UK – Israel innovation researcher mobility scheme (call 2)

We are keeping in close contact with both DSIT and FCDO given the situation in the region. Currently, this scheme is still open for applications with an extended deadline to apply of 30 January 2024, with travel allowed from April 2024. We have opened up this scheme to enable inbound mobility to the UK from Israel/OPT researchers in addition to outbound mobility to Israel/OPTs by UK based researchers and research related staff.  

We appreciate that a flexible approach may be needed depending on how the situation progresses.  

We will continue to monitor the situation and keep this page updated.  

The Application form has been created using Microsoft Forms. If you are having trouble viewing this, please try to open the form in a different web browser (e.g. Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer). If the form does not load immediately, please click the refresh button, this sometimes resolves the issue. If you have tried multiple browsers, and have refreshed the page but still cannot see the online application form, please email our Strategic Partnerships Team: [email protected]   

The Lead applicant, namely the person who is leading the project at the UK higher education institution (HEI), should complete and submit the application form. The Lead applicant must be a UK based researcher. Please note that the Lead applicant must obtain the appropriate level of institutional sign off (this will depend on the UK HEI’s internal approval processes) before submitting the application otherwise the application may be deemed ineligible. Please note that the Lead applicant need not necessarily be planning on undertaking a mobility themselves but will have the overall responsibility for the application and any subsequent awards. This applies regardless of the direction of travel the mobility is planned for.

We do not envisage running any further calls for this scheme at this stage. This is the second and final call following the first call that ran October 2022 – January 2023.  

Yes, as long as you can evidence what additional innovation related skills development you or your team will receive. The Lead applicant can be the same but the project proposed would need to be materially different and build upon what has already been achieved. Please take note of the dates of mobility for the second call when putting together your new application (April 2024 – January 2025) and the overlap this creates; the scheme will run in parallel to the extension of call 1 projects (end date extended from January 2024 to July 2024). 

It is not necessary for applications to provide names of individual researchers or research related staff to whom the mobilities(s) will be awarded at the application stage but this should be known and numbers abided by when it comes to carrying out the mobilities. At the application stage you will be required to include the role type of all those planning to undertake a mobility as part of your project. In post-award reporting, institutions will be asked for details including the number of individuals undertaking mobility, their role type and the duration of each mobility.

The Offer of award (including Terms and Conditions) will follow by early January 2024.

Institutions must be officially recognised by both countries. The partner organisation will be based in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).  

Applications are open to UK HEIs to apply with existing or new partners that are academic institutions, organisations or companies in Israel as well as Palestinian institutions, organisations and companies in the OPTs.  

If your partner organisation is an HEI, it may be possible that they are able to assist with additional links to industry via their tech transfer offices. If applicable this may form part of your planned mobility, but the HEI will be the partner organisation for the purposes of this scheme. 

Yes, the Lead applicant should select that they are applying for funding stream 2 in the application form. The same rules apply as for the overall scheme (visa, eligibility requirements, partner organisation types). Partnering with your industry connections in the OPTs may be of specific benefit to a scheme of this type. 

Having a formal agreement in place is not necessary. It is for institutions to determine what constitutes a ‘partner’ for their institution and purposes. This scheme is open to existing as well as new partners where there may be no prior relationship but for whom this funding would enable them to begin joint activity and lead onto a sustained partnership in the future. Regardless of whether this is an existing or new partnership, justification will need to be provided as to why this is the right fit for the intended project (see selection criteria ‘Partnership fit’). 

Yes. A three-way mobility application can be submitted between the UK and a partner in each country. In these cases, the word document version of the application form must be completed with the details of both partner institutions and emailed along with the necessary budget spreadsheet by the deadline in order to be considered. Applications must meet the scheme objectives and ensure that the project and mobile researchers respond to the selection criteria.

The Lead UK HEI will be the award holder and will be responsible for administering the funding in accordance with the Offer of award letter (which includes Terms and Conditions); this includes arranging travel and accommodation for both outbound and inbound mobilities. UUKi would strongly advise flexible tickets being purchased as if arrangements need to be amended for any reason (including those due to unforeseen circumstances) then no further funding will be granted to replace the lost costs. The Lead applicant at the UK HEI will be required to confirm the number of researchers and research related staff and durations of mobilities actually carried out as part of the reporting requirements, however proof of this expenditure i.e. accommodation/flight confirmations, will not be required. 

The Lead applicant at the UK HEI will take responsibility for ensuring that all appropriate visa and immigration requirements are fully complied with. If researchers and research related staff require a visa to travel to and spend the period of mobility in Israel or the OPTs, the UK HEI will ensure that they meet all relevant immigration requirements. Researchers and research related staff undertaking mobility are required to reside in Israel/OPTs throughout the mobility. The same applies for mobilities in the opposite direction (inbound to the UK), the Lead applicant at the UK HEI will need to ensure that all appropriate visa and immigration requirements are fully complied with by the incoming researchers from Israel/the OPTs. 

If you have any particular concerns about visas or entry into Israel or the OPTs, you should contact the Israeli embassy or the OPT embassy respectively. The international office at your partner organisation may also be able to advise. Similarly, incoming researchers to the UK can contact the British embassy. 

Lead applicants need to ensure that their UK HEI, partner HEI and any researchers on mobility have adequate insurance as appropriate as UUKi cannot take responsibility for any issues which may occur during the mobility. Lead applicants will accept full responsibility for all aspects of the mobility and ensure appropriate insurance for any risks associated with taking part in travelling abroad, including all unexpected and uncontrollable events. UUKi will not be liable for the consequences of any such risks, or any costs incurred.

