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The Newton Fund is a new initiative intended to strengthen research and innovation partnerships between the UK and emerging knowledge economies. It was launched by the Chancellor in April 2014, and will deliver £375 million of funding over the course of five years.

The Fund forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment which is monitored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). ODA funded activity focuses on outcomes that promote the long-term sustainable growth of countries on the OECD Development Assistance Committee list. Newton Fund countries represent a sub-set of this list.

Research Councils UK is one of several UK delivery partners for the Newton Fund and will be working strategically with partner countries to develop a series of research activities to address challenges defined by the overarching ambitions of the Fund. Commitment to the partnership will be further demonstrated by matched resource from partner countries, bringing substantial added value. Additional leverage may be achieved through private foundations, multi-lateral organisations or corporate partners.
For more information on the Newton Fund, please see the Government’s Newton Fund policy paper where you will find details of the fund, UK delivery partners, overseas partner and associated activities.

For information about the Research Councils’ activities under the Newton Fund, please see the RCUK Newton Fund webpage. This webpage contains a list of calls and links to the relevant Research Council website, as well as relevant contact details for each initiative:http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/international/newton/.

STFC and the Newton Fund 
As part of RCUK, STFC will be supporting a range of Newton fund calls over the course of five years, covering building collaborative partnerships and capacity. They will be advertised below, on the RCUK webpage  and through community mailing lists. 
Projects should focus on:

• people: improving science and innovation expertise (known as ‘capacity building’), student and researcher fellowships, mobility schemes and joint centres
• research: research collaborations on development topics
• translation: innovation partnerships and challenge funds to develop innovative solutions on development topics

Projects should be ODA compliant and partner with one of the Newton Fund countries: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa and wider Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam .
If you wish to discuss your ideas, please contact Victoria Wright

Other Newton Fund opportunities

There are many other opportunities to engage in ODA projects via the Newton Fund. More information can be found via other partners’ specific websites:

• Academy of Medical Sciences
• British Academy
• British Council
• HE International Unit
• Innovate UK
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• Royal Society
• Met Office