Changes to AHRC responsive mode funding opportunities in 2023
New and continuing opportunities
Curiosity awards
AHRC will launch a new flexible award which funds curiosity-driven research, networking activity and idea generation, which enables the development of further research opportunities and new research agendas. These awards will support teams, networks and solo researchers.
Funding available will be for projects with a total cost between £1 and £100,000.
Catalyst awards
AHRC will launch awards to support researchers without prior experience of leading a significant research project, with the aim of accelerating their trajectory as independent researchers and build leadership experience.
The awards will provide applicants with an opportunity to support their own skill development and the skill development of research staff employed on the award.
Funding available will be for projects with a total cost between £100,000 and £300,000.
Research grants (standard route)
AHRC will increase the upper funding limit from £1 million to £1.5 million (100% FEC) to support more ambitious projects and enhanced team development, as well as accommodate the increased costs of research.
Funding available will be for projects between £300,000 and £1.5 million. The lower funding limit will be increased from £50,000 to £300,000 as the new catalyst and curiosity opportunities offer support to projects below £300,000.
The three new pathways are designed to meet the changing needs of our researchers in a clear and coherent suite of responsive mode opportunities, which means that we will close some of our current opportunities.
Follow-on funding for impact and engagement
At this time this opportunity will remain unchanged, though the work achieved by the new opportunities may lead to a future review.
Opportunities closing
Research grants (early career route)
The core aims and objectives of the existing targeted early career route will transfer to and will be incorporated within the catalyst awards opportunity, offering more flexibility for sole-scholar and collaborative research.
The early career route in its current form will close to applications on 29 March 2023.
Research development and engagement fellowships
The aims and objectives of the existing standard route will be incorporated within the new catalyst awards opportunity.
The aims and objectives of the targeted early career route will be incorporated within the new curiosity awards opportunity.
In its current form, this opportunity will close to applications on 29 March 2023.
Research networking
The aims and objectives of this opportunity will be incorporated within the new curiosity awards opportunity, and in its current form will close to applications on 29 June 2023. All applications received between 1 March and 29 June 2023 will be assessed via an assessment panel rather than peer review and moderation panel.
Development of our new funding opportunities is ongoing, and we look forward to announcing further details in April on the UKRI funding finder and our website.