20
Feb
2025
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The new ‘Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme’ programme is intensifying long-term academic cooperation between Lower Saxony and Scotland. It offers structured funding opportunities for cross-border research and innovation, with the aim of promoting joint interdisciplinary projects.
It was launched by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) and the Volkswagen Foundation as part of the zukunft.niedersachsen initiative, the European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS) plays a central role in the collaboration.
The Lower Saxony – Scotland Research and Innovation Scheme is divided into two streams, designed to support both emerging and established collaborations. Both are open to researchers from all academic disciplines to ensure broad participation and encourage interdisciplinary approaches.
Stream I: Enabling new collaborations
Stream I – Development Track is managed by the RSE and offers grants of up to £8,000 per project. It is designed to make it easier to initiate new research partnerships through activities such as workshops, network visits and joint academic events, etc. The funds are available to researchers from Scottish universities, research institutions and cultural institutions in collaboration with a partner from Lower Saxony. The resources are to be distributed fairly among the participating institutions. The maximum project duration is 12 months. The application deadline for the Development Track is April, 9 2025. Further information can be found on the RSE website.
Stream II: Strengthening existing collaborations
Stream II – Excellence Track is coordinated by the Volkswagen Foundation as part of the zukunft.niedersachsen programme. It provides up to €100,000 per project to expand and improve existing research collaborations. The main goal: to enable these partnerships to attract substantial third-party funding, with a focus on applications for Horizon Europe and other prestigious funding programmes.
This track is available to researchers associated with Lower Saxony universities and publicly funded research institutions together with a Scottish partner. Funds can be distributed appropriately among the principal investigators. The funding period covers up to two years. Those seeking funding under the Excellence Track have until June, 30 2025 to submit their application. Find more information here.
Online Q&A for questions
There will be two online Q&A regarding funding opportunities, application procedures and support in finding partners (the link will be provided here shortly before):
- 6 March 2025 – 12:00 GMT / 13:00 CET
- 18 March 2025 – 9:00 GMT / 10:00 CET
In addition, funded projects will have the opportunity to showcase their research results and experiences of cross-regional cooperation at the ‘Lower Saxony – Scotland Joint Forum 2025’, which is planned for 27-28 November 2025 at the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
