Research Culture Catalyst Fund

The Culture Catalyst Fund is a £1M fund which aims to improve collegial research leadership and research culture through innovative, collaborative projects. Open to colleagues within the research ecology of the University of Glasgow, the University of St Andrews, and the University of Edinburgh, we are looking for projects which have the potential to disrupt long standing institutional hierarchies in order to build leadership opportunities. We will fund innovative, collaborative projects that focus on how research is led, and the behaviours, roles, contributions and impact of those who lead.

We aim to have equality, diversity and inclusion embedded through these projects, and by doing so we hope to widen the definition of what a “research leader” looks like. If you have a vision for changing research culture, the fund will allow you to drive and expand these ideas, while also becoming part of a community of emerging leaders.

Projects can last 10 months, but we encourage you to pitch shorter projects too. Funding will be up to £50k, with projects starting in late Summer 2025.  Given the time constraints of the InFrame project, the latest end date we can accept for projects in the second call will be 31st May 2026.

Our call will support projects that investigate:

• Putting policy into practice: meaning practices that improve implementation of, awareness of, trust in, and engagement with, provisions already in place.
• Changing what counts: meaning practices that, in research/researcher assessment, recognise, and value a wider range of activities and contributions.
• Setting the tone: meaning practices that promote more positive cultures now and into the future, and interrupt the 'passing on' of less positive cultures.

1^st Catalyst Fund Call Successful Projects

Summaries of all the projects funded in the 1^st round of the Catalyst Fund can be found at the link below.  The site serves as a central library where you can explore project details, learn about their work, and connect with project leads.

2^nd Catalyst Fund Call Now Open!

• Open: Monday 31^st March 2025
• Deadline: 3pm Friday 9^th May 2025

Call details & Application Forms

Catalyst Fund Call Information Event

Event Details:

• When: Wednesday 2 April 2025, 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM BST
• Where: Online, Microsoft Teams

Our expert panel, featuring leads from each institution and past funded project leads, will provide valuable insights into the Culture Catalyst Fund’s application and review process. Plus, a Q&A session will allow you to ask questions and get tailored advice to strengthen your application.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to make an impact and transform research leadership!

Key Highlights:

• Discover the Culture Catalyst Fund’s mission and application process.
• Hear from institutional leads, past project leads, and expert panellists.
• Gain advice on creating an application that showcases your innovative, inclusive research leadership projects.
• Access up to £50k in funding for your idea.
• Find out about future support for creating your application.

More events to help you with your Catalyst Fund Application

1. Ideation Workshop (Online) – Thursday 17 April
   • Register Here
   • Participate in virtual ideation exercises to develop your concepts further.
2. Methods Café (Kings Buildings) – Tuesday 22 April
   • Register Here
   • Explore various methodologies and approaches to enhance your project proposals.
3. Application Writing Lab (Kings Buildings) – Friday 2 May
   • Register Here
   • Protected writing time with hands-on support in crafting compelling applications.
4. Application Writing Lab (Edinburgh Central) – Wednesday 7 May
   • Register Here
   • Protected writing time and personalised assistance to ensure your application stands out.

How to submit a bid from University of Edinburgh (UoE)

Please allow plenty of time to prepare your proposal and to complete the formal costings template. 

Contact your local School Research Office and obtain permission from your Head of Department or equivalent to be involved in an application to the InFrame Culture Catalyst Fund as early as possible.  

All InFrame Culture Catalyst Fund applications with UoE involvement (either with a UoE person leading or participating in an application led by the University of Glasgow or St Andrews) will be set up on the UoE Worktribe system for management. 

• You must liaise with your local School Research Office in order to inform of your intention to submit and in order for accurate costings to be provided. If you do not know what the best contact for your local School Research Office is or you are not based in a specific School, please contact Emma Giles (emma.giles@ed.ac.uk) with inframe@ed.ac.uk in Cc, and we will help you find the best person to contact.
• Please contact your local Research Support Office as soon as possible and do not leave it until a few days before the submission deadline since there will not be enough time for colleagues to support you in finalising your application costings and your application might not be accepted.

Please ensure your costings been approved by an appropriate administrator in your local School Research Office and/or Edinburgh Research Office funding team as funded projects will be managed through the UoE Worktribe system and costs must be approved before you submit your application. 

Contact  inframe@ed.ac.uk as early as possible to arrange a meeting to discuss your project idea. Alternatively, feel free to complete the following form to indicate the type of support you need while preparing your application: InFrame - Project support request form

Are you a College of Science and Engineering or College Of Arts, Humanities And Social Sciences applicant?

You must contact your School Research Office for guidance assistance with preparing the formal costings of your application. 

Please also Cc in Emma Giles (emma.giles@ed.ac.uk, Senior Research Funding Specialist at the Edinburgh Research Office) and inframe@ed.ac.uk. 

Are you a College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine applicant? 

CMVM applicants must submit the CMVM Grant Submission: Intent to Submit Form (sharepoint.com) to secure local research offices support and allow the application budget to be finalised. 

Please submit those Intents ASAP and no less than 10 working days before your Culture Catalyst Fund application submission.

Collaboration Opportunities

We know there is a pool of people who want to support the Culture Catalyst Fund applicants by offering their time, expertise and support, but who do not necessarily want to lead a project themselves. We have also had requests for applicants to be able to connect with other applicants who may be looking at a similar area of work at one of the other institutions and come together to progress the project collaboratively.

We have created a Connection & Collaboration Padlet to help you do just that. Please join and share your offer or ask so we can help connect those who want to create a better culture for research.

Community Knowledge Hub

Our Community Knowledge Hub provides bespoke pre- and post- award support, community building, knowledge-sharing, and critical cross-linking of proposals and funded projects.

Meet the hub team

• Andrew Unwin, Community Knowledge Manager
• Ros Attenborough, Evaluation Manager
• Francesca Pagni, Leadership Developer
• Lisa Backwell, Community Knowledge Analyst

Email the InFrame Community Knowledge Hub team

Inframe@ed.ac.uk

Join our Mailing List

Join our mailing list and stay up to date with the work of the InFrame project as well as hear about future funding and partnership opportunities from the Culture Catalyst Fund.