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.
This funding opportunity is using a two-stage application process: an initial outline application, with shortlisted applications then invited to submit a full application. The guidance below refers to the process for completing an outline application. Further details of the full application process will be sent directly to shortlisted applicants.
To apply
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page:
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
- Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
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:
- provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
- insert each new image on a new line
- use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
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:
- sentences or paragraphs of text
- tables
- excessive quantities of images
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
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:
- references are easily identifiable by the assessors
- references are formatted as appropriate to your research
- persistent identifiers are used where possible
General use of hyperlinks
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.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
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.
Deadline
This is a responsive funding opportunity. You should apply when your application is ready for submission and not wait for a closing date. Your outline application will be processed when it is submitted, and we aim to provide a decision on whether you will be invited to submit a full application within 10 working days.
We will not consider any applications received after 4:00pm UK time on 8 October 2026. You will not be able to apply after this time.
We reserve the right to close the funding opportunity early or amend the processing times in the event of factors that impact the pilot’s viability, such as excessive demand, insufficient remaining budget or other external events.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines. Given the expedited decision and award timelines, we strongly advise you to engage with your research office at the earliest stage.
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.
Personal data
Processing personal data
ESRC, 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.
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member needs to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email react@esrc.ukri.org
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
- individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
- declaration of interest
- additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
- conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
- the application is an invited resubmission
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.
Institutional matched funding
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.
Publication of outcomes
ESRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of full applications submitted to this funding opportunity at ESRC funding decisions.
If your full application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word limit: 250
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We may 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:
- opinion-formers
- policymakers
- the public
- the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
- context
- the partner need and the challenge the project addresses
- aims and objectives
- applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
Only list one individual as project lead.
Collaborators will be expected to be listed as project partners (meaning not part of the core team), unless they are eligible to hold ESRC funding.
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
Application questions
As your outline application will be assessed by ESRC staff, who may come from different disciplinary backgrounds, you should write your responses in clear language that can be understood by non-experts.
Outline vision
Word limit: 500
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your proposed work:
- is timely given current trends, context and needs
- is scientifically rigorous and will result in robust research outputs
- will deliver impactful outputs that are needed and will be used by the partner
- meets the strategic aims of the funding opportunity
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.
You must include at least one collaborating partner from the UK public sector who needs the project outputs and has concrete, credible plans to act on the planned outputs within six months of them being produced. Partnerships must be confirmed at the time of application and fully aligned in terms of activity objectives. Details of the partnership should be included in the outline vision. If you are invited to submit a full application, a letter of support from the collaborating partner will be required.
Your response should show clear evidence and justification of timeliness, specifically that:
- the research activity is driven by the collaborating partner’s urgent and unforeseen evidence need. Urgency caused by previous inaction (for example evidence needs to be known for some time but only considered at the last minute) are not eligible as they could have been submitted to a regular grant funding opportunity. Activity that could or should have been funded through standard ESRC funding routes or other non-urgent activity that cannot be delivered within the award period is also not eligible
- that the output needs to and can be utilised by the partner(s) within six months of the grant ending
Your response should include clear evidence and justification of the strength of collaboration, including:
- that a genuine partnership is in place
- that the application has been co-produced, and that co-production extends through the duration of the award
- that the proposed outputs are needed by the partner and that they plan to use them
You must clearly specify intended outputs and how these will generate impactful outcomes for the project partner.
You must clearly articulate why the research:
- could not have been anticipated or funded through standard ESRC funding routes (for example, research grants, research centres, research institutes.)
- could not be funded through the partner organisation’s own existing resources or budget; is not the result of long-standing or intentional limitations in partner capacity or capability or where there will be insufficient capacity or capability within the partner organisation to utilise the results
- does not constitute follow-on activity from a previous or existing collaborative project partner; and cannot be supported through other more appropriate UKRI routes (for example, ESRC Impact Accelerator Accounts)
Outline approach
Word limit: 500
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
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.
You should clearly evidence how the proposed research activity can feasibly be completed and deliver impactful outputs within six months. You should demonstrate how the award can feasibly start within one month of the funding decision and explain how the proposed collaboration will begin immediately from the start of an award.
Outline applicant and team capability to deliver
Word limit: 500
How will the application team deliver the proposed research programme?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:
- relevant research experience and skills to develop and deliver the proposed research programme
- planned to identify and embed additional expertise where gaps in the team exist
The core leadership team should consist of the project lead and the project co-leads identified on the outline application. There will be scope to expand this team and include new collaborators on the full application and you will be able to add further detail.
Showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work.
The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.
Outline costs
What are the expected costs of the proposed work?
Provide the approximate total values in GBP (£) for the expected directly incurred, directly allocated, indirect costs and exceptions. View the guidance on the costs you can apply for.
