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UK and Chile fund collaborative research and innovation

The UK and Chile governments have recently entered a bilateral partnership to support excellent research and innovation under the Newton-Picarte Fund. 

As part of this initiative, Research Councils UK (RCUK) has contributed to the funding of two calls led by the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT). Through the International Research call and the International Networking call, RCUK and CONICYT have together allocated a total of £2.5m to 28 projects.

The UK funding has been made available under the Newton Fund. This new government initiative promotes the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries by building research and innovation partnerships. 

This was the first opportunity to allocate funding using the RCUK Newton Fund budget and the first time that RCUK has worked with a Chilean funding organisation to award collaborative research grants.

RCUK International Champion, Professor Jane Elliott, said: “RCUK is very pleased to explore new partnerships with the benefit of this funding. We have been impressed by the level of engagement from researchers in both Chile and the UK, and look forward to developing this relationship further.”

The International Research call was for the development of joint research projects between UK and Chilean researchers, with the aim of achieving global-standard scientific research.

The International Networking call was for mobility grants to support training for Chileans in the UK, academic workshops in Chile, academic visits in both directions and for access to research infrastructure in the UK. Its aim is to support scientific networking between British and Chilean researchers and so to contribute to the development of Chilean human resources in specific areas relevant to national development.

Details of awards can be found here

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Further information

Contact:
Nicholas Turner
Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592 or email: Nicholas Turner

Notes to editors

Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils who annually invest around £3 billion in research. We support excellent research, as judged by peer review, that has an impact on the growth, prosperity and wellbeing of the UK. To maintain the UK’s global research position we offer a diverse range of funding opportunities, foster international collaborations and provide access to the best facilities and infrastructure around the world. We also support the training and career development of researchers and work with them to inspire young people and engage the wider public with research. To maximise the impact of research on economic growth and societal wellbeing we work in partnership with other research funders including the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Higher Education funding bodies, business, government, and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.

The seven UK Research Councils are:

• Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
• Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
• Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
• Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
• Medical Research Council (MRC);
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
• Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).