Collaborative Cultures Funding Call 1: Inclusive and Collaborative Research Cultures

Our first funding call focused on addressing equality barriers and underrepresentation in cross-sector partnerships. Altogether, 12 projects were selected for Call 1 funding and run from January to December 2025. The projects are listed here, alongside some brief descriptions of their work.

Co-designing a future hospital (and care) system for unpaid carers: development of an informal carer insights hub for ideas exchange, engagement and priority setting

  • Departments of Computer & Information Sciences, Biomedical Engineering and Electronic & Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde
  • Lanarkshire Carers
  • Glasgow HSCP

This project is centred around the development of an informal carer 'insights hub': co-creating flexible, accessible and meaningful opportunities for informal carers to participate in research.  

People looking at a mural depicting

Community building in Decolonising GLAMs (DeCoGLAM)

  • Department of Computer & Information Sciences and Institute of Education at the University of Strathclyde
  • Glasgow Life

The project will build a Community of Practice (CoP) focused on decolonisation in GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) institutions, fostering a partnership with Glasgow Life. DeCoGLAM will contribute to the Race Equality Working Group at the University of Strathclyde, seeking to develop a cross-university CoP to "decolonise the curriculum" across faculties and on a broader scale, it will support changes needed in societal processes and attitudes to enable effective decolonisation in GLAMs. 

CULTURE-GAPS in STEM – Collaborative University Learning for Targeting Under-representation in Research and Education – Addressing Attainment GAPS in STEM

  • Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS) at the University of Strathclyde

Deepening Engagement with the Third Sector: Creating a more collaborative and engaging research culture at Strathclyde

  • Department of Work, Employment & Organisation (WEO) and the Innovation & Industry Engagement Directorate at the University of Strathclyde
  • Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS)

This project is a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS). It aims to build research partnerships, develop workshops, and create online content to help voluntary organisations strengthen their research capacity and integrate research into decision-making. The initiative also seeks to expand community engagement and research opportunities for the university while supporting the third sector with academic expertise and increased access to funding. By fostering stronger relationships between researchers and voluntary organisations, the project will develop a strategic research plan, create pathways for underrepresented communities to engage in research, and establish models for sustainable cross-sector collaboration.

Exploring and mitigating barriers for trans and non-binary researchers to engage in research collaborations and networks

  • Professional Services: Student Experience at the University of Strathclyde

Whilst existing research has explored the overall experiences of trans and non-binary staff and students in higher education, there is a gap in our understanding of the specific experiences, challenges and support needs of trans and non-binary people engaged in research and innovation. Through empirical research and sector workshops, this project will explore how to support trans and non-binary researchers, nurture collaborative activities, and develop resources to improve trans and non-binary inclusion and literacy within the research process.

Identifying Intersectional Barriers to Enhance Representation in External Collaborations within the Faculty of Science

  • Departments of Mathematics & Statistics, Computer & Information Sciences, Physics and Pure & Applied Chemistry and the Equality & Diversity team at the University of Strathclyde
  • SSERC
  • Glasgow Life
  • West of Scotland KTP Centre
  • Interface

The project aims to identify and address barriers that prevent staff in the Faculty of Science from engaging with external partners. Through an evidence-based approach, the project will lead to a networking event in August 2025, fostering connections between underrepresented staff and external partners to support potential collaborations. 

Painting of two elephants facing each other by Kevoh The Artist, painted on wall of the teenage mothers’ unit in Real Hope Rescue Center, Nairobi, Kenya [taken February 2025]

Implementing and Evaluating a Gender-based Violence Intervention in Kenya

  • Department of Social Work & Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde
  • IRISi
  • SAVE Kenya

This collaborative project will implement a health-based intervention to tackle domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence in Kenya. Our intervention, IRIS-K, will be piloted in three sites in Kenya. Applying a sustainability framework we will train partners to deliver IRIS-K long-term and evaluate its effectiveness and impact.

Making motherhood work: Supporting mothers in academia

  • Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strategy & Innovation and the Department of Marketing at the University of Strathclyde
  • Mama is an Academic

The Making Motherhood Work project responds to calls for universities to take concrete action in fostering equitable academic environments. While existing research has documented the challenges faced by academic mothers, there remains a critical need to explore how these challenges manifest within collaborative academic spaces, where research careers are often shaped—through funding networks, departmental structures, and leadership pathways. Specifically, the Making Motherhood Work project seeks to address these barriers by examining the institutional challenges faced by academic mothers; identifying strategies to support the professional development of academic mothers and co-develop evidence-based policy recommendations aimed at removing systemic barriers and fostering more inclusive institutional environments. By understanding the barriers and exploring opportunities, the Making Motherhood Work project aims to contribute to the broader goal of creating a more equitable and inclusive academic landscape.

Regional Socioeconomic Data to Support Policymaking: Using Systems Thinking to explore and Enhance Cross-Organisational Collaboration Across the UK’s Four Nations and Statistical System

  • Departments of Economics and Management Science at the University of Strathclyde
  • Office for National Statistics

Different UK stakeholders are involved in the production of subnational socioeconomic data (e.g.  on health outcomes, poverty and deprivation) including: the Office for National Statistics; the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government; the Devolved Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and local stakeholders such as local authorities, local government districts, enterprise agencies and health boards. These stakeholders have different mandates, priorities and resource constraints which can make cross-organisational collaboration challenging when attempting to construct datasets with the appropriate level of geographic coverage, granularity and coherence. This research will use tools from systems thinking, interviewing stakeholders to understand their different perspectives and co-designing system-wide solutions to enhance and strengthen cross-organisational collaboration when producing, disseminating and comparing subnational socioeconomic data. 

Strathclyde Women in KTP

  • Research and Knowledge Exchange Services (RKES) at the University of Strathclyde 
  • Innovate UK Business Connect
  • Defankle Innovation Ltd

This project aims to establish a network that encourages women in academia to engage in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) by providing targeted support and resources. Academics will be able to directly apply skills developed in a series of workshops, with the added benefit of creating future collaboration opportunities for the University, using a list of pre-identified potential partner organisations. 

What It Means to Be Human: Navigating the Intersection of Invisible (Dis)abilities, Neurodiversity, and Gender Identity

  • Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde 

What sensory abilities across the spectrum define us as human? From tangible physiological extremes to the beautifully varied mental spaces they create, what are these abilities that shape who we are? How does it feel to see and experience the world through the body and brain of another? What do perceived abilities and disabilities look like when they are invisible? How does the environment create thresholds for showcasing these abilities, and how can we communicate them through non-verbal means such as art, music, dance, or other forms of expression? And more, how do gender identity and self-perception interplay with physical and neurological diversity?

Working well with a chronic, unseen medical conditions (“invisible” illnesses)

  • Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Health & Safety team, Institute of Education, and Centre for Energy Policy at the University of Strathclyde

This project aims to enhance the understanding and support for staff with chronic, unseen illnesses at the University of Strathclyde. The project seeks to foster an open environment, improve staff retention, and enable staff to fulfill their professional potential despite their conditions. It involves collaboration with external partners like the Glasgow Disability Alliance and the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks. The project will create a support network, provide training for managers, and conduct an awareness campaign. The ultimate goal is to improve the workplace experience for staff with invisible illnesses and encourage higher levels of disability declaration. The project is strategically aligned with the university's ongoing efforts to enhance equality, diversity, and inclusion.