Quick guide to the Innovation Fund
We support the development of library resources, research, activities and projects across the region through our Innovation Fund. Applications for the Innovation Fund 26/27 open on 16 September and close on 3 November 2026.
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 2026-2029 Strategic Plan for the benefit of Consortium members. The four strategic priorities are:
- Engagement and Inclusion:
- Partnership and Collaboration:
- Resilience and Sustainability
- Talent and Innovation
- How much grant money is available?
The total amount in the Fund for 2026-27 is £2,000 and applicants can apply for grants from the fund from £100 up £2,000.
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.
Applications close on 5pm on Tuesday 3 November 2026. Successful bids informed by 4 December 2026.
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 2027. Sharing can be achieved in different ways and could be in the form of a report, a conference presentation or an online resource.