ESRC responsive mode grant is sponsored by Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (part of UK Research and Innovation). This is a flexible grant opportunity for researcher-driven projects within ESRC's remit.

ESRC responsive mode: research grants round two – UKRI Funding opportunity: ESRC responsive mode: research grants round two Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Award range: £350,000 - £1,000,000 29 September 2023 9:00am UK time Last updated: 6 October 2025 - see all updates This opportunity funds researcher-driven basic, applied, and strategic research from any disciplines and on any topics in ESRC’s remit.

This includes standard research projects, methodological development, large-scale surveys or other infrastructures. Proposals can draw from the wider sciences, as long as the social sciences are more than 50% of the research focus and effort. Applications are via the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service and will run as consecutive rounds with closing dates.

The full economic cost of your project can range from £350,000 to £1 million. ESRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost. Before applying for funding, check the Eligibility of your organisation .

For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual . The project lead for this funding opportunity can be based at any organisation eligible for ESRC funding throughout the duration of the grant. You can be at any stage of your academic career; but the project team must have a level of skills, knowledge and experience that is appropriate to the proposed project.

Applications may be submitted jointly by more than one applicant. In such cases, one person must be regarded as the project lead taking the lead responsibility for the conduct of the project and the observance of the terms and conditions. Correspondence regarding the proposal and grant will be addressed to the project lead only and, in the case of any offer letter, to their research office.

Additional applicants making a significant contribution to the conduct of the project should be identified as project co-leads. See the ESRC research funding guide for further information on costs that can be included on ESRC grants. Project leads from non-UK organisations are not eligible to apply for funding for this opportunity.

Project co-leads based in non-UK research organisations can be included in research grant applications. Read project co-lead (international) policy guidance for details of eligible organisations and costs. Business, third sector or government body project co-leads Business, third sector or government body project co-leads based in the UK can also be included on research grant proposals as a project co-lead.

Read Including project co-leads from business, third sector or government bodies for details of eligible organisations and costs. We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI. Find out more about ESRC’s resubmissions policy .

Equality, diversity and inclusion 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: support for people with caring responsibilities alternative working patterns Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI . Complete and submit the remit query form , if you are unsure whether your proposed research falls within the remit of ESRC. This flexible opportunity funds basic, applied and strategic research from any disciplines and on any topics within ESRC’s remit.

Ambitious and novel proposals addressing new concepts and techniques are encouraged, as are those with the potential for significant scientific or societal and economic impact. There are no thematic or methodological priorities; we will fund the highest quality proposals received, regardless of focus or approach. Proposals can draw from the wider sciences, as long as the social sciences are more than 50% of the focus and effort.

ESRC will work with other research councils to ensure that applications close to remit boundaries are assessed by the most appropriate lead council. For a full list of ESRC disciplines , or if you are unsure whether your project is suitable for ESRC funding, please check the eligibility of your proposal . The duration of this award is up to five years (60 months).

The FEC of your project can range from £350,000 to £1 million. ESRC will fund 80% of the FEC.

standard research projects methodological development large-scale surveys or other infrastructures (for example, linguistic corpora or the classification, cataloguing and compilation of information which would be of benefit to social science researchers and a possible wider audience) Applications cannot be accepted under this funding opportunity solely for: unspecified research work research already carried out writing up previous research general conference attendance, not related to this project requests to hold conferences, workshops or seminars where these constitute the primary project component.

preparation of books and publications preparation and production of materials such as curriculum materials and software development where these constitute the primary project component Associated studentships cannot be funded under this funding opportunity. There is currently a highlight notice in operation for this funding opportunity.

This means in addition to activity from any disciplines and on any topics in ESRC’s remit, we particularly welcome applications in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) for social science, as outlined below. The purpose of the highlight notice is purely to stimulate applications in a particular area.

Applications submitted under the highlight notice will be assessed in the same way as (and alongside) other applications submitted to this funding opportunity using the standard responsive mode assessment criteria. There is no additional or ring-fenced funding for highlight applications, and applicants are not required to identify their application as being in the area of the highlight notice.

AI technologies can provide solutions to many challenges that we face, from detecting fraud to tackling misinformation and diagnosing illness. Advances in AI are opening new research frontiers in economics and social science.

The rapid expansion in tasks that can be performed by machine-learning is enhancing capability for analysis of vast quantities of data, including new forms of data, yielding new insights about society, behaviour and the economy. ESRC invites applications under this highlight notice which focus on the innovative use of AI-powered research tools to address a real-world social or economic issue.

Specifically, we welcome applications which harness cutting-edge developments in areas such as deep learning, neural networks, and generative AI to build on conventional research methods. Areas of application where ESRC has a strategic interest include: digital trace or smart data, modelling complex economic and social systems, and AI-driven evidence synthesis.

