In 2023, all research councils will transition from the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system to the Funding Service. This means that all applicants, grant holders, research support staff, reviewers and panel members must transition to using the new Funding Service.
The Simpler and Better Funding (SBF) programme is currently working with all councils to carry out this transition and roll out opportunities on the new service.
This process will affect opportunities for different councils in different ways. We are dedicated to an equitable and robust application process. We will continue to support researchers and research organisations, providing them with the information they need to plan for the transition to the Funding Service.
When transitioning opportunities, councils will uphold the commitments laid out in their strategic delivery plans and seek to minimise disruption for applicants. This includes their commitment to providing the research community with increased forward notice for opportunities, which remain open for longer periods of time.
Find out more about the SBF programme and the new Funding Service.
Always open opportunities
Some UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) responsive mode opportunities are open-ended, without a closing date for applications. These opportunities will need to close on the Je-S system and reopen on the new Funding Service in a planned transition during the first half of 2023. Closing dates will be advertised at least eight weeks in advance.
Councils that run open responsive mode opportunities (Art and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)) are planning how best to approach this transition to minimise disruption to users.
When an opportunity closes on Je-S and reopens on the Funding Service it will have revised application questions and assessment criteria. Any application will need to answer these revised questions.
Therefore, when we close an opportunity on Je-S, we will not transfer any applications which are incomplete. This means that if you have not submitted your application in Je-S before the opportunity has closed we will need you to make fresh submissions on the Funding Service.
Once the opportunity closes in Je-S you will no longer be able to submit applications on Je-S; however, you will be able to see or download your draft applications if you wish.
Responsive mode opportunities that have closing dates
Other councils (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)) run their opportunities (including responsive mode) with application deadlines. Therefore these councils do not have to consider transitioning open responsive mode opportunities.
UKRI cross research council responsive mode pilot
The UKRI cross research council responsive mode pilot has recently been announced.
This pilot opportunity will support breakthrough or disruptive interdisciplinary ideas not routinely funded through existing UKRI responsive mode schemes and is a new and distinct opportunity from those described above. The outline stage for the first round of this opportunity will use Je-S and we expect the full stage to use the Funding Service.
Timelines
The Funding Service is being developed in an iterative way, which means new functionality and features will be introduced and refined over the course of 2023 and beyond.
Councils are committed to giving researchers and research organisations the information they need to plan in good time for the transition to the Funding Service, including timelines for closing opportunities in Je-S and reopening them on the Funding Service.