GW4’s core offer

GW4 works at pace and scale to:

• add value by creating research and innovation that address some of the biggest challenges and priorities facing society, inform policy and attract investment to support regional economic growth, address regional skills needs and raise the national and international profile of our universities’ activities;
• help our universities to identify and develop new internal and external collaborations, building strategic partnerships to provide co-created solutions and increase our impact;
• provide sector-leading opportunities for research and training for our postgraduate and early career researchers and our technical staff, increasing diversity and inclusion, and enhancing research culture;
• enable and support shared cutting-edge equipment, infrastructure, and capabilities.

GW4 funding opportunities

Building Communities Generator Fund

The GW4 Building Communities Generator Fund is an open research call offering up to £20k to support collaborative research and innovation communities across the four GW4 universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter.

This initiative supports both the creation of new GW4 communities and the development of the strongest ideas emerging from our existing communities. The fund is an open call in any area of research or innovation, with the purpose of addressing a major research or societal challenge.

Explore the GW4 Building Communities Generator Fund on the GW4 website.

Building Communities Development Awards

These small awards are for less than £5K. They will support the development and progression of GW4 collaborations by funding a single activity or resource. The aim is that communities will use the small awards as a step towards applying for external funding. Applications can come from new or existing GW4 communities.

The awards can be used for a variety of purposes, such as enhancing collaborative relationships (academic, industry or other stakeholders), seminars, community workshops, or public engagement activities. Projects which include external partners are encouraged, although not required.

There is no closing date for applications, with awards set to be made throughout the year. 

Explore the GW4 Building Communities Development Awards on the GW4 website.

GW4 strategic priorities

GW4 interventions do not just focus on our areas of collective strength, but also look at how, together we can best address major national and international policy and strategic priorities.

Despite its tradition of innovation and expertise, our region lags behind in productivity. In the next phase of investment, we will create research missions to add value in:

• Tackling global challenges through advanced cyber and digital
• Effective routes to accelerate the transition to sustainable Net Zero
• Capitalising on creative communities to foster sociocultural growth
• Advancing health and wellbeing research and innovation for all.