Technician Development Fund

The NTDC Technician Development Fund (TDF) is a key benefit for Partner Affiliates (PAs). It provides technical staff with funding opportunities to support innovative initiatives. To check if your organisation is a Partner Affiliate, see our list of partners.

The TDF empowers technicians to access resources that help them grow professionally, develop new skills, and implement impactful projects.

Ongoing Opportunities

Starting in 2025, the TDF will operate year-round, with monthly application windows. Each quarter will focus on a different funding theme, ensuring a broad range of opportunities for technicians across the sector. 

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About the Fund

The NTDC Technician Development Fund is designed to provide practical support for on-the-ground technicians. We know that many valuable opportunities are out of reach due to sector financial constraints, and the TDF exists to help bridge that gap.

Funding Themes & Priorities

While each quarter introduces a new theme, all funding supports the following core areas: 

• Mobility – enabling technicians to attend events, conferences, or networking opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible.

• Training and development – helping technical teams access learning that strengthens skills and supports career progression.

• Collaborative projects – supporting technical initiatives that may be limited by financial barriers within institutions or across the sector.

• Inclusivity and engagement – promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within technical services, and creating opportunities that are open and accessible to all.

By aligning quarterly themes with these priorities, the TDF ensures technicians have year-round opportunities to innovate, grow professionally, and deliver meaningful impact. 

TDF Funding Details

• Application Process: Open year-round with monthly windows and rotating quarterly themes.
  
  

• Who Can Apply: Partner Affiliate organisations; technical staff may submit up to two applications per window. Joint applications are encouraged.
  
  

• Focus Areas: Mobility, training and development, collaborative projects, inclusivity and engagement.
  
  

• Assessment Criteria: Applications are reviewed based on alignment with NTDC priorities, impact, innovation, feasibility, and inclusivity.
  
  

• Proof of Expenditure: NTDC may request receipts or, in some cases, purchase items (e.g., travel) on behalf of applicants.
  
  

👉 For full details, please see the Technician Development Fund Policy Document.

TDF Funding Calendar

Round 1: Mobility Funding

Opens: October 2025

Closes: December 2025

Application windows:

• 1st – 8th Oct 2025

• 10th – 17th Nov 2025

• 8th – 15th Dec 2025

Previous funding examples