Manchester-Melbourne-Toronto Research Fund

Overview

The University of Manchester, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Toronto are contributing matching funds to support collaborative bilateral and trilateral research initiatives through a joint call for proposals.

In recognition of strong bilateral partnerships between the three universities, the universities formed a trilateral alliance in 2021. The alliance aims to facilitate further collaboration between the three partners, drawing on joint expertise and resources.

The overall aim of the MMT Research Fund (the Fund) is to encourage and provide initial support for the development of high-quality research activities that include Early Career Researchers (ECRs). Funding is available from each of the three institutions to develop bilateral or trilateral research projects. The Fund seeks to support proposals that will lead to long-term research collaborations with a view to enabling principal investigators (PIs) to subsequently apply for external funding to support the next phase of their joint research.

The Fund is open to applications from all research areas and up to 15 proposals will be selected for funding. Proposals demonstrating strong relevance to strategic priorities at the participating institutions and that aim to provide opportunities for collaborative doctoral training and mobility at a future stage are encouraged.

Eligibility

• Manchester: Academic staff members at all levels are eligible. Applicants do not need to have a permanent post, but they must have an existing contract at the time of application, and that contract must cover the full period of the grant. Emeritus and honorary staff are not eligible to apply as a PI but may be members of the project team.
• Melbourne: : Applicants must hold an appointment at the University of Melbourne at Academic Level A (6) or higher and 0.5 FTE or higher at the time of application and for the duration of the award. Honorary employees whose primary academic affiliation is the University of Melbourne are eligible to lead the application if their primary employer has entered into an agreement with the University for the support of the Australian component of the collaborative activity; or may participate at their own expense if they are otherwise unaffiliated (for example, they hold an emeritus position). The relevant Heads of Department must endorse applications. Melbourne academics must not have outstanding Progress Reports or Final Reports from any other University of Melbourne Researcher Development Scheme.
• Toronto: U of T faculty members who meet the University’s definition of a Principal Investigator (PI) are eligible to apply. PIs must hold an appointment for the full duration of the grant’s funding period plus one year. Successful status-only PIs must hold grant funds at an account within the University. Proposals demonstrating strong relevance to the UofT’s Institutional Strategic Initiatives are strongly encouraged.

To be eligible, a proposal must include researchers from at least two institutions and must be led by, or include in a significant role, ECRs. Proposals must include at least two academics from each partner institution on the team and at least one of the project team must be an ECR. Eligible applicants may only lead one application as a PI but can be listed as a member of the project team on other applications.

Awardees from any of the previous bilateral seed funding schemes between Manchester, Melbourne and Toronto may only re-apply to this scheme if their application seeks to significantly expand the number of researchers in their collaboration (for example, by including researchers from the third institution).

Funding

Each institution will provide funding for up to 15 proposals, across bilateral and trilateral projects, for a funding period of 18 months. Participation of applicants from each institution will be supported by that institution.

Recipients will be awarded up to:

• 15K AUD from Melbourne to support Melbourne applicants;
• 9K GBP From Manchester to support Manchester applicants; and
• 14K CDN from Toronto to support Toronto applicants.

How to apply

1. Review the Scheme guidelines

   Read the Scheme Guidelines and supporting information linked below.

2. Prepare and submit your SmartSurvey application

   This is a joint call and one joint application per project should be submitted online using SmartSurvey. Applicants can use the ‘save and continue’ feature to save the proposal and continue later (a link is sent to the applicant’s email address).

3. Prepare and submit your SmartyGrants application (Melbourne Only)

   Melbourne collaborators will also need to complete a SmartyGants application that attaches a PDF of their completed SmartSurvey application as well as a Faculty Certification Form that confirms their Head of Department/School approval.  Additionally, if the applicant is an eligible honorary employee, they must attach their Honorary Declaration form to their application. The Faculty Certification form, Honorary Declaration form and application form link can be found below under ‘Supporting Documents’.

   Technical Support: In case you encounter any technical difficulties with the SmartSurvey submission, kindly email Helen Lusty of the University of Manchester (international.partnerships@manchester.ac.uk). If you encounter any issues with the SmartyGrants application, kindly email res-devschemes@unimelb.edu.au and we will do our best to assist.

Supporting documents

Application Form via SmartSurvey

Preview of the SmartSurvey application

SmartyGrants application form (for Melbourne Applicants)

Call for Proposals (2025 guidelines)

Faculty Certification Form (for Melbourne Applicants)

Honorary Declaration Form (for Melbourne Applicants, if relevant)

List of Projects Awarded Funding in Previous Rounds MMT

List of  Awards Melbourne - Manchester 2017-2022

List of  Awards Melbourne - Toronto 2021-2022

Contacts