The BBSRC Global Challenges Research Fund Strategic Training Awards for Research Skills (GCRF-STARS) programme aims to build a portfolio of sustainable and timely training resources to up-skill and develop researchers and graduate students, in research priority areas, in the UK and developing countries within the research skills required to help tackle global challenges.
BBSRC welcomes applications for support of any research capability within its remit, but applications must emphasise the specific global challenge of relevance to the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) that they will be working in, and in particular those challenges highlighted as targets that are priorities for developing countries:
• Secure and resilient food systems.
• Sustainable health and wellbeing.
• Affordable and sustainable energy.
• Sustainable livelihoods, economic growth through the circular bioeconomy.
• Resilience and environmental change.
• Sustainable production and consumption.
• Prevention of diseases in humans and farm animals relevant to the developing country.
• Prevention of crop disease in varieties grown in/developed for developing countries.
Applications outside these areas are welcome, but a strong, evidenced case for why the topic addresses global challenges skills is essential. Standard BBSRC eligibility rules apply, lead and co-applicants must be employed by an eligible higher education institution, research institute or independent research organisation (IRO).
A total of up to £500,000 is available to support the training activities through this programme in the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. Individual applications may seek BBSRC funding of up to £100,000 (in total, across the duration of the award). Funding is at 100% fEC.
GCRF-STARS awards are flexible and may be used to support strategic skills for a short, discrete period or for up to three years of recurrent funding. Applications should provide clear justification for the duration and size of awards proposed.

Applications must be made through the Je-S system by the deadline of 16 October 2019 (16:00).