About the sandpit
We are seeking expressions of interest from current UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) award holders to attend a two-day in-person sandpit in Manchester on 23 to 24 June 2026. The sandpit will bring together experts from social science data services, data collections, trusted research environments and teams with expertise in artificial intelligence supported research. The focus will be to co-produce high level ideas on AI-supported social science using UKRI-funded data, and to explore the key challenges in this area.
The overall aim of this sandpit is to develop ideas for research projects that deliver impactful and innovative AI-supported social science using data from the specific Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and UKRI data infrastructures identified below. More widely, the sandpit will provide insights on the opportunity for and challenges with AI-supported social science using data from UKRI data infrastructure, including where AI can add value over and above more traditional analytical approaches.
For the purposes of this opportunity, AI is understood as a set of computational methods that learn from data to identify patterns, generate predictions or produce new outputs. This includes, but is not limited to, techniques such as machine learning, natural language processing and other data driven modelling approaches.
AI-supported research refers to social science research that incorporates these methods to enhance analytical capability. This may involve working with complex or large datasets, identifying relationships that are difficult to detect using traditional methods or increasing the efficiency and scalability of analytical processes.
Scope of the sandpit
Given the challenges faced (such as disclosure control, information governance, compute capacity, data formats, licensing restrictions), the scope of this sandpit and opportunity is focused on supporting research that uses major social science data services and collections. Representatives of data infrastructures will be available to discuss these challenges and to share perspectives that may guide the development of potential project ideas involving their data assets.
The following data infrastructures will be present at the sandpit.
ESRC surveys
ESRC is the largest public funder of social and economic research data in the UK. These infrastructures include a broad range of themes and cover collection, creation, curation and delivery across a number of data collection and data service infrastructures.
The following data collections will be represented at the sandpit and are accessed through the UK Data Service:
The UK Data Service will also be represented at the sandpit.
Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK)
ADR UK is made up of four national partnerships (ADR England, ADR Northern Ireland, ADR Scotland and ADR Wales), and the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which ensures data provided by UK government bodies is accessed by researchers in a safe and secure form with minimal risk to data holders or the public.
ADR Wales will be represented at the sandpit to discuss usage of synthetic data.
Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK)
SDR UK is the UK’s national programme for smart data research and is delivered with a family of data services based at leading UK universities and research organisations. The data services acquire, steward and curate smart datasets for research and analysis.
The following SDR UK data services will be represented at the sandpit:
Sandpit process
The sandpit will be facilitated by DARE UK, who will be supported by a team of mentors. The mentors and a small number of stakeholders, including representatives of the available data infrastructures will attend the sandpit to assist participants in defining and exploring challenges in this area.
Sandpit participants will:
- draw upon perspectives from relevant stakeholders and the expertise brought by the participants to share understandings of the opportunities for AI-supported social science using data from UKRI data infrastructures
- take part in sessions focused on addressing the challenges for AI-supported social science
- identify themes and potential project avenues using creative thinking techniques to develop and capture ideas that could form the basis for highly innovative research project proposals
- form teams and develop high level ideas, supported by peer and mentor advice and guidance
Attendance at the sandpit does not guarantee UKRI funding. It is our intention that this sandpit will be a valuable experience for all attendees irrespective of whether funding is secured.
Accommodation will be provided. Participants must make their own travel arrangements. Travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed.
Since this sandpit is residential and, where employers cannot help, ESRC, in line with UKRI policy, will cover the costs of any additional childcare or caring responsibilities which are deemed necessary during this period.
After the sandpit
Sandpit attendees will be invited to submit applications to an invite-only funding opportunity through the UKRI Funding Service. Details will be announced after the sandpit. The closing date for applications is expected to be in October 2026. Applications will be assessed by an independent panel and recommended for funding.
Applicants will have considerable flexibility to focus on any subject area or topic providing that it falls within UKRI’s social science remit.
We will fund applications that meet the following objectives:
- deliver impactful and innovative AI-supported research using data from relevant ESRC and UKRI data infrastructures
- demonstrate where AI-supported research can add value over and above more traditional analytical approaches
- provide insights on opportunities and challenges faced for AI-supported research using data from the specified ESRC and UKRI data infrastructures
Full project applications will be assessed by independent panel and recommended for funding. We will adopt a portfolio approach to select a diverse range of projects, balancing:
- innovation
- potential insight on challenges faced for AI-supported research
- potential for impact
- thematic and geographic focus
- feasibility
Duration
The duration of projects can be up to 12 months. Projects must start by 31 March 2027 and be completed by 1 April 2028.
Funding available
It is expected that around four projects will be funded, sharing up to £875,000 of total funding at 100% full economic cost (FEC). The FEC of projects will be up to £230,000. ESRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
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.
