The Research Development Fund (RDF) is a catalytic fund aimed at building partnership and collaboration across the network to undertake innovative, high quality, sustainable research that addresses one of the four WUN Global Challenges:

–?????? Adapting to Climate Change (specifically Food Security, Water Security, Energy Security and Urbanisation)

–?????? Public Health (Non-communicable Diseases)

–?????? Understanding Cultures

–?????? Global Higher Education and Research

Each WUN institution can submit a maximum of three proposals. In 2012, ?239 000 was invested in 25 research projects.

Proposals must demonstrate quality and leadership and must outline a realistic, well-considered plan to achieve ongoing sustainability and financial support outside of WUN. The official Call for Proposals will be released on 1 August 2013 and the final deadline will be 1 November 2013.

The deadline for one page expression of interest to be submitted internally to Elisa Lawson (E.Lawson@southampton.ac.uk) is 5pm GMT on Wednesday 31 July 2013. Invitations for full applications will be sent on Monday 16 September for a draft full application deadline on Friday 11 October.

More information can be found at http://www.southampton.ac.uk/international/partnerships/Development_fund.html or on the WUN website – http://www.wun.ac.uk .