Research Culture Network Grants strengthening research communities across Wales

Medr and the Learned Society of Wales (LSW) have collectively launched the second year of the Research Culture Network Grants (RCNG) scheme, which supports researchers, research professionals and research communities to work together to address challenges and strengthen research culture across Wales.

Recognising the value of these grassroots initiatives, in 2025/26 Medr invested in the scheme, through its Wales Research Environment and Culture (WREC) Collaborative Fund to the Learned Society of Wales. The Collaborative Fund sits within the wider WREC Fund, which supports research culture through both institutional and community-led approaches. While a significant proportion of WREC funding is allocated directly to higher education institutions to support strategic, institution-wide activity, the RCNG Scheme provides a complementary, bottom-up approach by investing in researcher/research professional-led networks.

Offering grants of up to £3,000, the scheme has enabled existing and emerging networks across Wales to address challenges identified by their own communities, fostering collaboration, inclusion and innovation at a grassroots level. Together, these top-down and bottom-up approaches can help create a more connected, supportive and resilient research culture across Wales, ensuring that researchers at all career stages are empowered to thrive, collaborate and deliver high-quality research which delivers meaningful benefits for society.

In the first year, fourteen networks spanning universities, health organisations and research centres across Wales received funding. The funded projects are led by researchers and research professionals, including technicians and specialist support staff, at a range of career stages. The networks include early career researchers, established academics and professional services colleagues who are working together to strengthen research communities and improve the research environment. Five projects are establishing entirely new networks, while others are focused on growing emerging communities or sustaining existing initiatives.

Projects addressed a wide range of research culture challenges, including researcher isolation, limited protected time for research and writing, confidence and imposter syndrome, barriers to collaboration, and challenges faced by underrepresented groups. Several initiatives specifically support women, non-binary researchers and ethnically minoritised communities, while others focus on strengthening cross-sector partnerships and community engagement.

We are already seeing the positive impact these networks are having on researchers across the sector in Wales. Participants have reported increased visibility of important research culture issues, stronger peer support and new opportunities for collaboration. One project, the Swansea International Race Equality Network (SIREN) Residential Mentoring Programme, received more than 100 applications for just 20 places and has since secured additional institutional funding to expand its activities and develop a wider national network.

The programme has also supported a range of innovative initiatives, including writing retreats for women academics with caring responsibilities (Write Now!); communities of practice for pharmacy professionals; networks for research technical professionals, and partnerships focused on women’s health, climate change, legal academia and voluntary sector research.

Initial learning from the scheme highlights the continuing importance of grassroots activity in creating inclusive and supportive research environments. Common themes identified by network leaders include the need for greater mentoring and peer support, more opportunities for cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional collaboration, recognition of diverse forms of expertise, and stronger links between academic research and wider communities.

While funding was available for 14 projects, we received 72 applications in the first round of funding, demonstrating the strong demand for the scheme and appetite among researchers and research professionals to build more connected, inclusive and resilient research cultures across Wales.

The new funding round, launched on 9 September, will enable existing networks to build on their progress while also supporting new communities and ideas that harness the sector’s enthusiasm and ambition to create a stronger research ecosystem for Wales.