Collaboration for a Sustainable Future programme

Collaboration for a Sustainable Future programme is sponsored by Research England. This programme aims to enable collaboration across universities for a sustainable cost-effective future, identifying barriers to collaboration, finding practical ways to overcome them, piloting new collaborations, and seeding regional innovation partnerships.

Sustainable Future Collaborative Impact Partnership – Sustainable Future Foundation Please be aware – the deadline has now passed for 2026 and we are no longer accepting applications, we will open the programme again for applications in 2027. We are delighted by the level of interest in the programme and have received over 1,500 applications.

Given this exceptionally high volume, we are making a slight adjustment to our review timeline to ensure that each application receives careful consideration. Projects shortlisted to progress to the next stage will be contacted by 15th July 2026 .

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to take part in a short interview and presentation, providing an opportunity to share more detail about their project and answer any questions from the assessment panel. These presentations and interviews will take place during mid-end July 2026 .

Collaborative Impact Partnership A CHF 50,000 grant supporting one high-impact project each year Our Collaborative Impact Partnership is a funding and implementation programme designed to support one high-potential project each year through targeted funding and strategic support . We partner with one organisation or initiative to support the delivery of a project that can create meaningful, measurable impact.

The selected partner will retain responsibility for day-to-day implementation , while working with our team to strengthen planning, delivery, and overall effectiveness. This programme is designed to provide practical support alongside funding , while ensuring that projects remain locally led and implemented.

Regular check-ins and communication Monthly project meetings to review progress and next steps Strategic input and external perspective where helpful Ongoing learning and adaptation throughout the project We aim to build a constructive and supportive partnership , while recognising that the primary responsibility for delivery sits with the implementing organisation.

We are particularly interested in projects aligned with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) : Quality Education (SDG 4) Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6) However, projects addressing other SDGs will also be considered. The initial partnership period is one year of funded programme activity , with the possibility of extension depending on outcomes and opportunities for further impact.

We welcome applications from both early-stage and more established projects . Projects may also be receiving funding from other sources ; we are open to co-funded initiatives as well as smaller-scale projects where this funding can make a meaningful difference. We welcome applications from non-profit organisations, NGOs, community organisations, and social initiatives working in low- and middle-income countries .

Applicants must meet the following criteria: The project must be implemented outside high-income countries Applicants must not be for-profit businesses The organisation must have the capacity to implement the proposed project locally The project must have clear social or environmental impact How the Selection Process Works 1. Open Call for Applications Organisations submit a structured application outlining their proposed project.

Written applications will close on June 8th 2026. Our team will review all submissions and select a small number of shortlisted projects by the end of June . Shortlisted organisations will be invited to present their project in more detail and discuss it with our team in an online meeting in early to mid July .

One organisation will be selected by the end of July to receive funding and support for project delivery.

What Selected Partners Receive The selected project will receive: Funding of CHF 50,000 to support one year of project implementation Regular check-ins and monthly project meetings Strategic input and support where helpful Opportunities for visibility and communications support Our goal is to support strong projects to deliver effectively and maximise their impact . Sustainable Future Foundation