The Expression of Interest: Sandpit: AI Supported Research Using UKRI Social Science Data is a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) that funds innovative AI-supported social science projects using UKRI data. Selected participants attend a two-day in-person sandpit event in Manchester on June 23-24, 2026, where approximately 40 experts co-create high-level research proposals.

Following the sandpit, participants are invited to submit full applications for projects of up to £230,000 FEC, with UKRI funding 80% of FEC. Eligible applicants are UK-based researchers at eligible UK research organisations; full sandpit participation is required before submitting a funding application. Total available funding is £875,000.

The expression of interest deadline is May 12, 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

Expression of interest: sandpit: AI supported research using UKRI social science data – UKRI Funding opportunity: Expression of interest: sandpit: AI supported research using UKRI social science data Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) , UK Research and Innovation 23 March 2026 9:00am UK time 12 May 2026 4:00pm UK time Last updated: 30 March 2026 - see all updates Submit an expression of interest to attend a two‑day in‑person sandpit in Manchester on 23 to 24 June 2026 to develop high-level ideas on AI‑supported social science using UKRI data.

The sandpit will bring together around 40 experts to co‑create proposals to UKRI. After the sandpit, participants will be invited to submit applications for projects of up to £230,000 FEC. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Full participation in the sandpit is required to be eligible to apply for funding. You must complete an expression of interest to apply to attend the sandpit.

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility.

Check if your organisation is eligible Who is not eligible to apply Representatives of the following are participating as mentors and data owners so are not eligible to submit expressions of interest or lead future applications in the associated funding opportunity: ESRC Centre for Longitudinal Studies ADR UK and SDR UK data services Applicants from non-UK organisations are not eligible to submit an expression of interest.

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 UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process. We are seeking expressions of interest 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.

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 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: ESRC Centre for Longitudinal Studies 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: Smart Energy Data Service Healthy and Sustainable Places Data Service IMAGO Data Service for Imagery Smart Data Donation Service 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. 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: potential insight on challenges faced for AI-supported research thematic and geographic focus The duration of projects can be up to 12 months. Projects must start by 31 March 2027 and be completed by 1 April 2028. 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.

You must submit an expression of interest as an individual to be considered for participation in the sandpit. Participants will co-develop projects through the sandpit process, supported by expert mentors and feedback from other sandpit participants. The closing date is 12 May 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

Your expression of interest will be used to assess fit to the eligibility criteria and the suitability of your expertise, skills and experience to participate in the sandpit. No further documentation will be accepted. Incomplete surveys will be rejected.

Please be advised that attendance in-person for the entire sandpit is mandatory. To support participation in the sandpit, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will cover the costs of accommodation, subsistence, and UK-based travel to the in-person days in line with UKRI policy. Please note that travel from international locations will not be covered.

Applicants are required to inform their university research office, in advance of submitting the expression of interest form, that they are going to apply to attend the sandpit. If participants are part of a successful project, their institutions will be required to fund 20% of the full economic project costs (as standard).

How we will assess your application Assessment of expressions of interest to attend the sandpit We will use the following selection criteria for shortlisting candidates based solely on the information provided in the expressions of interest : required eligibility for this opportunity.

This includes meeting UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) organisational eligibility requirements and being able to attend all mandatory sandpit sessions in full relevant expertise, experience and accreditation, including evidence of subject‑relevant knowledge, methodological or technical skills appropriate to the aims of the sandpit, and experience working in interdisciplinary, collaborative, or problem‑focused environments focus of research interest, including clarity of the applicant’s research interests and how these align with the overarching theme and objectives of the sandpit.

We will consider how the applicant’s perspective can contribute to the diversity of ideas within the group Within the pool of applicants selected based on these assessment criteria, we will endeavour to ensure a balance of different areas of research interest, disciplines, geographic distribution and landscape diversity, and organisational diversity. We aim to invite shortlisted candidates to attend the sandpit in early June 2026.

Because of the large number of applications expected, we will not be able to give individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants. For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact datainfrastructure@esrc. ukri.

org EIA for the opportunity (PDF, 240KB) 'Smart Data Donation Service' added to the list of SDR UK data services that will be represented at the sandpit. Added under the 'Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK)' heading in the 'What we're looking for' section. Timeline updated to say 31 March 2027 is the Latest project start date.

'Assessment of expressions of interest to attend the sandpit' section updated in 'How we will assess your application' This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .