Collaborate with researchers in Luxembourg

Collaborate with researchers in Luxembourg is sponsored by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Collaborate with researchers in Luxembourg. Funding opportunity from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Apply via the UKRI portal.

Collaborate with researchers in Luxembourg – UKRI Funding opportunity: Collaborate with researchers in Luxembourg Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) , Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) , Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) , Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) , Medical Research Council (MRC) , Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) , Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) , UK Research and Innovation Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR) Last updated: 30 July 2026 - see all updates UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and FNR have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to welcome and support collaborative applications.

UKRI will receive and assess joint applications from eligible UK and Luxembourg applicants on behalf of both organisations. This page will change to reflect the new UKRI Funding Service. See How applicants use the Funding Service .

If you have enquiries about submitting applications via the Funding Service, contact the research council you are applying to. Further information is available in the ‘Contact details’ section. See contact details for the Funding Service .

Applications must be submitted via the participating research council’s funding opportunity. You must be an eligible principal investigator employed by a UK research organisation eligible to receive funding from the participating research councils: UK and Luxembourg applicants should ensure that their joint applications are well balanced, with clear roles and objectives attributed to both sides of the collaboration.

Within the joint applications, the UK collaborator should be the lead applicant contributing with a slightly higher research effort. Information on institution eligibility to receive UKRI funding can be found in UKRI’s website or in the funding opportunity guidance to which an application is being submitted. Check if your institution is eligible for funding .

The UK principal investigator must be employed by a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding and meet the participating research council’s eligibility criteria for the specific funding opportunity to which an application is being submitted.

In order to benefit from FNR funding, Luxembourg applicants need to be from FNR eligible institutions, meaning public research centres, the University of Luxembourg and public bodies, departments and establishments in Luxembourg with an authorisation to undertake research in their areas of competence.

Further information regarding UK applicant’s eligibility conditions can be found in the council’s guidance to applicants and in the funding opportunity specific guidance, under the ‘What we’re looking for’ section. Further information regarding the Luxembourg applicant’s eligibility conditions can be found on FNR’s website .

You should refer to the specific participating research council’s guidance to applicants and funding opportunity guidance for further information: AHRC guidance for applicants BBSRC-FNR guidance for applicants (PDF, 240KB) EPSRC guidance for applicants ESRC guidance for applicants MRC guidance for applicants NERC guidance for applicants STFC guidance for applicants Collaborative research applications led by UK applicants, with Luxembourg researchers, may be submitted in any single or cross-disciplinary area which fits within the remit of the participating research councils .

AHRC’s standard research grant scheme . Other AHRC schemes might also accept applications under the UKRI-FNR agreement. You should refer to the AHRC-FNR specific guidance (PDF, 74KB) BBSRC standard research funding opportunity .

Further guidance can be found in BBSRC’s research grants guide EPSRC standard research funding opportunity . Applications received under the terms of this agreement will be subject to the same terms and conditions and assessment procedures as all EPSRC grants.

Further guidance can be found in EPSRC’s standard research guidance and in EPSRC’s guidance on working with overseas scientists You should consult the specific funding opportunity guidance and the relevant research council’s guidance to applicants for further information. For key contact details of each of the participating research councils, you should refer to the ‘Contact’ section.

Costs to be incurred by UK and Luxembourg applicants must be clearly differentiated in the application and compatible with existing financial practices pertinent to the UKRI councils and FNR, respectively. Costs for the UK applicant should be requested by completing the relevant finance fields of the Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) system form. All costs being requested from UKRI must be eligible under normal research funding rules.

Costs being requested from FNR by Luxembourg applicants should not be entered into the UKRI Je-S fields. Costs to be requested from FNR by the Luxembourg applicant should follow the guidelines established by FNR. The budget requested from FNR needs to be detailed and justified in the proposal submitted to UKRI.

Luxembourg applicants should complete the FNR-specific forms on costs to be requested from FNR. These documents are available on FNR’s website , and should be sent to the UK principal investigator, who must upload the completed forms as ‘Other Attachments’(or ‘Non-UK Components’ in applications to NERC) to Je-S.

an INTER budget sheet (Excel workbook) an INTER budget justification (Word document) All costs requested from FNR should be eligible under the general rules and procedures for FNR research grants, following INTER application guidelines .

In general terms, costs which can be claimed by Luxembourg applicants from FNR include: Total value of the project Further information regarding the total value of the project can be found in the council’s guidance to applicants and specific funding opportunity guidance.

Before submitting an application to collaborate with an eligible Luxembourg researcher, you should review the specific funding opportunity guidance to which an application is being submitted.

Specific process guidance for applicants submitting an application to: BBSRC should contact the office before submitting a joint UK-Luxembourg application in order to discuss eligibility and handling an application under the agreement EPSRC is required to submit an expression of interest to EPSRC before submitting a joint UK-Luxembourg application.

The expression of interest should include a short summary of the proposed research and indicative costs of both the EPSRC and FNR components. Full guidance on how to submit an expression of interest can be found on EPSRC’s guidance on working with overseas scientists MRC is required to contact the relevant MRC programme manager before submitting a joint UK-Luxembourg application.

Programme manager details can be found by clicking the link and selecting the relevant research area.

Further information can also be found in the MRC funding opportunity to which an application is being submitted STFC should contact the relevant STFC programme manager before submitting an application in order to discuss the strategic fit of the proposal with STFC’s science strategy Submitting your application You must apply to UKRI using the Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) system .

The application title should begin with ‘[Council]/FNR:’, for example ‘AHRC/FNR’, in the Je-S proforma. This guidance will be updated accordingly in due time. You can find advice on completing your application in: the funding opportunity to which an application is being submitted research council specific guidance There are some differences in the Je-S format between participating UKRI research councils.

You should ensure the relevant guidelines and requirements for the individual research council covering the remit of your research are followed. Joint applications submitted to UKRI under this agreement must also be submitted to FNR by the Luxembourg applicant no later than 7 days after the submission to a UKRI council, including a copy of the application submitted to UKRI and a project plan.

Further information on application submission to FNR can be found on FNR’s website and INTER application guidelines . Luxembourg applicants should complete the FNR-specific forms on costs to be requested from FNR. These documents are available on FNR’s website , and should be sent to the UK principal investigator, who must upload the completed forms to Je-S as ‘Other Attachments’ (or ‘Non-UK Components’ in applications to NERC).

an INTER budget justification (for costs being requested to FNR) the project plan to be submitted to FNR (for applications to AHRC and ESRC) For further information, you should refer to the ‘contact’ section for key contact details of each of the participating research councils and FNR.

Luxembourg applicants will need to be included as international co-investigators or project partners depending on the research council to which an application is being submitted. International co-investigators: AHRC, ESRC, MRC In applications submitted to AHRC, ESRC and MRC, Luxembourg applicants are to be included as international co-investigators, and therefore are required to have an active Je-S account.

No staff costs relating with the Luxembourg applicants should be included in the Je-S form. If the international research organisation is not listed, the Luxembourg co-investigator should contact the Je-S helpdesk and provide details of the project with which they wish to be associated (providing information on the reference number, title, principal investigator).

The Je-S helpdesk will then register the Luxembourg co-investigator, allowing the UK principal investigator to add them to the application. Project partners: BBSRC, EPSRC, NERC and STFC In applications submitted to BBSRC, EPSRC, NERC and STFC, Luxembourg applicants are to be included as project partners, and therefore are not required to have a Je-S account.

Funding requested from FNR by the Luxembourg applicant should be listed as in-kind costs within the Je-S system by the UK principal investigator. Deadlines and budget available will differ depending on the funding opportunity to which an application is being submitted. You should refer to the funding opportunity guidance for further information.

You should ensure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines that may be in place. How we will assess your application Processing of applications Joint UK-Luxembourg applications submitted to UKRI and FNR will be primarily managed by the specific UKRI research council, which will lead on the processing and assessment of the application on behalf of both organisations.

UKRI and FNR will complete eligibility checks for the UK and Luxembourg applicants, respectively, and agree whether an application is to progress to the assessment stage. FNR agrees to fund the Luxembourg component of successful applications, in accordance with their existing financial processes and procedures. The UKRI council will approach the relevant number of peer reviewers according to normal scheme rules and procedures.

It is anticipated that reviews will be obtained from a minimum of 3 reviewers, unless the scheme involves a streamlined assessment process. FNR may also be approached for peer reviewer nomination. Once peer reviews are completed, applications will progress to the decision-making or advisory body of the UKRI council to determine whether an application will be successful or rejected.

A FNR nominee or representative may be able to observe the decision-making process depending on the nature of the funding opportunity, and the number and value of the applications received. The UKRI council will notify FNR once the assessment has been completed and request FNR’s confirmation for funding. UKRI funds research on a competitive basis employing independent expert peer review.

This system is regarded as an international benchmark of excellence in research funding, and this provides a guarantee of the quality of UK research. Applications will be evaluated according to normal UKRI procedures, plus any specific assessment criteria set out by the relevant UKRI council and the funding opportunity to which an application is being submitted.

