Apply for funding to support researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project to accelerate their trajectory as independent researchers, to unlock their potential, build leadership and convenor experience.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding.
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £300,000. AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
Funding for projects can be up to five years in duration.
This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility.
Check if your organisation is eligible.
Check whether your proposed research is within the subject remit of AHRC.
This funding opportunity is open to applicants who meet the individual eligibility criteria.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) acknowledges and supports different career paths within the research and innovation community.
You do not need to hold an academic, research or teaching post to apply. Applications are welcomed from those working, for example, as archivists, curators, librarians, technicians and practitioners.
Eligibility is determined on the basis of funding history at point of submitting your application.
You are required to self-define your eligibility based on the below criteria and include a justification in your application. We will not provide specific advice on eligibility for this scheme, beyond the standard UKRI eligibility rules. Expert reviewers will consider eligibility as part of their assessment of fit to scheme and you have the right to reply to any commentary in your applicant response.
You cannot be a current or former project lead on AHRC or other UKRI research grants or fellowship grants at point of application, except:
You cannot be a current or former project lead on research grants or fellowship grants from any other funder, with the exception of awards that reasonably meet the aims of the above list.
You may hold a current or previous award from AHRC, UKRI or any other funder that falls outside the scope of a research grant or fellowship grant, for example, travel grant, public engagement grant, skills training grant.
Please note this eligibility criteria does not apply for co-leads or mentors.
We do not support project studentships (funding PhD study) within this funding opportunity.
As AHRC is a lead funder for this funding opportunity, international researchers can apply as ‘project co-lead (international)’. You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners.
Project co-leads are permitted and encouraged for interdisciplinary applications or where a co-lead would provide specific technical expertise that is essential to the project. This can include international co-leads as per the guidance below. However, it must be clear that the project lead is responsible for leading the project. Project co-leads are permitted to have previously led or be currently leading a significant research project and are not required to meet the eligibility criteria above.
Other roles that are supported by this funding opportunity are listed in the ‘Core team’ section.
You are encouraged to include mentor support. The role of the mentor is to supervise and support the work of the project lead, answer any queries and help with any problems that may arise during the research. They will not be directly involved in running the project, their role is advisory only.
Mentors should not be included in the ‘Core team’ section of the application form, instead their role should be outlined in the ‘Applicant and team capability to deliver’ section.
We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.
Demand management is not being applied to this funding opportunity.
Catalyst awards support researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project to accelerate their trajectory as independent researchers, unlocking their potential and building leadership and convenor experience through the delivery of ambitious or complex projects.
The scheme takes a people-centred approach with funding available to support the development of researchers and their research ideas. It is flexible, and applications are welcomed from teams, networks and solo researchers.
Development is at the core of this scheme. Projects must clearly articulate how the funding will contribute to the development of all those involved through the way that the project has been designed and will be managed, with appropriate support structures in place.
Projects can be single discipline, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary. The majority of the disciplinary focus of the project must fall within the AHRC’s subject remit, see section seven of the AHRC research funding guide for our remit coverage. Practice-based and practice-led research is supported by this scheme.
Partnerships and collaboration are supported, and you should outline how this collaboration contributes to your career development and the development of any project team members. Applications should articulate how collaborative activity will be conducted, considering good practice in creating equitable partnerships. Further guidance is available in the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) good research resource hub.
The duration of this award is a maximum of five years. The project start date must be at least nine months from the point of the application submission to AHRC.
The FEC of your project can be up to £300,000
AHRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
Costs associated with project co-lead internationals (PcL(I)s) will be funded at 100% FEC but must not exceed 30% of the total FEC of the project. However, this funding cap does not apply to any PcL(I) based in a country on the OECD DAC list (excepting India and China). PcL(I)s from a country on the OECD DAC list (excepting India and China) are also eligible to claim overheads support.
Please see the UKRI project co-lead (international) policy for further details on eligibility of these costs.
Where mentoring is included for the researchers, salary costs to cover the mentor’s time can be claimed from the grant. They should be entered in the ‘Directly Incurred’ or ‘Directly Allocated Other’ categories in the ‘Resources and costs’ section.
We will not fund project studentships (funding PhD study) as part of this funding opportunity.
We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.
UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.
As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.
See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.
We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.
Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
When including images, you must:
Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:
A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:
Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.
For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.
This funding opportunity is always open, with no closing date, so there is no specific deadline for applications.
