Scotland Beyond Net Zero seed fund – open for applications

Kate Symons - 31/03/25

We would like to welcome applications to the Scotland Beyond Net Zero seed fund for 2025.

The SBNZ seed fund was established to foster collaborations and partnerships which maximise the impact of research and help drive towards net zero in Scotland.

Applications to the fund should align with the core SBNZ themes of food, finance, built environment, natural systems, energy and transport.

Projects submitted should involve collaboration and co-creation of research across at least two university members of SBNZ who are participating in the fund. These are:

• University of Aberdeen
• University of Dundee
• University of Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Napier University
• University of Glasgow
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• Heriot-Watt University
• University of St Andrews
• Robert Gordon University
• University of Strathclyde

 Projects should also include clear plans for co-creation, engagement and partnership with at least one other organisation (e.g. community group, third sector organisation, local or national government or industry). We particularly welcome applications with clear evidence of co-creation with external partners.

Member universities are invited to apply for funding between £5 to £15k. The awards will be split across research partners. Ideally there will be an event split of funds across partners.

Examples of the types of projects the fund expects to support include (but not limited to):

• Cross-disciplinary workshops/sandpits or research visits which address a specific policy and/ or research challenge, with an emphasis on co-creation with external partners.
• Network/ consortium building activity (for example towards a collaborative funding opportunity), with an emphasis on co-creation with external partners.
• Projects which pilot or trial new technologies, methods, data or approaches, or that promote adoption and take-up of such technologies, methods, data or approaches across the public, private and third sector.
• Projects that augment or maximise the impact of existing research and innovation on responding to Scotland’s climate and environmental challenges.

Find out more and key milestones

You can find out more about the fund by visiting https://scotland-beyond-net-zero.ac.uk/funding-opportunities/ where you can download guidance and an application form.

There will be a webinar on Wednesday 23rd April 12.00 – 13.00. Sign up by emailing sbnz@ed.ac.uk and noting ‘webinar’ in the subject line.

The fund opened on Monday 31st March 2025. The deadline for applications will be 5pm, Friday 23^rd May 2025. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their submission in towards the end of June or early July 2025.