Commissioning funds

The Innovation Fund supports initiatives that:

• Advance sustainable academic–policy engagement
• Test and scale innovative approaches
• Strengthen collaboration between universities and policy partners
• Generate practical insights and shared learning across the sector.

All projects must be collaborative and include at least one external policy partner, such as a government department, local authority, charity or think tank.

The total fund is worth £550,000.

Individual awards will be worth £10,000 to £50,000

• Match funding is required (cash or in-kind)
• Project durations must be 6 to 18 months

Funding can be used for:

• Staff time
• Project delivery
• Travel and subsistence
• Materials

Applications must be led by a UPEN member organisation, with multiple partners involved. Priority will be given to organisations not currently engaged in UPEN programme activity.

The fund operates a two-stage process:

1. Expression of Interest (EOI) – short initial application
2. Full application (by invitation)

Successful EOIs will be notified by end of October and invited to submit a full application. We have had a very high level of interest in the Innovation Fund and are currently revising our schedule for full applications and final funding decisions. Please bear with us and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

We apologise for previously sharing incorrect information that successful EOIs would be notified by 2 October and have been in touch with all applicants regarding this.

• EOI Opens: 15 July 2026
• EOI Closes: 20 September 2026, 11:59pm
• EOI decisions shared: end of October 2026
• Successful EOI’s invited to complete full application: TBC
• Final funding decisions: TBC

We have had a very high level of interest in the Innovation Fund and are currently revising our schedule for full applications and final funding decisions. Please bear with us and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Applicants can submit an Expression of Interest via the online form at any time before 11.59pm, 20 September 2026.

For further information, contact: hello@upen.ac.uk

Read our FAQs document to learn more about eligibility, fund uses, how we evaluate applications and more.

The Participation Fund is open to anyone who works at a UPEN university member institution. This includes both academics and professional services staff.

Find out if your institution is a UPEN member.

We especially encourage applications from;

• Individuals who are unable to access funding from their own institution (for example but not limited to; HEIF/IAA/PSF) to support participation in UPEN programme activities.   
• Early or mid career researchers.
• Individuals who are based at institutions which are not partners in UPEN Programmes. UPEN Programmes partners are: UCL and the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge, Durham, Huddersfield, Leeds, Nottingham Trent, Southampton, and Teesside, the Wales Centre for Public Policy at Cardiff University and Insights North East. Other key collaborators include the Institute for Community Studies, the Institute for Government, and Yorkshire Universities.

Applications can be submitted at any time via our Participation Fund application form.

There are two distinct routes to apply: 

• In response to a direct invitation through conversations you’ve had with UPEN Co-Chairs or Programmes colleagues 

• In response to an advertised funding opportunity 

Depending on your application route, applications in response to a direct opportunity will usually be assessed within 15 working days by the UPEN team. If your application is in response to a funding opportunity, details on when you’ll hear back will be in the advert. 

Applications are assessed on the following criteria; 

• Reasonable cost and value for money 

• Clear evidence of links to UPEN Programmes 

• Benefits to either you or your institution 

Your institutional lead must be made aware that you are making this application. If you are unsure who your institutional lead is, look them up here. 

You can apply for up to £5,000 per application to cover any activities which have a clear link to UPEN Programmes work. For example; 

• Travel for in person events
• Accommodation
• Staff time
• Event and conference registration costs (e.g catering, registration, room booking)
• Training course
• Costs associated with hosting an in person event
• Costs associated with outputs such as (non academic) publications or communications materials

Non eligible costs;

• Overheads
• Alcohol
• Costs associated with the UPEN annual conference

We anticipate that most applications to the Participation Fund will be targeted applications resulting from collaborative conversations with UPEN Programmes colleagues. Keep an eye on this page, and our newsletter, for new funding opportunities as they appear.

Please note that the Participation Fund cannot be used to fund attendance at the annual UPEN Conference.

All funding must comply with Research England terms and conditions.

The terms of this scheme will remain under regular review by UPEN’s Programmes Strategy Group to monitor demand, use and impact. We will assess uptake to ensure that a diverse range of applicants, proposals and approaches are supported.  

The Participation Fund offers a total of £250,000 and is time limited from 2025-2028.

Successful applications will have clear links to UPEN Programmes work.

You can find out more about UPEN Programmes by:

• Browsing the UPEN Programmes webpages
• Signing up to our newsletter, the UPEN Update
• Following us on LinkedIn
• Keeping an eye on our funding pages

UPEN Programmes team staff also welcome you getting in touch with them directly to find out what you can be involved in. You can find out about our team on the meet the team page,or email hello@upen.ac.uk.

Read before applying.