Systems Hub grant call

About the call

Addressing the energy transition in Colombia requires a new architecture of collaboration - one that connects efforts across sectors, levels of government, and communities. The Systems Hub offers a practical response to this, embedding systems thinking into the transition process and enabling more coherent, inclusive, and impactful action.

The Systems Hub will act as a platform to strengthen cooperation and alignment between the different actors in the Energy transition system. It performs facilitation, intermediation, and functions to promote systemic changes through the generation of shared knowledge, the coordination of efforts, and the creation of synergies.

The Hub will have an adaptive, dynamic, and decentralised governance structure that allows for strategic alignment and agile operation, whilst involving different actors from across the system. It will be organised into three levels:

Opportunities Board (Strategic direction)
Management Team (Operational Core) – this is what we are looking for in this grant call
Mission Nodes (Mission execution

All activities related to the Hub must be conducted in Spanish, while the applicant proposal can be submitted in English.

You can read the full report on the development of the Systems hub on the grant page.

This scheme is funded by Engineering X, a collaboration between the Lloyds Register Foundation and The Royal Academy of Engineering.

The Systems Hub objectives 

The Systems Hub aims to strengthen and connect dispersed actors and efforts to address structural challenges for the energy transition in Colombia.

Its purpose is to:

Define and implement strategic missions.
Facilitate spaces for multi-sector coordination.
Mobilise financial, technical, and human resources.
Evaluate and monitor the impact of interventions
Create evidence for advocacy in public policy.
Build a community of learning and practice around systemic innovation in the energy transition.

Looking for the Systems Hub Management team

We are launching a call for proposals to identify the Management Team that will lead the Systems Hub. This team will not implement projects directly, but will serve as a strategic connector who will:

Manage the Hub's operational and strategic direction.
Coordinate the definition and implementation of mission-oriented portfolios.
Facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration across sectors and territories.
Mobilise technical, financial, and human resources.
Generate evidence and support policy advocacy.
Manage the budget allocated for this initiative and leverage additional funding.
Strengthen the ecosystem for long-term impact.
Promote a culture of learning, adaptation, and systemic innovation.

All activities related to the Hub will be conducted in Spanish, while the applicant proposal can be submitted in English.

Funding

There is a total of £730,500 available over three years.

Up to £500,500 to support Hub operations and ecosystem-building, operated by the Management Team. This is a flexible grant intended to be allocated in the strategic categories. Please refer to the applicant guidance document for further information on budget.
£230,000 is available to support the implementation of strategic missions disbursed by the Management Team to implementing partners.

You will be asked in your proposal to draft an indicative budget document of how you will intend to use the grant. Note that if your application is successful, Hexagonal and Engineering X will work with you to adjust and co-create this budget during the initial months of the grant.

Eligible applicants and criteria

Applicants must be registered organisations based in Colombia, but must be either;

An individual organisation
A consortium of up to three organisations

Types of eligible organisations include universities, NGOs, community-based organisations, social enterprises, private companies, chambers of commerce, innovation hubs, and public institutions.

Applicants must demonstrate:

Experience in multi-stakeholder facilitation and coordination.
Strong project management and delivery capacity.
Budget oversight and compliance with financial reporting.
Skills in strategic communication and stakeholder engagement.
Fundraising capability and resource mobilisation experience.
Legitimacy and trust within the Colombian innovation ecosystem.
An interest in trying new approaches and a commitment to systems thinking and reflective learning.

Applications will only be considered if the application is complete, with all the relevant documents attached. Please ensure that you have the organisation's declaration of support.

Please read the applicant guidance document on the how to apply page for further information on the funding scheme, timeline, and eligible costs.

All researchers and organisations we fund must comply with our grant funding policies and positions which, with our Conditions of Award and Letter of Offer, form the Grant Agreement.

You can find all the policies on the Academy website. Please read all relevant policies for your application, these include:

Please find all of the Academy policies on our Grant policies page.

International partners and additional support

Hexagonal will provide mentorship and systems accompaniment throughout the first year and Engineering X will provide accompaniment and funding for the initial three-year period. Further information on what this looks like can be found in the applicant guidance document.

What happens next?

If shortlisted, you will be invited to submit a full proposal and budget, as well as participating in an interview with the selection panel. This will allow the panel to explore your vision, delivery approach, and collaborative mindset in more depth.

Note: If you're interested in contributing to the Systems Hub Colombia in a different capacity, such as a member of the Opportunities Board, expert, funder, collaborator, or community representative, we’d love to hear from you.

Please write to Ana Andrade to explore other ways to get involved with us.