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IDAI Collision Grant Fund 2025-26

The Institute for Data and AI (IDAI) is pleased to announce the IDAI Collision Grant Fund.

This call provides seed funding for high-impact, interdisciplinary research projects that show genuine interdisciplinary collaboration across our five research themes, with a strong emphasis on novelty, adventure, and risk. 

About the funding

This fund is an opportunity for researchers to explore new, interdisciplinary research questions. Successful proposals should push boundaries, transforming emerging ideas into innovative, high-impact collaborations.

Successful applicants will be invited to present their project at a "Dragons’ Den" style pitch before the final award announcement.

  • Total funding available: £100,000
  • Max funding per project: up to £20,000

Aims of the funding

The funding aims to support bold, speculative ideas and early-stage concepts with high potential that will lead to future external funding applications. Key aims are to encourage projects that:

  • Embrace risk and push disciplinary boundaries
  • Show genuine integration where disciplines work together throughout, not in parallel
  • Plan for scale with a clear pathway to show how the project will lead to larger grants that amplify impact

Inclusivity

We especially encourage researchers from underrepresented groups to apply; unique perspectives are vital to inclusive research, and the Institute is committed to enabling researchers to innovate.

Who can apply

  • Projects led by an IDAI Affiliate Member
  • The call is open to new and original projects that have not previously received priming funding or served as continuations of earlier work
  • We welcome proposals from teams with external collaborators

These ideas may be developed through the IDAI Sandpits - Defining the Challenge and Generating the Ideas - or through ongoing engagement within theme networks and collaboration with theme leads and fellow IDAI Affiliates.

We encourage you to think imaginatively and submit proposals for innovative and high-impact research projects. We look forward to receiving your applications!

Timeline and key information

  • Application Open:
    Monday 10 November 2025
  • Application Close:
    10:00, Friday 28 November 
  • Funding End Date:
    Friday 31 July 2026

Key documents and application form

The application process consists of a written application and a presentation slide deck.

If you are unsure of any aspect of your application, please contact the relevant team member listed in the enquiries section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check our FAQs to see if they cover your project queries:

Can we cover the costs of a University of Birmingham staff member’s time if their contract ends after July 2026?

Yes, this is possible for an existing, externally funded staff member. However, the Collision Grant funding may not be used to directly extend an existing staff member’s contract.

Are there flexible start and end dates for project activity?

Yes, projects can start any time after the awards are announced in December 2025. However, please be aware of the key financial deadlines: all casual staff assignments must be completed by Friday 10 July 2026 , and all non-salary spend must be completed by Friday 17 July 2026.

I’d like to include the time of a Research Data Scientist (RDSci), how do I do that?

IDAI Research Data Scientist or Research Software Engineer time is an eligible salary cost. This should be included in your budget proforma. For successful applicants, the process of allocating and costing this time will be supported by the IDAI Operations Team and relevant finance colleagues. For specific questions on RDSci availability and expertise, please contact rdsci-team@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Can I request funding for consulting, grant writing, or other external supplier fees?

Yes, costs for specialist services are eligible. All non-salary spend must be in line with the University’s procurement and expenses policies. If you wish to include a cost that is not on the provided list, please contact the IDAI Operations Team to discuss it.

Can I use the funding to pay for a collaborator’s time at another institution?

While external collaborators and partners are encouraged, the process of arranging payments and contracts for external staff can be complex. We advise discussing your specific circumstances with the IDAI Operations Team by contacting idai@contacts.bham.ac.uk to determine if this is feasible within the project's timeframe.

Utilising our Data Scientists for projects

Funding can be used for IDAI Research Data Scientist or Research Software Engineer time. If you intend to include Research Data Scientist support in your application, this must be costed accurately. The IDAI Operations Team and relevant finance colleagues will support this process for successful applicants.

Read more about our Research Data Scientists and their services

Previous successful projects

Establishing a Custom AI Pipeline for Protein Binder Design

A bespoke AI-driven workflow was successfully deployed on BEAR to generate novel protein binders targeting FGFR1, a receptor central to cell signaling and disease biology—marking a major step forward in computational drug discovery.

Simulating High-Stakes Political Negotiations with AI

A proof-of-concept Multi-Agent System was built to model European Council deliberations using a fine-tuned Large Language Model, complemented by a high-level stakeholder workshop that laid the groundwork for future collaborative research.

Creating the UK’s First National-Scale Hydrological Dataset for AI

A comprehensive, multimodal dataset was assembled and pre-processed to support large-scale AI modelling of hydroclimate extremes, enabling deeper insights into complex water systems across the UK.

Enhancing Brain Tumor Detection Through AI-Driven Imaging

An advanced analysis pipeline was developed to improve tumor and margin detection in animal MRI scans, with future adaptation planned for human clinical imaging—paving the way for more precise diagnostics.

Innovating Tools to Protect Children from Deepfake Exploitation

A privacy-preserving image filter was created and strengthened to resist manipulation, addressing critical gaps in legal protections and offering a proactive solution to safeguard children’s digital identities.

Development and Initial Analysis of DREAM Database Scraper for Ukraine Reconstruction Projects

A Python-based tool has been developed to extract and begin analysing data from Ukraine’s DREAM reconstruction database, with ongoing efforts to assess data quality and integrate geospatial context.

Compositor 2.0: Advancing Ornament Image Infrastructure

Made significant strides in updating the "Compositor" database of pre-1830 "ornament" images, delivered a foundation for academic publication and future funding by presenting initial results at an international symposium, supporting related grant development, and ensuring scalable contributions from technical collaborators.

Enquiries

For all enquiries, please contact: