In March 2014, the University of Birmingham and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign formed the BiRmingham-Illinois Partnership for Discovery, EnGagement and Education (BRIDGE) creating a framework for continued collaboration and investment to grow the strategic partnership between the two institutions.

The BRIDGE framework aims to deepen these existing collaborations and develop wider faculty networks to build cognate research areas, expand educational exchange opportunities, and strengthen strategic aspirations for institutional engagement. Engagement currently spans over 80 established faculty-to-faculty links in key academic disciplines.

Seed Fund

Together, the institutions have established the BRIDGE Seed Fund to which permanent full-time faculty member at each institution are encouraged to apply.

Global South Fellowship Program

The Global South Fellowship Program supports the professional development of early-career researchers from universities in the Global South. Applications are open and will be accepted through December 15, 2024.

Seed Fund Outcomes

The BRIDGE network engages a diverse group of researchers and topics. Explore all BRIDGE news on the joint partnership website.

Research Showcase

BRIDGE research is interdisciplinary. Explore the latest research focus areas on the joint partnership website.