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Guidance

Global Challenges Research Fund (closed): overview and resources

Published 30 June 2017

© Crown copyright 2017

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This publication is available at /government/publications/global-challenges-research-fund/global-challenges-research-fund-gcrf-how-the-fund-works

1. Overview

°Õ³ó±ðÌýGlobal Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) supported cutting-edge research and innovation that addressed the global issues affecting developing countries. The fund had a budget of £1.5 billion between 2016-2021. In 2022 it was announced the fund would close, with spending commitments running beyond this period continuing to be supported until their expected closure.

2. Detail

GCRF formed part of the Official Development Assistance research and innovation funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT, formerly the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)). It aimed to reduce poverty by generating and putting into use knowledge and technology to address development challenges and advance development for the poorest people and countries.

GCRF aimed to grow the research and innovation capacity of developing countries, as well as contributing to the continued strength of the UK’s research and innovation system and supporting wider UK prosperity and global influence.

GCRF launched in 2016 with a budget of £1.5 billion up to 2021. The fund supported collaborative research and innovation through UK universities and research organisations, delivered by partner organisations, including the Research Councils, the UK Academies, funding bodies and UK Space Agency.

GCRF harnessed the expertise of the UK’s world-leading researchers, focusing on:

  • funding challenge-led disciplinary and interdisciplinary research
  • strengthening capability for research, innovation and knowledge exchange in the UK and developing countries
  • providing an agile response to emergencies where there is an urgent research or on-the-ground need.

3. Activities

BEIS had overall strategic oversight for GCRF but it worked primarily at the research base level and decisions on individual research priorities and excellence were made independently from the Department. Partner organisations collectively worked together to produce the overarching UK Strategy for the Global Challenges Research Fund (PDF, 336KB, 11 pages), which set out the research areas linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

GCRF did not have an explicit priority list of developing countries, but supported universities, industry, and research organisations to do disciplinary and interdisciplinary challenge-led research and quick responses to emergencies where urgent research was needed.

While not a requirement, GCRF could support bilateral and multilateral programmes with partners in other countries, but these aimed to complement activities supported under the Newton Fund.

GCRF was initially overseen by the BEIS Research and Innovation ODA board, chaired by the UK’s Minister for Science. Independent external advice on the strategic direction of GCRF came from the . Both governing bodies have now been superseded by the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) programme board, which oversees the closure of the fund. The board is chaired by DSIT’s Deputy Director for Global Research and Innovation.

4. Partner organisations

GCRF was delivered through 9 UK partner organisations:

5. Bidding for research funding

GCRF has closed. °Õ³ó±ðÌýInternational Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) launched in 2022 as a new funding mechanism for ODA research and innovation. Visit the ISPF page for more information.

6. Resources

Strategy:

Evaluations:

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL):

ICAI review:

Official Development Assistance:

7. Further information

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