Community organisations and university researchers across Nottinghamshire are being invited to co-create research projects that tackle pressing local challenges, as Collaboratory launches its final round of funded opportunities for 2027.
This marks the last opportunity under the Collaboratory initiative to propose a project. The 2027 cohort will be the final intake of funded research, bringing to a close a distinctive programme built on deep collaboration between academia and communities.
Final Funding Round for Nottinghamshire
For the Nottingham & Nottinghamshire programme, Collaboratory will fund:
- 10 PhD projects
- 5 Research Placements
Proposals are invited for:
- Three-year, full-time PhD projects
- 12-week, part-time Research Placements
All funded projects will benefit from full access to partner universities, dedicated support for Community Supervisors, and specialist training through the Championing Engaged Research programme, which develops researchers and partners as leaders in community-engaged research.
The deadline for all proposals is 11:59pm on Monday 7 September 2026.
Collaboration at the Core
Collaboratory supports proposals that are developed jointly by academic researchers and civic or community-focused organisations in Nottinghamshire.
Each project team must include:
- A Lead Academic Supervisor
- At least one Academic Co-Supervisor from a different partner university
- At least one Community Supervisor embedded within a local organisation
Researchers from Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham are encouraged to work in partnership with organisations directly engaged with local communities. Together, teams will co-design projects that respond to locally identified challenges and priorities.
This collaborative model ensures research is grounded in lived experience and community need, strengthening the connection between evidence and action while building long-term, sustainable partnerships between universities and communities.
Driven by Community Priorities
All proposals must address one or more of the Community Priorities for Research, identified through workshops with Nottinghamshire communities.
These priorities reflect the issues that matter most to local residents and community organisations, ensuring that funded projects deliver meaningful, practical, and locally relevant impact.
Support to Develop Strong Proposals
To support applicants in this final funding round, Collaboratory is hosting a series of information webinars alongside a Nottinghamshire co-creation workshop. These sessions will provide guidance on the programme aims, supervisory arrangements, and how to develop strong, collaborative proposals, as well as opportunities to connect with potential partners.
Information Webinars
- Wednesday 20 May 2026, 12:00–13:00
- Wednesday 27 May 2026, 12:00–13:00
- Thursday 4 June 2026, 12:00–13:00
Co-creation Workshop
- Wednesday 24 June 2026, 13:00–16:00
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/notts-final-project-co-creation-cohort-2027-tickets-1988822374259?aff=oddtdtcreator
Further information and details on how to get involved are available here:
https://collaboratoryresearchhub.ac.uk/proposal-submission-cohort27/