GW4 Alliance

GW4 Newsletter November 2025 - GW4 Welcome to the GW4 Newsletter November 2025: your digest of GW4 news, funding and development opportunities.

🚨The latest #GW4Alliance newsletter is out now, featuring:

▶️New GW4 Alliance Director, Melanie Knetsch's, first Director's update
▶️Info on the latest GW4 Generator Fund
▶️Highlights from GW4 in Westminster & the Senedd
▶️Crucible Alumni updates

Catch up on all the latest: gw4.ac.uk/news/gw4-new...

The deadline for applications is Monday 2 February 2026.
For full details, including application guidance and a guidance webinar, please visit: www.gw4.ac.uk/generator-fund

Open to GW4 researchers - @uniofbath.bsky.social, @bristoluni.bsky.social, @cardiffuni.bsky.social, @exeter.ac.uk

GW4 Generator Fund Case Study: Reactionary Politics Research Network - GW4 This network brings together scholars from across the Southwest to study and tackle the rise of exclusionary, authoritarian and reactionary politics.

Wondering where a Generator Fund Award could lead you? Check out the case studies section of our website for some inspiration from previously-funded communities, including the Reactionary Politics Network led by Prof Aurelien Mondon @uniofbath.bsky.social: gw4.ac.uk/case-studies...

➡️ Open to all disciplines, this scheme supports early-stage ideas and help research teams build and scale towards securing future external grants.

➡️ Interdisciplinary research and innovation is explicitly encouraged, and applications from early career research communities are particularly welcome.

🌱 GW4 Researchers: Are you looking for seed funding to kick-start your next project?

The Generator Fund is now open for applications!

➡️ We’re offering up to £20k in seed funding to help both new and existing GW4 research communities accelerate research.

www.gw4.ac.uk/generator-fund

Group of nine Vice-Chancellors and Chairs of Council posing on a balcony at the University of Bath.

This week we welcomed the@gw4alliance.bsky.social Vice-Chancellors and Chairs of Council to campus to discuss the future with new Director Melanie Knetsch.

GW4 is an alliance of four of the most research-intensive universities in the UK: Bath; Bristol; Cardiff and Exeter.

AI Growth Zone in South Wales to create jobs and boost infrastructure | Department for Science, Innovation and Technology posted on the topic | LinkedIn 📣 AI will power national renewal, creating thousands of jobs and delivering a new AI Growth Zone in South Wales. This will attract AI businesses to the UK and help revolutionise the UK’s infrastructu...

@cardiffuni.bsky.social hosted the Secretary of State for Science Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall, for an exciting announcement of the creation of a new AI Growth Zone in South Wales:

www.linkedin.com/posts/scitec...

November: University of Bristol to develop new ‘British Library’ for the AI age | News and features | University of Bristol

Two game-changing AI announcements across GW4 universities last week as part of the UK govts. AI for Science Strategy -

@bristoluni.bsky.social announced the development of a National AI Data Facility, to be based at the NCC alongside Isambard-AI:

www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2025/no...

📅 Deadline: Monday, 2 Feb 2026
📆 Project duration: June–Nov 2026

Communities are encouraged to use the scheme as a stepping stone to external funding.

👉 Apply & guidance here: gw4.ac.uk/generator-fu...
🎥 Watch application tips from GW4's Building Communities Manager: tinyurl.com/bd7xsf6h

The Generator Fund is designed to:

✅ Build new GW4 research communities
✅ Develop the strong ideas from existing ones
✅ Provide seed funding to for researchers to test concepts & innovate

Open to any research area w/ ECRs especially encouraged to apply!

New Seed Funding Opportunity for GW4 Researchers!

Looking for seed funding to elevate your research? The GW4 Generator Fund is now open for applications.

We're offering up to £20,000 to support innovative research and collaborative communities across Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter unis.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this celebration of innovation and collaborative research such a success.

Read our events recap and explore a gallery of photos on our website: gw4.ac.uk/news/gw4-inn...

