The inaugural Scotland Beyond Net Zero seed fund is open for applications.
In this blog, Senior Research Partnership Manager, Dr Kate Symons, answers all you need to know about the fund, the application process, and how to increase your chances of a successful application.
What is Scotland Beyond Net Zero?
We are a new coalition between Scotland’s universities, aiming to catalyse high-impact research on climate change and net zero. Scotland’s researchers are already leading in climate research, and we want to make our work even more impactful by pooling resources, data and expertise, and working directly with governments, industry and communities across the country.
What does the ‘beyond’ mean?
This is a great question! By ‘beyond’ net zero, we include wider issues of sustainability than carbon management and achieving net zero, to include for example biodiversity, human and ecosystem health, and just societal transformation. While net zero plans and targets are undoubtedly important, we are interested in research which explores to move more quickly, and how to ensure and maintain a just society and flourishing ecological systems after Scotland reaches net zero.
Tell me more about the seed fund:
The coalition is looking to fund collaborations across Scottish Higher Education and beyond. These are the essential criteria:
- Your proposed research should address urgent climate and net zero challenges in relation to one or more of our priority themes. These are: Built environment, energy, food, finance, natural systems and transport. Your research could cross between these themes (for example, natural capital finance could relate to both finance and natural systems), but you should make it clear which of the theme(s) you are addressing.
- Your application should involve collaboration between two or more participating universities. These are:
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Dundee
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Heriot-Watt University
- University of St Andrews
- University of Strathclyde
- You must also include at least one external partnership (e.g. a community organisation, a charity, a business, industry group, local or national government). These partnership aspects are essential criteria.
What kinds of research are you looking to fund?
We are particularly interested in research which has high potential to scale up and create further impact beyond the seed fund. We are also interested in interdisciplinary research which helps Scotland address its net zero challenges more quickly and with greater ambition. But most importantly, we would like to support research which has been co-created with research partners. By this, we mean research design which has involved the meaningful input of partners at an early stage, and where the contribution of partners is a core part of the overall research proposal.
What key information should applicants be aware of?
Here are key dates and processes:
- Total funding available – between £5 and 15k per project split between participating universities
- Deadline: Friday 23 August 2024, 5pm
- Application process: You should download an application form, complete it, and send by email to Symons@ed.ac.uk and sbnz@ed.ac.uk
- There is more information available on our website, where you can also download the application form:
What are your top tips for a good application?
I would recommend the following:
- Taking a close look at our assessment criteria, which are available via:
- Writing your application in straightforward language. Your application will be assessed by an interdisciplinary panel, and not everyone will be an expert in your specialist area. Be kind to your audience, and write to be understood! This includes using short sentences, using direct language, and explaining any specialist or technical terms.
- Most importantly, tell us how your research will have impact, and how your partnership and collaboration is essential to achieving this.
Webinar
We ran a webinar earlier this month sharing more information about the seed fund, eligibility requirements and how to apply.