Applicants are encouraged to leverage existing research infrastructure (for example: ADR UK , Smart Data Research UK , Longitudinal Studies , Understanding Society , UK Data Service ) where relevant, to unlock the transformative potential of AI. Applicants proposing to use administrative datasets are encouraged to contact the ADR UK Strategic Hub to discuss the feasibility of their proposed approach: hub@adruk.

org ESRC is using the definition of AI set out in the UK science and technology framework : ‘machines that perform tasks normally performed by human intelligence, especially when the machines learn from data how to do those tasks’. This highlight notice was announced in April 2024. ESRC will give notice before closing this highlight notice opportunity.

Supporting skills and talent We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment . International collaboration If your application includes international applicants, project partners or collaborators, visit UKRI’s trusted research and innovation for more information on effective international collaboration.

Find out about getting funding for international collaboration . ESRC supports a range of data infrastructure. Where relevant, we encourage applicants to consider whether the use of these resources could add value to the project.

See facilities and resources for information on finding and using ESRC datasets which are available across the UK. Where relevant, details of datasets and infrastructure to be used in your project should be given in the Facilities section. ESRC recognises the importance of data quality and provenance.

Data generated 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 and sharing 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 applicants to provide a summary of the points provided.

The UKDS ( datasharing@ukdataservice. ac. uk ) will be pleased to advise applicants on the availability of data within the academic community and provide advice on data deposit requirements.

Impact, innovation and interdisciplinarity We expect applicants to consider the potential scientific, societal and economic impacts of their research . Outputs, dissemination and impact are a key part of the criteria for most peer review and assessment processes. We also encourage applications that demonstrate innovation and interdisciplinarity (research combining approaches from more than one discipline).

Knowledge exchange and collaboration We are committed to knowledge exchange and encouraging collaboration between researchers and the private, public and civil society sectors. Collaborative working benefits both the researchers and the individuals/organisations involved. Through collaboration, partners learn about each other’s expertise, share knowledge and gain an appreciation of different professional cultures.

Collaborative activity can therefore lead to a better understanding of the ways that academic research can add value and offer insights to key issues of concern for policy and practice. Knowledge exchange should not be treated as an ‘add-on’ at the end of a project but considered before the start and built into a project.

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 (LMICs), 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 .

ESRC requires 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.

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: Confirm you are the project lead.

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. Watch our research office webinars about the new Funding Service .

There is no deadline for the submission of applications to this opportunity. However, due to systems requirements a closing date will appear on the Funding Service. You should apply when your application is ready for submission and not wait for a closing date.

ESRC will continue to initiate the assessment process once an application is received, ensuring applicants receive a timely decision. ESRC will commit to holding regular decision points. As part of UKRI, we 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 . 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. As part of UKRI, we will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at What ESRC has funded If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research . 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, so make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example: the wider research community Guidance for writing a summary Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of: the challenge the project addresses potential applications and benefits List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following: project co-lead (UK) (PcL) project co-lead (international) (PcL (I)) professional enabling staff research and innovation associate Only list one individual as project lead.

Find out more about UKRI’s new grant roles . 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 of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the fields or areas has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area is timely given current trends, context, and needs impacts world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment Within the Vision section we also expect you to: consider potential beneficiaries and users of the proposed research, including the relevance of the research to these beneficiaries indicate the expected outputs; both academic and those orientated to users You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant: use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words insert each new image onto a new line provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit) files must be smaller than 8MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format 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 is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable) summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed (if applicable) will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work Within the Approach section we also expect you to: clearly describe both the framework and specific analysis methods proposed and explain the reasons for their choice.

You should particularly mention any innovation in this or how different methodologies or methods may be combined explain what steps you will take to provide opportunities for users to benefit from your research, and to ensure that your research has maximum economic and societal impact All applicants planning to generate data as part of their grant must complete the separate Data management and sharing question.

A list of references used to support your application can be added in the References question.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant: use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words insert each new image onto a new line provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit) files must be smaller than 8MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format Applicant and team capability to deliver Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have: the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community The word count for this section is 1,500 words, 1,000 words to be used for R4RI modules and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to 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. 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: contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships contributions to the wider research and innovation community contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit 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. For full details, see Eligibility as an individual .

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant: use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words insert each new image onto a new line provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit) files must be smaller than 8MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI) What are the ethical or RRI 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.

What the assessors are looking for in your response Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated: the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations how you will manage these considerations All proposals have to comply with the ESRC framework for research ethics which includes guidance for applicants and links to related web resources.

All necessary ethical approvals must be in place before the project commences, but do not need to have been secured at the time of application. If you are generating data as part of your project, you should complete the Data management and sharing question and should cover ethical considerations relating to data in your response.

If you are not generating data and have not completed the Data management and sharing question you should address any legal or ethical considerations relating to your use of data here.

Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving: genetically modified organisms You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant: use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words insert each new image onto a new line provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit) files must be smaller than 8MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format Genetic and biological risk Does your proposed research involve any genetic or biological risk?

What the assessors are looking for in your response In respect of animals, plants or microbes, are you proposing to: use genetic modification as an experimental tool, like studying gene function in a genetically modified organism release genetically modified organisms ultimately develop commercial and industrial genetically modified outcomes If yes, provide the name of any required approving body and state if approval is already in place.

If it is not, provide an indicative timeframe for obtaining the required approval. Identify the organism or organisms as a plant, animal or microbe and specify the species and which of the three categories the research relates to. Identify the genetic and biological risks resulting from the proposed research, their implications, and any mitigation you plan on taking.

Assessors will want to know you have considered the risks and their implications to justify that any identified risks do not outweigh any benefits of the proposed research. If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Research involving the use of animals Does your proposed research involve the use of vertebrate animals or other organisms covered by the Animals Scientific Procedures Act?

What the assessors are looking for in your response If you are proposing research that requires using animals, download and complete the Animals Scientific Procedures Act template (DOCX, 74KB) , which contains all the questions relating to research using vertebrate animals or other Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regulated organisms. Save it as a PDF. The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service. Conducting research with animals overseas Will any of the proposed animal research be conducted overseas?

What the assessors are looking for in your response If you are proposing to conduct overseas research, it must be conducted in accordance with welfare standards consistent with those in the UK, as in Responsibility in the use of animals in bioscience research, page 14 . Ensure all named applicants in the UK and overseas are aware of this requirement.

Provide a statement to confirm that: all named applicants are aware of the requirements and have agreed to abide by them this overseas research will be conducted in accordance with welfare standards consistent with the principles of UK legislation the expectation set out in Responsibility in the use of animals in bioscience research will be applied and maintained appropriate national and institutional approvals are in place.

Overseas studies proposing to use non-human primates, cats, dogs, equines or pigs will be assessed during NC3Rs review of research applications. Provide the required information by completing the template from the question ‘Research involving the use of animals’.

For studies involving other species, select, download, and complete the relevant Word checklist or checklists from this list: Additional questions on the use of rodents overseas (DOCX, 49. 1KB) Additional questions on the use of rabbits overseas (DOCX, 49. 2KB) Additional questions on the use of sheep overseas (DOCX, 50.

9KB) Additional questions on the use of goats overseas (DOCX, 47. 3KB) Additional questions on the use of pigs overseas (DOCX, 51. 4KB) Additional questions on the use of cattle overseas (DOCX, 57.

0KB) Additional questions on the use of Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis overseas (DOCX, 57. 3KB) Save as a PDF. If you use more than one checklist, save it as a single PDF.

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service. Research involving human tissues or biological samples Does your proposed research involve the use of human tissues, or biological samples?

What the assessors are looking for in your response If you are proposing work that involves human tissues or biological samples, provide the name of any required approving body and whether approval is already in place. Justify the use of human tissue or biological samples specifying the nature and quantity of the material to be used and its source.

If this does not apply to your proposed work, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service. Resources and cost justification What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular: significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences) any equipment that will cost more than £25,000 any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities all facilities and infrastructure costs, including storage or sharing of data all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’ 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: are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes maximise potential outcomes and impacts For detailed guidance on eligible costs please see the ESRC Research Funding Guide .

Primary discipline classification Enter the primary discipline for this project What the assessors are looking for in your response Select one primary area of research from the list of social disciplines below and enter into the text field: management and business studies political science and international studies science and technology studies tools, technologies and methods This information is used to determine eligibility for ESRC funding and to assist in the selection of appropriate reviewers.

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 who will have an integral role in the proposed research.

This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of 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: the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable) the project partner contact name and email address the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value 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. Project partners letters or emails of support Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the Project partner section (if applicable).

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: confirm the partner’s commitment to the project clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them describe any additional value that they bring to the project be no more than one A4 page in length Save letters or emails of support from each partner in a single PDF no bigger than 8MB.

Unless specially requested, please do not include any sensitive personal data within the attachment. For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘Project partner’. If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected.

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 contributions template.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made. Do not provide letters of support from host and project co-leads’ research organisations. Data management and sharing How will you manage and share data generated through the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Demonstrate that you have designed your proposed work so that you can: appropriately manage and share data in accordance with ESRC’s research data policy and ESRC framework for research ethics (if applicable) Within the ‘Data management and sharing’ section we also expect you to: plan for the research through the life cycle of the award until data is accepted for archiving by the UK Data Service (UKDS) or a responsible data repository demonstrate compliance with ESRC’s research data policy and ESRC framework for research ethics .

This should include confirmation that existing datasets have been reviewed and why currently available datasets are inadequate for the proposed research cover any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data, including consent, confidentiality,