Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deadline: August 26, 2025
The British Council, in partnership with the International Association of Universities (IAU), is pleased to announce the Enterprise and Innovation Challenge 2025. This global initiative aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurial activities within higher education institutions (HEIs) by supporting university staff members who are working on projects that advance university-industry partnerships, social enterprise models, or institutional innovation strategies.
Through this program, the British Council and IAU seek to empower universities to become hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development, driving impactful projects that address local, national, and global challenges. Selected projects will receive grants of up to £20,000.
Programme Objective
This overarching objective is to strengthen the capacity of Higher Education Institutions and increase their capability to participate and provide meaningful contributions as key players within the entrepreneurship ecosystems. The desired results and impact from the partnerships include a strengthened entrepreneurship ecosystem and improved support for young people seeking to develop job creation entities and sustainable enterprises
The programme’s specific objectives are to:
- Support the development of long-term partnerships centred on entrepreneurship and innovation between UK and SSA Institutions established with ongoing exchanges of knowledge, know-how and practice.
Benefits
- Grant funding of up to £20,000 per project
- Opportunity to implement enterprise and innovation-focused projects within universities
- Access to global mentorship and capacity-building workshops
- International visibility through the British Council and IAU platforms
- Enhanced collaboration opportunities with global HEIs and industry partners
- Membership in a global network of innovation champions
- Dissemination of project outcomes through international conferences and publications
SEE ALSO: Chevening-Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) Fellowship Program 2026/2027 for Mid-Career Professionals (Fully Funded to the UK)
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be a university staff member (academic or professional services)
- Be affiliated with a higher education institution in a British Council-partner country
- Propose a project that enhances enterprise, innovation, or entrepreneurship within their institution
- Demonstrate institutional support for the proposed project
- Have a clear implementation and impact plan
- Possess a commitment to knowledge sharing and capacity building
Application Process and Documents Required
- Complete the online application form via the British Council platform
- Submit a detailed project proposal, including objectives, implementation plan, and expected outcomes
- Provide a budget breakdown showing how the £20,000 grant will be utilized
- Upload a Letter of Support from the applicant’s institution
- Include a CV or professional profile of the lead applicant
- Optional: Evidence of previous projects or partnerships related to innovation/enterprise
