The AHRC have recently published a pre-announcement of the latest HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area) call for joint research projects on Cultural Encounters. €18 million is available to fund new and innovative humanities-focused projects on this theme.

As part of this pre-announcement, there is an invitation to all interested researchers to attend a “matchmaking event” on 21st February in Berlin. There is financial support available to attend this – travel and accommodation will be reimbursed up to a maximum of €350 and further details are available on the application page.

Given the funding available for this and the focus being placed on the matchmaking event, it is likely that attendance will be highly beneficial – if not essential – to anyone wishing to build a network and submit a call to this scheme. The deadline for registration to attend the matchmaking event is 30th November 2011. This involves completing an application form which will be assessed by the HERA JRP Cultural Encounters board members. Around 300 participants from across Europe will be selected.

HERA is one of 71 ERA-NET coordination actions on various subjects funded through the EC’s Framework Programmes. These networks of national research funders are intended to coordinate research programmes across the European Research Area. For the UK, AHRC is the national funder and contact point, and usually the UK portion of successful projects will be funded by them.