Yes. The values indicated are flat rates established on a per-researcher/research related staff mobility basis, per month (unless otherwise stated). The flat rate headings differ slightly depending on the direction of the mobility, please check the scheme guidelines for further information. The funding will be awarded to the UK HEI leading the application. For existing partnerships, the minimum mobility period is one month. For new partnerships, at least one participant in the project is required to spend a minimum of three months at the partner organisation. These flat rates will be paid at the agreed intervals following submission of the interim and final reports, confirming that mobilities have taken place.

There is no cap on the number of researchers or research related staff that can be included in a bid. In total we envisage funding around 20-30 projects across the two call rounds, but this is highly dependent on the number and durations of mobilities. It is therefore up to institutions to determine the programme of work - including number of mobilities and partner institutions (if more than one) - that can feasibly be delivered within the time available, and that will most likely achieve the desired outcome/impact. UUKi will be looking to award a diverse range of institution types/models as part of this scheme so institutions are expected to prioritise applications that are most closely aligned to the call’s objectives.

Researchers and research related staff should be employed at the Lead applicant’s UK HEI throughout the duration of the mobility. This may be on a permanent or other contractual basis but must cover the full period of intended mobility. 

Researchers and research related staff should be employed at the partner HEI throughout the duration of the mobility. This may be on a permanent or other contractual basis but must cover the full period of intended mobility.

Any activity that is undertaken should aim to respond to the objectives set out for the scheme which is to promote innovation/entrepreneurial skills development of UK researchers and research related staff either undergoing mobility or welcoming their partners in the UK. Activities may include and are not limited to undertaking research and innovation activities, innovation and entrepreneurial skills training, networking, guest lecture participation, designing experiments, and developing joint research outputs, such as publications and joint funding bids. Teaching is outside of the scope of these mobilities and cannot be funded.

For mobilities less than 3 months in duration annual leave is not applicable, whether a single mobility or across multiple trips. For mobilities of 3 months or longer the following annual leave caps during mobility apply per researcher:  

• 3-month period: 1 week of allowable leave 

• 3–6-month period: 2 weeks of allowable leave 

• 6–9-month period: 3 weeks of allowable leave and  

• 9-12-month period: 1 month of allowable leave. 

Yes, in November 2023 we have expanded this scheme to enable inbound mobility to the UK by Israeli/OPT researchers (including research related staff). Applications need to demonstrate how inbound researchers to the UK will advance UK-based researcher skills especially in innovation and entrepreneurship. All arrangements will need to be made and costs borne by the UK lead partner HEI and the UK Lead applicant will have overall responsibility for all arrangements. 

Due to the extension to the deadline for this call, mobilities must now take place between 1 April 2024 and 31 January 2025. A mobility may start at any time during this period but must be completed by 31 January 2025. 

Yes, the minimum period for a mobility is one month and the maximum is 10 months, with all mobilities to be completed by 31 January 2025. In the case that this is a new partnership, at least one participant as part of the application is required to spend a minimum of three months at the partner. 

To enable flexibility, visits may be split over several weeks in different periods to equate to one month, periods of less than one full month in total will not be eligible for funding. However, funding will be available on a per-month basis and will not be increased in these circumstances. In order for mobilities to be as cost-effective and sustainable as possible, one return airfare per researcher as well as continuous stay in the receiving country for the duration of the mobility period is highly recommended.

Award funding will be transferred to the Lead UK HEI, who will make local arrangements with their researchers and research related staff for administering and managing the funding. The same applies regardless of the direction of travel that mobility is being awarded for; it is the UK Lead HEI who will be responsible for all aspects of the funding. 

Yes. UK Researchers and research related staff will be given living expenses on a monthly basis for their mobility which is not a salary. If the mobility is for three months or longer then additional backfill funding for teaching can be made available, if applicable only for those travelling outbound from the UK to Israel/OPTs.

For those travelling outbound from the UK to Israel/OPTs only: To claim the dependants allowance you will need to specify this in the budget template that is submitted alongside your application. Your authorised signatory acknowledges that this is the case when signing off your application. You do not need to provide specific details as part of your application when applying. You may be asked for further details when submitting your reports. Available on a monthly basis, if applicable.

To claim the disability allowance you will need to specify this in the budget template that is submitted alongside your application. Your disability must be disclosed to your employer and the authorised signatory of the application acknowledges that this is the case when signing of the application. You do not need to provide specific details as part of your application. Available on a monthly basis, if applicable.

The Lead UK HEI will be responsible for submitting reports to confirm that mobilities have taken place. Reports will be required every five months and will be accompanied by invoices calculated on a per-researcher / research related staff, per-month basis. These will be required five months after the official project start date, with the initial report/invoice required by 31 August 2024 and the second and final report/invoice by 31 January 2025. We will pay out claims on full months of mobility that have taken place in the corresponding reporting period.

There is no set requirement for the partner organisation to submit separate reports, but they will be expected to input into the reporting carried out by the Lead UK HEI as and when necessary to contribute to the project outcomes. If researchers from the partner organisation are taking part in the mobility project to the UK then they must work closely with the Lead UK HEI to ensure that all reporting processes are met and any information is provided in a timely manner.

This scheme welcomes applications from all research disciplines for projects that can demonstrate their innovation and entrepreneurial skills enhancement of the researchers and research staff taking part (in particular those from the UK) as well as the development of the innovation ecosystem in the research field to which their project relates. Applications should look to respond to the UK government’s ambitions as outlined in the Innovation Strategy and / or the Integrated Review (Refresh 2023).