Purpose of Activation call
The GCF Activation Call is a structured development opportunity to identify and progress novel, challenge-led ideas with the potential to bridge existing and emerging University of Glasgow strengths, attract external funding and generate impact.
Ideas can be at an early stage and should respond to an existing or future societal challenge, have the potential to develop through interdisciplinary collaboration across the University and attract external funding.
For this call, a challenge-led idea is one that responds to a significant societal, economic, environmental, cultural or technological challenge.
The intended outcome is not necessarily a completed funding application, but a significantly strengthened concept, collaboration network and pathway towards future external funding.
Apply by 30th September (midday)
Key information
Call opens: Tuesday 18 August 2026
Submission deadline: Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Review period: 30 September to 3 November 2026
Development workshops and activities: January to March 2027
Proposals must be submitted via this link. Late submissions will not normally be accepted.
Applicants should read this guidance and the accompanying privacy notice before completing their submission. This is not a funding call. No funds will be transferred to applicants.
Contact for queries: gcfseedfund@glasgow.ac.uk
How the development opportunity will work
Colleagues are invited to propose novel, challenge-led ideas or concepts that would benefit from interdisciplinary exploration and development through a series of facilitated workshops and collaborative activities held during January to March 2027.
The Activation Call does not provide direct project funding. It is designed to support the exploration and development of novel ideas by bringing together colleagues from different disciplines to progress ideas from initial curiosity through to connecting with others, developing collaborations and preparing competitive propositions.
Applicants may apply as an individual or as part of a team. Applicants should be open to developing ideas through discussion, challenge and collaboration with others.
Selected ideas and concepts will be developed through a series of workshops and activities organised by GCF between January and March 2027. This process will bring together colleagues from a range of disciplines and professional backgrounds to explore the idea in greater depth, test assumptions, identify new opportunities for collaboration and strengthen its potential for future funding.
Core criteria
Ideas do not need to be fully formed at the point of submission. However, they should clearly address these core criteria:
1. Novelty and strength of the challenge-led idea
Applicants should clearly explain the challenge, need or opportunity their idea responds to, and why it matters now. They should set out the idea they want to develop and explain how it responds to that challenge. They should also explain how the idea or approach is novel, and what they hope to develop, test or better understand through the Activation Call.
2. Collaboration potential
Applicants should explain how interdisciplinary collaboration within the University would strengthen the co-development of this idea. This should include demonstrating how this idea has the potential to bridge existing or emerging University strengths. They should describe their current starting point, including whether they are applying as an individual or as part of a proposed team. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to collaborating with cross-disciplinary colleagues to co-develop the idea should it be selected.
3. Pathway to future funding
Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of what is needed to develop this idea into a future funding application or larger programme of work. Potential follow-on funding schemes, funders or types of opportunity should be identified.
Eligibility criteria
The Applicant must:
- be a University of Glasgow staff member;
- be available to participate in the structured development process between January and March 2027;
- have discussed participation with their line manager and be able to commit sufficient time to engage in the development process.
- Submissions may include suggestions for potential internal collaborators, but this is not required. Where collaborators are listed, they should be University of Glasgow colleagues and are expected to contribute to the development of the idea.
Applicants should ensure that they have addressed any required internal School or College approvals or notifications before submitting their proposal.
Selection process
Submissions will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary review panel. Panel members will not necessarily be subject specialists, so proposals should be written in clear and accessible language. Avoid discipline-specific terminology or explain specialist terms where they are necessary.
In assessing proposals, reviewers will place particular emphasis on:
- the strength and originality of the challenge-led idea;
- the opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration;
- the potential to develop competitive externally funded propositions;
- the overall fit with the purpose of the Activation Call.
The process is expected to be competitive. Meeting the eligibility requirements and addressing the core criteria does not guarantee selection.
All submissions will be assessed by human reviewers and panel members. AI will not be used to assess, score, rank or determine selection outcomes.
GCF reserves the right to make proportionate adjustments to the selection process if required, while maintaining fairness, transparency and consistency in decision-making.
Selected applicant expectations
Where an applicant’s idea is selected for the development process, they will be expected to:
- engage constructively with the GCF team and other participants;
- demonstrate openness, curiosity and respect when working with colleagues from different disciplines;
- remain open to co-developing and adapting their idea through the process;
- provide light-touch progress updates where requested;
- provide a final reflection on outcomes, learning and next steps;
- acknowledge GCF support in relevant outputs, applications, presentations or communications.