Further information on any assessment criteria can be found in the relevant funding opportunity guidance document. Once a final decision has been reached, in the case of a positive funding decision, the UKRI council will agree award start dates with FNR and you will be informed of the results.

UKRI will issue a letter to the UK applicant on behalf of both organisations, which will confirm the proposed start date and state that FNR will be in contact with the Luxembourg applicant about issuing an award for the Luxembourg component of the project. FNR will be notified of the positive outcome. The UKRI council will issue an award for the UK component to the UK applicant’s institution according to normal processes and procedures.

FNR will issue an award for the Luxembourg component to the Luxembourg applicant’s institution according to normal processes and procedures. In the case of a negative funding decision, the relevant UKRI council will issue a decision letter to the UK applicant on behalf of both organisations. FNR will be notified of the negative outcome.

Award holders should contact both FNR and the UKRI council concerning any changes to any of the award holders’ institutional affiliations or other aspects of the grant during its lifetime. If necessary, the funding UKRI council and FNR may consult with each other before agreeing any changes to the grant’s status. This will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Progress and final reports Where progress and final reports are required by the UKRI council, FNR or both, they will be submitted according to the normal procedures of those organisations. Get help with developing your proposal For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

Ask about this funding opportunity Enquiries regarding the submission of applications under the UKRI-FNR agreement, should be submitted to the respective participating research council to which an application is being submitted. Email: international@ahrc. ukri.

org Please include ‘AHRC/FNR’ in the subject line. Email: bbsrc. iru@bbsrc.

ukri. org Email: international@epsrc. ukri.

org Email: international@esrc. ukri. org Email: international@mrc.

ukri. org Email: international@nerc. ukri.

org Email: international@stfc. ukri. org Enquiries regarding FNR’s process or implementation of this agreement should be addressed to FNR.

Dr Helena Burg, Head of International Relations, FNR Email: helena. burg@fnr. lu Get help with applying through Je-S Je-S helpdesk opening times UKRI and FNR are charged with fostering and supporting academic research within their own communities in their respective countries.

Both UKRI and FNR recognise that the best research may be delivered by working with the best researchers internationally. FNR and UKRI have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to welcome, encourage and support collaborative applications that may cut across UK and Luxembourg national boundaries and involve international collaborative teams.

The MoU provides for a lead agency agreement, which has been active since 2013, whereby UKRI will receive and assess joint applications from eligible applicants on behalf of both organisations. You may apply until the end of the MoU agreement between UKRI and FNR on 5 June 2027, unless otherwise extended.

Successful joint projects between UK and Luxembourg researchers that extend past the end of the MoU will continue to be supported by UKRI and FNR. It is the responsibility of the research organisation, and all engaged in the research, to make every reasonable effort to ensure that the outcomes obtained in the course of the research, whether patentable or not, are used to the advantage of society and the economy.

Research outcomes should be disseminated to both research and more widespread audiences, for example, to inform potential users and beneficiaries of the research. Unless stated otherwise, the ownership of intellectual property, and responsibility for its exploitation, rests with the organisation that generates it.

Where the grant is associated with more than 1 research organisation, project partners or both, the basis of collaboration between the organisations, including ownership of intellectual property and rights to exploitation, is expected to be set out in a formal collaboration agreement. It is the responsibility of the research organisation to put such an agreement in place before the research begins.

The terms of collaboration agreements must not conflict with FNR and UKRI terms and conditions. Arrangements for collaboration, exploitation or both must not prevent the future progression of research and the dissemination of research results in accordance with academic custom and practice. A temporary delay in publication is acceptable in order to allow commercial and collaborative arrangements to be established.

Applicants in receipt of awards from UKRI and FNR must follow the open access requirements of the respective organisations. The specific requirements are dependent on the type of publication. For further information on UKRI’s open access policy, please refer to UKRI’s website.

For further information on FNR’s open access policy, please refer to FNR’s website . The research organisation must ensure that all those associated with the research are aware of, and accept, these arrangements. Data, including personal data, is shared between UKRI and FNR to enable the secure and efficient processing and assessment of applications via a secure transfer mechanism, as appropriate.

Information shared may include applicant and reviewer information, application details and reviewing documents. UKRI and FNR are committed to maintaining data confidentiality, protection and privacy and intend to fully abide by their own applicable laws and policies concerning the sharing of data in collaborative activities.

UKRI and FNR carry out the processing of personal data in accordance with the applicable national and EU data protection laws. Further information on how UKRI processes personal data can be found in the UKRI privacy notice and data protection policy . Added BBSRC-FNR guidance for applicants PDF under 'Further guidance' in 'Who can apply' section.

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