AHRC will begin processing the application as soon as it is received, ensuring that applicants receive a timely decision. We are committed to holding regular decision points throughout the year.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
AHRC as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email operations@ahrc.ukri.org
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.
There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.
This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.
AHRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on our Board and panel outcomes page.
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
Only list one individual as project lead
Please do not enter mentors in the Core team section. Instead please outline their name and contribution in the ‘Applicant and team capability to deliver’ section.
UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Word limit: 550
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
Explain how your proposed work:
Within the Vision section we also expect you to:
References may be included within this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Word limit: 2,200
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
References may be included within this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Word limit: 1,650
Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?
Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
The word limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.
Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project lead and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.
Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:
Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).
Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
References may be included within this section.
The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.
Word limit: 1,000
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:
You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.
Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:
Additionally, where relevant, you should explain support for any project partner organisations.
AHRC do not provide funding for individual items of equipment over £25,000. Please read our research funding guide for further information.
What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:
If you are collecting or using data, you should identify:
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.
You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.
If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.
To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals.
UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.
You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.
If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.
You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.
If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.
Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.
A project partner is a collaborating organisation or individual who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project, or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.
Add the following project partner details:
If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the ‘Project partners’ section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter ‘N/A’. Each letter or email you provide should:
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.
If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the ‘Project partners’ section.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Please note we do not require letters of support from host, or project co-lead(s) research organisations, as well as other UK research organisations.
Word limit: 250
Provide confirmation that you meet the eligibility requirements for the catalyst award scheme.
Provide confirmation that you meet the scheme criteria for eligibility by either:
You should refer to the AHRC catalyst awards guidance for information about previous awards status.
Word limit: 5
Please provide the primary research area of your proposal.
You must select only one of these research disciplines:
This information will be used for the purposes of processing your proposal and in the selection of appropriate assessors.
Word limit: 50
Please describe, using keywords, the research area of your application and where relevant the approach, time period or geographical area.
This will further help with the selection of appropriate assessors.
Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.
Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.
You will be asked about:
Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.
At the point of application submission, each will be checked for the following criteria:
Applications which do not meet these criteria will be rejected with feedback on why it could not proceed.
We will assess your application using the following process, noting that all elements of your application form will be shared with the assessors.
We will invite three experts to review your application independently, against the specified criteria for this funding opportunity.
Applications that receive two unsupportive scores from the first two expert reviews will be rejected before a third review is sourced and will not proceed to the applicant response stage.
A review is considered unsupportive if it is marked as “not recommended for funding” or “not suitable for funding” (score one to three). If an application receives a fundable score in the first two reviews, a third expert review will be sourced. Depending on the final score, the application will either proceed to the applicant response stage or be rejected before this stage.
Applications that receive an average review score of 4.5 or below across the three sets of reviewers’ comments will be sifted out before the applicant response stage and will also not proceed to panel. The only exception to this is if an application receives an average review score of 4.5 or below but has two out of three review scores averaging 5.5 or above (for example, two scores of 6, 6 or 6, 5). In this case, the application will proceed to panel, and the applicant will be given the opportunity to respond.
If you are invited to the applicant response stage, you will have 14 days to address the comments from the three reviewers and you may submit up to 500 words for each review
Following expert review, panel introducers will use the evidence provided by reviewers and your applicant response to moderate the quality of your application and assign it a grade. Applications will then be assigned to one of three tiers. Funding will be allocated to the applications in tier one as a priority. Applications in tier two may be recommended for funding using partial randomisation
For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions.
AHRC will make the final funding decision.
We aim to complete the assessment process within nine months of receiving your application.
Written feedback will only be provided in the form of the anonymised expert reviews and the final grade from the panel.
We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.
Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.
Generative AI may be used only for the purpose of language refinement during application assessment. When using generative AI to refine the language of a review, expert reviewers and panellists must ensure that:
Expert reviewers and panellists must also:
For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.
The assessment areas we will use are:
Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.
If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page
The helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.
For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.
For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact enquries@ahrc.urki.org
Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.
Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org
Phone: 01793 547490
Our phone lines are open:
To help us process queries more efficiently, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.
For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.
Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.
The launch of the Curiosity and Catalyst Awards schemes were supported by a webinar for prospective applicants and professional research support staff that presented an overview of the schemes, followed by an opportunity to ask questions. The webinars were recorded, and a copy can be found below.
Watch webinar recording from 8 September 2023 (YouTube)
View a transcript of the webinar from 8 September 2023
Note that this webinar is British Sign Language interpreted.
