International Exchanges: Cost Share Programme Scheme Grant

The International Exchanges: Cost Share Programme Scheme, funded by The Royal Society, aims to foster new research collaborations between UK scientists and their international counterparts. It offers essential funding for both UK and overseas partners to strengthen emerging partnerships or initiate short visits. This initiative encourages diversity and aims to create equitable opportunities for talented researchers from various backgrounds, enhancing innovation in science for global benefit.

About the scheme
International Exchanges grants provide support for scientists based in the UK to stimulate new research collaborations with leading scientists overseas. Grants can cover either a one-off short visit to explore opportunities for building lasting networks or bilateral visits to strengthen emerging collaborations.
The objectives of the International Exchanges scheme are to:
Stimulate the development of new research collaborations between UK researchers and researchers from around the worldProvide seed corn funding to establish partnerships, gather preliminary data, develop research ideas and strengthen applications for further fundingEnable UK and international research groups to exchange research staff, to share expertise and exchange ideas
There are multiple calls for applications open each year which are run as Global rounds and Cost Share rounds.
Cost Share rounds
The Cost Share rounds cover cooperation arrangements that the Royal Society has in place to co-fund International Exchanges grants with overseas funding bodies. The Royal Society provides funding for the UK partner and the overseas funder provides funding for the overseas partner. The UK applicant submits an application to the Royal Society and the overseas applicant simultaneously submits a parallel application to the overseas funder.
The Royal Society recognises that diversity is essential for delivering excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Society wants to encourage applications from the widest range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to maximise innovation and creativity in science for the benefit of humanity. We regularly review and revise policies and processes to embed equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in all aspects of the grant making process and ensure all talented applicants have an equitable chance to succeed as per the assessment criteria.

Eligibility

This scheme is for you if: You have a PhD or have equivalent research experienceYou hold a fixed or permanent contract at an eligible organisation for the duration of the project (ineligible organisations include industrial, private and commercial organisations, university spin-out companies and government bodies)You are based in the respective countries/territories at the time of application Your research is within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics.For a full list, please see the breakdown of subject groups and areas supported by the Royal Society.Collaborations should be based on a single project and travel can only take place between the UK and a country/territory where the overseas collaborator is based.The scheme is intended to stimulate new collaborations between scientists in the UK and overseas.

Ineligibility

This scheme is not intended to support continued research activities between a UK applicant and a co-applicant who was a former colleague or PhD student or to support other existing or recent collaborations between the applicant and co-applicant.