How does this scheme define 'mid-career'?
We don't have a strict definition for early or mid-career for this scheme. The Academy is aware that individuals will have had different opportunities to balance their research with other commitments during their career or may come from diverse or non-traditional career backgrounds. For example, having taken extended leave including parental or medical leave, or having returned to research following time in other roles, or having had periods of significant teaching or administrative workload that may have impacted on the applicant’s research. There is a question in the application form (the personal statement) that will enable applicants to provide further information so that the Academy can take this into account when assessing applicants’ track record.
What is the time commitment is for the ODA Global Innovation Fellowship?
The fellowship is a full-time commitment for 12 months, where the fellow is expected to be based in the ODA country at the office of the partner organisation. The fellow can travel for research and family visits, etc., but most of their time should be committed to the award. Any return travel should be costed into the application and explained in the financial justification.
Can the partner organisation be a university or research institute?
The partner organisation may not be an academic organisation, such as a university or a research institute. Partner organisations can include: business and commercial organisations, charity and public sector organisations, community organisations, organisations in the creative industries, policy-relevant organisations, think tanks or voluntary organisations. The partner organisation must not be the same organisation at which the Lead Applicant is based.
How many co-applicants can there be?
Your application will require one named co-applicant, the main individual from the partner organisation. You are welcome to outline the involvement of other individuals in the proposal.
How should Directly Incurred Research Expenses be included in the budget table and financial justification?
Directly Incurred research expenses are eligible costs. These should be added to the DI Staff costs line, and the breakdown between staff costs and research expenses explained in the financial justification section.
Are the following eligible costs: Equipment hire, workshop consumables, research assistance, incentives for project participants etc?
Equipment hire, workshop consumables, research assistance are eligible costs, and should be costed into the Directly Incurred Research Expenses. Contributions to enable people to participate would be allowed, monetary incentives for workshop participants/ honorariums/ speaker fees are not eligible costs.
What is the maximum award value possible?
The Academy will provide 80% of the FEC of the Fellowship. The Academy requests that the 80% FEC cost figure is entered into the application form (not the 100% FEC figure). The maximum value of the award made by the Academy is £150,000, meaning that the total cost of the Fellowship at 100% FEC may be up to £187,500. This includes all direct and indirect costs incurred by the employing institution, including space, central support services, and other necessary costs incurred by the employing institution on behalf of the Fellow.
Is funding available for the co-applicant?
There is no funding available for the co-applicant.
Is other support for applicants available?
The British Academy has set aside specific funding to support any additional needs that applicants and award holders may have. This funding is available both to applicants, to assist in making an application to British Academy schemes, and award holders. Funding is managed outside of the Global Professorships application process. Further information can be found here: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/additional-needs/
As part of the work-planning, are fellows expected to include activities outside the scope of the proposed project but within the work of the partner organisation?
Generally speaking, no, however if you are currently supervising PhD students that can continue. You are also welcome (and encouraged) to participate in activities at the partner organisation.
Is an existing relationship with the specific ODA country and/or partner organisation required?
An existing relationship with the proposed ODA country and/or partner organisation is not required for an application, but assessors will be considering how the relationship is set out in the application, how the fellowship will benefit both the PI and the partner, and how the PI will be embedded into the organisation.
Can applicants hold more than one award?
This will depend on the award. As the ODA Global Innovation Fellowship is a full-time award, it is not compatible with other awards where the PI’s time is bought out. You could, however, hold a Small Research Grant, but you would need to set out how you would manage both awards in the application, and ensure there was no duplication of costs.
Is this call likely to run again?
There are currently no plans to run another ODA Global Innovation Fellowship call.
Is there a set number of fellowships to be awarded per eligible country?
There is no strict quota of awards per country, decisions will be made based on the quality of the applications received.
Will we be getting feedback on our unsuccessful proposals?
Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we receive, feedback is not a feature of this scheme.
What is the timeline for the application process?
The deadline for applications to be submitted to this call is 6 November 2024 at 17.00 (UK Time). This includes the employing institution’s approval of the completed application by the submission deadline. Any applications submitted after that deadline will be ineligible. The final awards panel will meet after the call for applications is closed. Decisions are expected to be communicated by the end of January 2025.