Quick guide to the Innovation Fund
We support the development of library resources, research, activities and projects across the region through our Innovation Fund. You can contribute to the implementation of innovative approaches by staff in your library service applying to the Innovation Fund. Applications for the Innovation Fund 25/26 close on 3 November.
1. What is the Innovation Fund?
The Innovation Fund is a competitive award created by the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries. Successful applications will receive funding to deliver a project, resource, research or other activity that works towards one or more of the themes in the Consortium’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan for the benefit of Consortium members. The four themes are.
People: Inspiring and developing our staff, Collaboration: Connecting and collaborating through our membership, Diversity: Celebrating diversity in our institutions and our staff and Sustainability: Acting sustainably
- How much grant money is available?
The total amount in the Fund for 2025-26 is £1,000 and applicants can apply for grants from the fund from £100 up £1,000.
3. Who can apply?
Any library staff member or group of staff at one of our member institutions can apply.
4. How do I apply?
Complete the application form available to download from our website and send with any additional supporting documents to m25libadmin@london.ac.uk addressing the points set out on the Innovation Fund web page.
Deadline for bids is 5pm on Wednesday 3 November 2025. Successful bids informed by Wednesday 10 December 2025
5. Who benefits?
The Grants are for activities or projects that will benefit your service and our other members. A condition of receiving a grant is that successful applicants will share their learning/outputs by no later than the end of December 2026. Sharing can be achieved in different ways and could be in the form of a report, a conference presentation or an online resource.