RSE Scotland-Lower Saxony Research and Innovation Scheme

Funding available for research partnerships between Scotland and Lower Saxony, Germany, with particular interest in the fields of energy, life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and security policy.

Established in 1783 and registered in Scotland as an educational charity, the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) seeks to address the global challenges facing humanity through research and enlightenment in a number of academic disciplines.

As part of the dedication of Germany’s state government to research and the development of a modern, historically aware and forward-thinking society, the Niedersächsische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (NMWK – Lower Saxony’s Ministry for Science and Culture) offers funding to support public engagement measures of projects addressing socially relevant topics.

In partnership with the European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS), NMWK and RSE offer the Scotland-Lower Saxony Research and Innovation Scheme, which aims to enable international cooperation in research, technology, and innovation to strengthen the bonds between Scotland and Lower Saxony. The Scheme has two separate funding streams running concurrently but with differing scopes and objectives. All topics are eligible, with projects in the fields of energy (transformation), life sciences, educational sciences, mobility and its transformation, and security policy particularly welcome.

Stream I – Development Track

Administered by the RSE, with support from the Caledonian Research Fund, Stream I awards are available to enable new Scotland-Lower Saxonian research partnerships and lay the groundwork for future projects. These awards are designed to encourage high-quality research and academic innovation, with a view to make future potential bids either to the Stream II Excellence Track, Horizon Europe, or other prestigious third-party funding calls.

Stream II – Excellence Track

Administered by the NMWK and the VolkswagenStiftung (Volkswagen Foundation), Stream II is exclusively available to researchers associated with Lower Saxonian higher education institutions (HEIs) and publicly funded research institutions together with Scottish partners. The awards will provide substantial funding to further develop projects and prepare them for larger third-party funding applications, particularly under Horizon Europe.