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 Closed

• Deadline: 3pm Friday 9^th May 2025

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.