The BIRCA scheme was launched in 2021-22 and we are delighted to be able to continue the scheme for 2022-23. BIRCA represents a merging of the previous Bristol International Research Workshops scheme and Bristol International Online Research Collaboration Awards, allowing for a range of online and/or in-person activities in collaboration with international partners.
Bristol International Research Collaboration Activities (BIRCA) awards are designed to stimulate and support collaboration between the University of Bristol and international academic partners. Activities can either be virtual, in-person, or a combination thereof. Applicants can bid for a single activity or a small series, depending on what best serves their needs and delivers the greatest potential for enhancing the University of Bristol’s international partnerships and outputs. Some examples of suitable activities could include, for example:
These are just illustrative examples and other activities may also be suitable; please contact the International Research Partnerships (IRP) team (irp-admin@bristol.ac.uk) to check eligibility if you are unsure. All activities must be co-produced with international academic partners and must involve international partners in their delivery. Activities should be interactive events which involve two-way knowledge exchange, rather than dissemination events. This funding scheme is therefore not suitable for applications to support conferences. Activities can, however, be live-streamed and/or recorded for sharing publicly, where appropriate.
Applications will be reviewed on a monthly rolling basis and can be submitted at any time; the final deadline for applications is the 31st May 2023 or when all available funds have been allocated, whichever is sooner; however, all funded activities must be completed by the end of the current academic year (31 July 2023).
The maximum value of a single activity is £3000; the maximum value for a series is £5000.
Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the full requirements and guidance outlined in the call specification document before completing and submitting your application.
Applicants should note that all application forms require sign off from their Head of School before the application can be submitted (Section D: School Declaration and Approval), and that the HoS will also need to give approval in Worktribe. We recommend that applicants contact their HoS with their intention to submit in advance in order to give them prior notification of the above requirements, particularly with the upcoming Christmas period where HoSs may be taking extended leave.
You may also find it useful to refer to our BIRCA FAQs (Office document, 319kB) where we have listed questions raised by previous applicants.
A listing of previous and current BIRCA awards can be viewed here.
BIRCA awards can be developed in complement to other activities, such as Bristol Benjamin Meaker Distinguished Visiting Professorships or Bristol ‘Next Generation’ Visiting Researcher awards. For example, a BIRCA award could be used to scope a future visit, to enhance the impact during the visit itself, or could be used to develop outputs from a previous visit. Please note, however, that individual applications must be submitted to the respective schemes and will be assessed as two separate applications which may therefore have different outcomes. Please also be aware that the visiting researcher and professor schemes may not be available at certain times due to restrictions imposed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; please check our website for up to date advice.
If you have any queries please contact Sam via irp-admin@bristol.ac.uk.
