How the ICMS money is used to support your acitivities

Financial support for ICMS activity

ICMS is delighted to be able to support mathematicians with the advancement of their ideas in a variety of ways. Through the provision of funding that can be tailored to the scope and needs of the proposed activity we are pleased to help advance innovation and growth in the UK mathematical sciences community.  ICMS funding comes primarily from grants awarded to us by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Our funding can be used in a variety of ways to support the development of the mathematical sciences in the UK.  The ICMS welcomes applications for activity from mathematicians based anywhere in the world but at least one of the proposers must be based in the UK. Please browse through all our calls to find the scheme that best suits your needs or contact the Centre Manager to discuss your ideas.

Administration of the grants
There are some administrative details which need to be outlined The ICMS staff will manage and administer these funds and the majority of grants are not transferred to the parent institution of the proposer. The Centre Manager will let you know if it is possible for your grant to be transferred. The ICMS grants may not be sufficient to cover all the expenses of a given participant. All expenses are subject to the policies of our administering institution Heriot-Watt University.

Workshops
Week-long research workshops are typically awarded £24000. The Centre Manager will advise on budget matters before you submit your application. There is an expectation from EPSRC that ICMS workshops will contribute at least 20% of the costs of workshops. For example, for the typical award of £24,000 we ask you to top up the costs with £6000. The simplest way to do this is by charging a registration fee of £150 per person to attend. In addition, we recommend that workshop organisers seek out additional sources of funding for example from learned societies such as the London Mathematical Society, the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, and the Glasgow Mathematical Journal Trust. For workshops with a US based-organiser you should consider an application to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for funding to support US-based participants.  If you have your own grants that may be used to support the workshop, please indicate this in your application. ICMS staff can advise and offer support in making applications for additional funding.  

A simple breakdown of the costs is as follows per person for five days and nights in Edinburgh in 2025:

Accommodation (bed and breakfast) £660
Catering £170 (four or five lunches, coffee breaks, welcome reception, and workshop dinner)

Please note that it is not possible to use EPSRC money to pay for the costs of alcohol. Collecting a registration fee helps to offset the catering costs and allows for the provision of aclcohol. 

Once local costs are covered any surplus can be used as a contribution towards travel. The typical rates we use are: 

UK £150
Europe £300
Rest of World £600

Therefore, the amount typically awarded by ICMS will cover local costs for 25 participants with some funds available for travel support. 

ICMS staff will book accommodation for workshops and process reimbursements for travel expenses.

There is the expectation that those who can cover their own travel costs from their own funds will do so. This allows ICMS to support participants who do not have access to other sources.

Workshop Registration Fee
ICMS charges a registration fee of £150. This will form part of the overall funding for the meeting and is primarily used to cover the costs of catering for the duration of the meeting.

Research-in-Groups
The Research-in-Groups scheme brings small groups of researchers to Edinburgh (or another location) to work intensely and without distraction on a project for a period of up to one month. For this scheme we pay a per diem of £35 and £130 per person per night for accommodation.   

Mathematics for Humanity programme
For longer stays in relation to our Mathematics for Humanity programme, our current policy is to provide travel support in line with the guidelines for the workshops and accommodation support, and a per diem.  Please discuss your budget with the Centre Manager.

Locations
Meetings with fewer than 70 participants can be held at ICMS, The Bayes Centre, 47 Potterrow, Edinburgh EH8 9BT. Mathematics for Humanity activity with up to 40 participants will take place at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. Proposals for meetings with more than 70 participants are also invited, but another location will have to be found. There are additional funds available for venue hire.  Please discuss this with the Centre Manager before applying. Research in Groups are primarily housed at 14 India Street, the birthplace of James Clerk Maxwell. These groups may on occassion meet at Bayes Centre or at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Meetings can also be held at other venues in the UK under the ICMS@ programme.  The Centre Manager will discuss your venue requirements as part of the proposal process.