Featuring a fantastic keynote speech by Dame Chi Onwurah MP (Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West) and Chair, Science Innovation and Technology Committee, the event highlighted the power of collaboration and the strength of our region’s vibrant research and innovation ecosystem.

YouTube video by GW4 Alliance GW4 innovation Showcase at the House of Commons

2-weeks on we are still buzzing from the GW4 Innovation Showcase at the House of Commons, sponsored by Claire Hazelgrove MP (Filton & Bradley Stoke).

Check out our highlights: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Us...

@uniofbath.bsky.social, @bristoluni.bsky.social, @cardiffuni.bsky.social, @exeter.ac.uk

⏰ Last chance to register is tonight! ⏰ Sign up at t.co/ECoHNmsb9g!

⏰ Registration deadline extended! ⏰ Sign up by Thurs. 6 Nov. for our workshop on antimicrobial resistance on 20 Nov.
lnkd.in/ekxtZJAD
Places will be confirmed by Mon. 10 Nov.

💊Read the latest GW4 AMR Alliance Newsletter - October 2025! 👇https://mailchi.mp/3393d6724091/gw4-amr-alliance-newsletter-october25?e=7187fc8469
⏰And remember to sign up for the workshop!

Reminder! ⏰ Get your application in by Tuesday 28 Oct! lnkd.in/ekxtZJAD

Reminder! Deadline to apply is midday today!

Full info and registration link here: sign up by 28 October 2025! gw4.ac.uk/events/gw4-a...

Any questions? Contact us at amr@gw4.ac.uk

There will also be:
✅ lightning talks to introduce your research;
✅ roundtable discussions on AMR challenges, to scope ideas for projects;
✅info on GW4 funding opportunities;
✅info on our cross-institutional mentorship programme;
✅the launch of our AMR research discussion sessions for 2026.

Participants will:
💊Network and meet new collaborators across GW4;
💊Brainstorm and discuss AMR challenges;
💊Scope ideas for new cross-institutional collaborative projects and communities.

🎆The workshop is open to all GW4-based academics and investigators (including final-year doctoral students) with an interest in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), from any discipline.

GW4 AMR Alliance Networking and Bid Development Workshop - GW4 Date: Thursday 20 November 2025, 10:30 – 16:30 (welcome refreshments from 10:00, prompt start at 10:30).Venue: Novotel Bristol Centre, Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6HY. We are delighted to announce t...

💊Working on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and interested in finding collaborators?

🎆Want to hear about new funding opportunities for collaborative projects and career development support?

👉 Come to GW4’s AMR Alliance Networking and Bid Development Workshop! gw4.ac.uk/events/gw4-a...

Open to GW4 academics, PSS staff and PGRs (or studying at GW4 unis until June 2026).

Deadline to apply: Midday, Wednesday 22 October.

Don’t miss out! buff.ly/zbS1QJP

You’ll also:

💡 Collaborate with GW4 colleagues in different roles

🎨 Experience creative forms of learning and facilitation

🌐 Join a network of peers across GW4 to share ideas and tackle challenges

Participants will:

✅ Deepen understanding of the systems and behaviours that support research culture

✅ Develop new ways of thinking

✅Take part in practical knowledge-sharing

Facilitated by @64M_Artists, the programme uses workshops and online check-ins to spark bold conversations and drive real change in research culture.

How can individuals foster enhanced research culture, and institutions embed it meaningfully?

Exploring this, GW4 Re-Culture is now open for applications!

This creative, skills-based programme explores how we can build a flourishing research culture across GW4 universities: buff.ly/zbS1QJP

GW4 leads the way with new GW4 Re-Culture pilot programme - GW4 A novel research culture change programme that will provide opportunities for skills development, practical knowledge sharing and networking for researchers and professional services staff involved in...

Plus we're launching our new pilot programme 'GW4 Re-Culture' - a Research Culture Change Programme exploring enhanced research culture through creativity, collaboration and leadership development:

gw4.ac.uk/news/gw4-lea...