UCL / Fudan staff members in the following roles:
•    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

UCL research ethics approval and research security

Please check UCL’s guidelines regarding research ethics. Applicants are responsible for reading these guidelines and ensuring projects adhere to UCL’s ethics approval policy and process.

Relevant UCL guidelines can be found here:

• Research Ethics Committee at UCL guidelines
• 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.

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

Value and duration  

Up to three joint projects will be selected for funding to a maximum total value of approximately £20,000 per project (GBP 10,000 by UCL and RMB 100,000 by Fudan). 

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 Fudan.
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 now

Contact

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

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

Fudan University:
Ying Wang, Deputy Director, Office of Global Partnerships
wang_ying@fudan.edu.cn

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