What is the WUN Research Development Fund?

The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) is a world-leading research university network that tackles global challenges through international collaboration.

The WUN Research Development Fund (RDF) provides grants of up to £10,000 for one year to foster research collaborations among academic staff at WUN member universities.

The RDF supports research projects directed at problems that lie within the network’s principal research theme of sustainable development, and on which a diverse team of collaborating partners confers distinct advantage. These will often be problems where comparative analysis is important.

WUN RDF 2026 Focus

In line with the WUN Strategic Plan 2023-2026, the WUN encourages proposals that address problems in one or more of the following areas within the context of sustainable development: Social justice and human rights; inequality

1. Sustainable world: cities and urbanization; energy transitions; water, and food security
2. Mental health; child and maternal health; ageing
3. Responsible and ethical applications of Artificial Intelligence 

What else is particularly encouraged?   

Your project must engage at least three WUN member universities, in at least two regions.

Projects may include non-WUN universities and external partners but must have an active core of WUN member universities.

Grants are intended to help stimulate larger collaborative projects that will strengthen WUN and have impact, for example through giving rise to influential publications or making the collaborating partners competitive for major grants.

While proposals from researchers of all stages are welcome, applications led by Early Career Researchers are particularly encouraged (see guidelines for ECR definition).

Further guidance on eligibility, assessment criteria and permitted use of funds can be found in the WUN RDF 2026 Guidelines (PDF).

How can I apply?  

Applications must first be considered and approved for submission to WUN through an internal application process at the University of York.

Please view the WUN RDF 2026 Guidelines (PDF) carefully before you apply. Please contact your local WUN Coordinator, Sophie Turbutt, for advice on eligibility, preparing the application, identifying collaborators in the network, internal deadlines, and the internal review process. 

Timeline

There is a two-stage application process for WUN applications, as the University of York is limited to two lead-RDF applications per call. 

Date	Stage
ASAP	Register your interest as soon as possible with Joe Broughton-Taylor, UoY WUN Coordinator, who will share with you an initial application form. This is a lighter version of the final application form intended to give the University of York review panel a good idea of the project, without being too burdensome.
Thursday 3 September 2026 at 1pm UK time	University of York's internal deadline to submit initial proposals.
3 to 11 September	Applications to be reviewed and prioritised by an internal panel, chaired by the PVC-Research. The outcome of the internal application will be announced by email in mid-September.
Mid-September to 15 October	Time for the two shortlisted proposals to be finalised and uploaded to the WUN online portal.
Thursday 15 October 2026 at 9pm UK time	Deadline for the submission of the final York-led project to the WUN online portal by the project's PI.
October to December	Proposals reviewed by the WUN Central Selection Committee (made up of the WUN Secretariat and Pro-Vice Chancellors for Research at WUN member universities)
Mid-December	Results announced

What if I am invited to collaborate on a WUN RDF Project?

Please contact York's WUN Coordinator, Joe Broughton-Taylor,  to make him aware of your involvement in the WUN RDF project. The requirement of match funding is not compulsory for the 2026 call.

The primary investigator will be required to go through an internal prioritisation process at their respective WUN member university and their deadlines may be different.