Funding available to strengthen research collaboration and support the next generation of researchers
The British Council in Germany has opened applications for the 2026 Springboard Programme, offering funding to research teams in the UK and Germany to develop new partnerships and take existing collaborations to the next level.
Part of the Going Global Partnerships programme, Springboard supports researchers in building international networks, exchanging expertise and developing joint research projects and competitive applications for international funding, particularly Horizon Europe.
The programme also places a strong focus on early-career researchers. Successful projects can include international research placements for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, as well as training in communication skills, helping researchers build international experience and establish lasting connections with colleagues in the UK and Germany.
Applications are welcome across all disciplines, from engineering and medicine to the arts, humanities and social sciences. The programme particularly encourages projects that address global challenges, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and have the potential to develop into long-term research partnerships.
Each application must be led jointly by one eligible UK and one German higher education or not-for-profit research institution and include at least six early-career researchers. Projects can include up to 10 funded participants. The British Council particularly encourages applications involving institutions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Successful projects will receive funding for a required two-day in-person Springboard meeting, with additional support available for online communication skills training and one-week research placements.
Applications close on 30 September 2026 at 17:00 CET. Results will be announced in the first week of January 2027.
Applications should be submitted through the portal by selecting “Going Global Partnerships – multi-country – Springboard 2026”. More info is available here.