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Funding for ambitious UK-Germany research partnerships

The British Council in Germany is inviting applications for the 2026 Springboard Programme, part of the Going Global Partnerships programme.

Springboard supports research teams in the UK and Germany in building new partnerships or taking existing collaborations further. It provides funding for researchers to meet, exchange expertise, develop international networks and prepare competitive joint funding applications, particularly for Horizon Europe.

The programme also invests in the next generation of researchers through training and international research placements for early-career researchers, helping create lasting partnerships between institutions.

We particularly encourage applications involving institutions in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

Apply until 30 September, 17:00 (CET). Results will be announced in the first week of January 2027. 

Please select Going Global Partnerships – multi-country – Springboard 2026 on the portal.

If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, contact us at educationgermany@britishcouncil.de.

Successful projects receive funding for:

  • one two-day in-person Springboard meeting (required)
  • optional online communication skills training for early career researchers
  • optional one-week research placements for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Applications are invited from eligible higher education and not-for-profit research institutions in the UK and Germany.

Each project must be led jointly by one UK and one German institution and should bring together a team of researchers, including at least six early career researchers. Applications are submitted by the UK lead institution on behalf of the partnership. Research teams can include up to 10 funded participants and must include at least six early career researchers (researchers who completed their PhD within the last 10 years). 

We welcome applications from all disciplines: from engineering and medicine to the arts, humanities and social sciences.

We're particularly interested in projects that address global challenges, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and have the potential to develop into long-term partnerships or future international funding bids, especially under Horizon Europe.

Springboard is about much more than a single meeting. We want projects to create lasting connections between researchers and institutions.

Successful projects should demonstrate how they will:

  • develop sustainable UK-Germany research partnerships
  • support the development of early career researchers
  • generate collaborative research outputs
  • prepare competitive applications for international research funding

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