Universities UK International UK-France Science, Innovation, and Technology Researcher Mobility Scheme

Funding for Universities UK member organisations for activities that support the development of new or existing partnerships between UK Higher Education institutions and France. Supported projects should align with Horizon Europe and/or other international collaborative funding programmes.

Universities UK International (UUKi) is the international arm of Universities UK, representing UK universities and acting in their collective interests globally. UUKi actively promotes universities abroad, provides information for and about them, and creates new opportunities for the sector.

UUKi has launched the UK-France Science, Innovation, and Technology Researcher Mobility Scheme with funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) via the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). The awards provide funding for Universities UK member organisations for activities that support the development of new or existing partnerships between UK Higher Education institutions and France. It specifically supports international mobility of UK-based researchers and research-related staff by funding them to travel and collaborate with new or existing French partners, for mobilities of one to eight months.

Partnerships must support delivery of the institutions’ strategic objectives as they relate to research, innovation, skills development and international partnership. Projects should be closely aligned with Horizon Europe and/or other international collaborative funding programmes. Priority will be given to those with a particular focus on energy transition and hydrogen, Space and Earth observation, artificial intelligence including ethics and research security, as defined by the two countries during the UK-France bilateral research dialogue.

Successful institutions will be expected to demonstrate how the targeted activities will support or enable researchers to develop collaborative activity between the UK and France that support both institutional and UK-wide research and innovation priorities, with a goal of working towards a submission of a Horizon Europe application, or other international collaborative funding programmes, building on their grant idea when a relevant call opens. Mobilities will need to be completed by the end of January 2026.