Sêr Cymru

Sêr Cymru - Tackling COVID-19 Call for Proposals

The Welsh Government Office for Science invites universities in Wales to submit bids for funding for novel research proposals that could contribute to or boost the advancement of research that impacts COVID-19. 

More information can be found here

Sêr Cymru Enhancing Competitiveness Infrastructure Awards

The Welsh Government Office for Science invites universities in Wales to bid for capital funding to purchase equipment for research in the academic disciplines of STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and Medicine). This funding call is now closed.

Enhancing Competitiveness Infrastructure Award 

Sêr Cymru Industrial Fellowships and Accelerator Awards

The new Sêr Cymru programme is a suite of schemes part funded by the European Commission through the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions  (MSCA) COFUND scheme or the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  

The new Sêr Cymru funding opportunities are focused on further developing Wales’ academic and industrial partnerships, both in the UK and globally, to futureproof continued research excellence. In addition the Capacity Building Awards will ensure continued strength and resilience in Wales’ research and innovation thereby equiping us to meet future challenges.

There are 5 new awards:

• Future Generations Industrial Fellowships – aimed at strengthening the relationship between Welsh academic researchers and UK and global industrial partners.
• Science Foundation Ireland Industrial Fellowships – aimed at strengthening our academic and commercial partnerships with Ireland.
• Strategic Partnership Accelerator Awards – aimed at strengthening established strategic research partnerships.
• Infrastructure Accelerator Awards – aimed at supporting multi-user equipment purchases.
• Capacity Building Accelertor Awards – aimed at building and strengthening capacity in smart specialisation areas

Funding for all 5 new schemes in now open, the funding call will end on the 10th January 2020.

In addition there is a final call for COFUND Fellowships which will also end 10th January 2020. The remaining COFUND fellowships available are short term, less than 12 months, with an end date of February 2021.

The programme is part of the Welsh Government’s Office For Science' approach to increasing research capacity in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) related subjects. The programme is also open to researchers working in relevant areas of applied social science.

The programme is designed to attract the highest calibre candidates to work in excellent research groups in Welsh universities with relevant commercial or third sector organizations.

The Sêr Cymru programme is only part funded by the European Commission (either WEFO or H2020), and Welsh Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), therefore it is vital that applicants contact their potential host institution (who will be providing the rest of the match funding) as soon as possible to discuss their proposed project before submitting an application.