The British Council’s International Science Partnerships Fund - what makes it different?
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a reviewer and panel member for a wide range of funding schemes. The responsibility of evaluating research proposals, often across disciplines and international contexts, requires careful consideration, but it also offers a unique perspective on the breadth of innovation and collaboration happening across the global research landscape. Most recently, I had the opportunity to observe a Wellcome funding panel, which offered valuable insights into how different funders approach decision-making and prioritisation. I’ll be writing a separate blog soon reflecting on my experiences across various UKRI schemes and councils, but for now I want to focus on a particularly distinctive fund: the British Council’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) . The ISPF is different to many other UK-based research funding schemes. It’s part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) portfolio, which means it’s not just about advancing...