Demand management
We do not anticipate that demand management will be applied to this funding opportunity. However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity.
Aim
Tackling important and complex challenges requires ambition, scale and collaboration. Challenge awards bring together world-leading expertise in programmes of activity that address defined issues, knowledge gaps and unmet needs that significantly limit scientific progress or affect society and the economy. These innovative programmes will meaningfully strengthen and accelerate collaborations within and beyond the social science ecosystem, enhance national capability and generate new insights and solutions that contribute to a more prosperous, resilient and sustainable future.
Scope
Challenge awards support ambitious programmes of research, innovation or infrastructure that bring people, expertise and ideas together at scale. This includes mobilising collaborations between researchers from across disciplinary and methodological boundaries, across national borders, and between academic and non-academic partners to enhance the relevance, reach and impact of the project.
Challenge awards must address an evidenced knowledge gap, either by pushing the boundaries of social science to tackle significant research challenges, responding to societal or economic challenges or bringing both together to generate new knowledge and drive impact. The proposed activity must address a need that is not being tackled elsewhere and deliver your objectives within the award timeframe.
We welcome ambitious applications across the full funding range and duration available. You have the freedom to propose the approach that best achieves your aims and are encouraged to think beyond established project models. This could include, but is not limited to, a research centre or other programme, novel use or creation of a data resource or infrastructure, a new network with a flexible funding pot, a mix of approaches or another innovative mechanism.
We expect to support investments of varying scales, including those with budgets at the lower end of the funding range. What defines a Challenge award is not the form it takes, or the level of funding required but its ambition to mobilise collaborations at scale to achieve substantial progress against a major scientific, societal or economic challenge.
Success will require experienced leadership, strong governance and management, and a willingness to adapt approaches where needed to achieve the award’s objectives. You must demonstrate robust strategies for knowledge exchange and impact, identifying appropriate beneficiaries, users and audiences for your outputs. Engagement, collaboration and, where appropriate, co-production should be embedded from the outset and integrated throughout the project to maximise its value, reach and influence across research, policy, practice or wider society.
Challenge awards will create significant opportunities for the development of academic and non-academic staff at different career stages. You must have clear and credible plans for embedding capacity building and leadership development, including support, mentoring and skills development for those undertaking the complex management activities associated with large programmes. We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.
Challenge awards are standalone investments, and no further funding will be available through this funding opportunity beyond the award period. Where appropriate, you should demonstrate early consideration of sustainability and legacy, including how the knowledge, resources, partnerships and benefits arising from the award will continue beyond the lifetime of the investment.
Duration
The duration of this award is a maximum of 60 months.
Funding available
The FEC of your project can be between £2 million and £10 million.
ESRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
What we will fund
You have wide scope and freedom to propose the activities most suitable to meet your project’s objectives. Activities may include but are not limited to:
- larger scale research, innovation or infrastructure programmes
- flexible funding pots that enable subcontracting of further small research projects as part of the proposed programme. These must only be included where they strengthen the proposed programme
You can request up to three associated studentships. Requests exceeding this number may exceptionally be considered where necessary to deliver the capacity-building aims of the proposed programme. All requests for studentships must be fully justified.
What we will not fund
Applications cannot be accepted under this funding opportunity for:
- uninvited resubmissions of projects that have previously been submitted to UKRI. Find out more about UKRI’s resubmissions policy
- continuation of work previously funded by ESRC or other funders (applications must be standalone defined programmes of work)
- proposals seeking transition funding to help wind down or sustain an existing ESRC award while alternative funding is secured
- applications comprising a set of small, disconnected research projects
- data collection or data resource development that substantially duplicates existing data resources without a compelling justification of the additional value it would provide
- unspecified research work
- research already underway or carried out
- writing up previous research
- literature reviews
- general conference attendance not related to the proposed project
- travel for general study not related to the proposed project
- expeditions not related to the proposed project
- requests to hold conferences, workshops or seminars where these constitute the primary project component.
- preparation of books and publications where these constitute the primary project component
- preparation and production of materials such as curriculum materials and software development where these constitute the primary project component
Research ethics
We require that the research we support is designed and conducted in such a way that it meets ethical principles and is subject to proper professional and institutional oversight in terms of research governance. We have agreed a Framework for Research Ethics that all submitted proposals must comply with. Read further details about the Framework for Research Ethics and guidance on compliance.
ESRC data infrastructure
We support a range of data infrastructure. You must carefully consider how your project can use, build on or contribute to existing data resources and infrastructures, where appropriate. See Facilities and resources for information on finding and using ESRC datasets which are available across the UK.
Data requirements
We recognise the importance of data quality and provenance. Data generated, collected or acquired by ESRC-funded research must be well-managed by the grant holder to enable their data to be exploited to the maximum potential for further research. See our research data policy for details and further information on data requirements. The requirements of the research data policy are a condition of ESRC research funding.
Where relevant, details on data management and sharing should be provided in the ‘Data management’ section. See the importance of managing and sharing data and content for inclusion in a data management plan on the UK Data Service (UKDS) website for further guidance. We expect you to provide a summary of the points provided. The UKDS (email: datasharing@ukdataservice.ac.uk) will be pleased to advise you on the availability of data within the academic community and provide advice on data deposit requirements.
Equitable partnership principles
When undertaking research and innovation activities outside the UK, you must recognise and address the possible impact of contextual, societal and cultural differences on the ethical conduct of those activities.
Researchers should also follow the principles of equitable partnerships to address inherent power imbalances when working with partners in resource-poor settings.
Applying the principles will encourage equitable access, especially in low and middle-income countries, while maintaining incentives for innovation. You should consider the principles from the start of the research and development cycle.
Read UKRI’s guidance on research in a global setting.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
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.
