{"id":2650,"date":"2026-07-16T15:53:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/?p=2650"},"modified":"2026-07-16T15:53:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:53:11","slug":"universities-and-policy-engagement-network-funding-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/?p=2650","title":{"rendered":"Universities and Policy Engagement Network funding opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"352\" height=\"129\" src=\"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/UPEN-logo-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/UPEN-logo-2.png 352w, https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/UPEN-logo-2-300x110.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 352px) 100vw, 352px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UPEN has made two big announcements about its funding opportunities designed to <strong>strengthen the connection between academic research and public policy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Launch of the Innovation Fund<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Innovation Fund supports initiatives that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>advance sustainable academic\u2013policy engagement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>test and scale innovative approaches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>strengthen collaboration between universities and policy partners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>generate practical insights and shared learning across the sector<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">ELIGIBILITY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All projects must be collaborative. Applications must be led by a UPEN member organisation and include at least one external policy partner, such as a government department, local authority, charity or think tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Priority will be given to organisations not currently engaged in UPEN programme activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">VALUE AND DURATION<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each award is worth \u00a310,000 &#8211; \u00a350,000 and must last between 6 and 18 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Funding can be used for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Staff time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Project delivery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Travel and subsistence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Match funding is required (cash or in-kind).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">KEY DATES<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EOI deadline: 20 September 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EOI decisions: 2 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Full application deadline: 3 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Final decisions: w\/c 16 November 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-larger-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Reopening of the <a href=\"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/?p=2341\">Participation Fund<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enabling UPEN members to engage with <a href=\"https:\/\/upen.ac.uk\/programmes\/\">UPEN Programmes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two distinct routes to apply:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In response to a direct invitation through\u00a0conversations\u00a0you\u2019ve had with UPEN Co-Chairs or Programmes colleagues\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In response to an advertised funding opportunity\u00a0(keep an eye on the UPEN <a href=\"https:\/\/upen.ac.uk\/programmes-funding\/\">funding<\/a> page and newsletter for new funding opportunities as they appear).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">ELIGIBILITY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Participation Fund is open to anyone who works at a UPEN university member institution, including both\u00a0academics and professional services staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applications are especially encouraged from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>individuals who are unable to access funding from their own institution to support participation in UPEN programme activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>early or mid career researchers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>individuals who are based at institutions which are not partners in UPEN Programmes*<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*<em>UW is not currently a UPEN Programme partner<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">VALUE AND DURATION<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can apply for up to \u00a35,000 per application to cover any activities which have a clear link to UPEN Programmes work, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>travel for in person events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>accommodation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>staff time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>event and conference registration costs (e.g catering, registration, room booking)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>training course<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>costs associated with hosting an in-person event<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>costs associated with outputs such as (non-academic) publications or communications materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\">KEY DATES<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applications can be submitted at any time (except for where deadlines apply to advertised opportunities such as those listed below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background has-background wp-block-paragraph\">NEW PARTICIPATION FUND OPPORTUNITIES<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Engaging with and developing responses to recently published\u00a0Areas of\u00a0Research\u00a0Interest<\/strong>\u00a0(deadline: 12 August 2026)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rapid Response requests from national governments: What works<\/strong> (deadline: 25 September 2026 &#8211; may be extended or closed early based on demand)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More information about the Participation Fund specifically can be found in a previous <a href=\"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/?p=2341\">post<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Full details of both schemes, including how to apply, can be found on the <a href=\"https:\/\/upen.ac.uk\/programmes-funding\/\">opportunity webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4fc3f8e1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>All funding awards must be related to UPEN Programmes which focus on:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>People: developing capabilities of professionals and institutions<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Practice: building collaborative practices and infrastructure for engagement<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Place: understanding local and regional evidence needs<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/upen.ac.uk\/programmes\/\">Find out about UPEN programmes<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UPEN has made two big announcements about its funding opportunities designed to strengthen the connection between academic research and public policy. Launch of the Innovation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opportunities"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2650"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2679,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2650\/revisions\/2679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/researchfunding.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}