Flexible Grants for Small Groups (FG12)

Flexible Grants for Small Groups (FG12) is sponsored by Independent Social Research Foundation (ISRF). Provides flexible support for small research groups exploring original research ideas addressing real-world social problems.

ISRF Flexible Grants for Small Groups (FG12) | Independent Social Research Foundation Flexible Grants for Small Groups (FG12) The Independent Social Research Foundation wishes to support independent-minded researchers to explore and present original research ideas which take new approaches, and suggest new solutions, to real world social problems. Such work would be unlikely to be funded by existing funding bodies.

The Foundation intends to award on a competitive basis, to candidates of sufficient merit, a number of grants providing flexible support (for instance: relief from teaching and/or administration, research and travel expenses, fieldwork and practical work) for a period of (up to) one year for the activities of a small research group .

Scholars from within Europe† are eligible to apply as Principal Investigator(s) to lead a small group of 2-10 scholars (which may include graduate students). Applicants should hold a PhD and will normally have a permanent appointment at an institution of higher education and research. Applications may be made by those whose sole or principal post is a part-time equivalent.

Independent scholars with an academic affiliation may also apply. The awards are intended as providing flexible support (for instance: relief from teaching &/or administration, research and travel expenses, fieldwork and practical work) for a period of (up to) one year, for the activities of the research group. Stipends are not provided.

† There is no limitation on nationality – however, we are unable to consider applications from those whose nominated home institution is not within Europe. We will accept applications for books written in languages other than English.

Innovative research which crosses established disciplinary boundaries and critically challenges incumbent theories and approaches, so as to address afresh empirical problems with no currently adequate theory or investigative methodology. Innovation may also come from controversial theoretical approaches motivated by critical challenge of incumbent theories.

Projects ranging across the breadth of the social scientific disciplines and interdisciplinary research fields are welcome, and relevant applications from scholars working within the humanities are also encouraged.

The awards are intended as enabling one or more short periods of face-to-face joint group work such as workshops, working-in-pairs, or short academic visits over a period of up to one year, and should commence no later than end of June 2027. The amount of an award depends on the nature of the work proposed and individual circumstances – the ISRF expects applications for grants up to a maximum of €8,700 (or GBP equivalent).

† † PLEASE NOTE: Applicants based in the UK must apply in GBP (£), up to the limit of £7,500. All other applicants must apply in EUR (€), up to the limit of €8,700. These amounts are fixed, and will not be adjusted in the event of GBP/EUR currency fluctuations.

The ISRF reserves the right to extend the deadline for the competition. A short final report will be required. † Award holders may be invited to present their findings in person to the Foundation’s academic representatives.

ISRF’s support to be acknowledged in all public presentation of research. Full Terms & Conditions governing awards will be provided to successful applicants in their formal offer, based on the draft general terms and conditions available on the ISRF website. Formal acceptance of the award must be completed by the end of December 2026.

† The ISRF does not require a lengthy report on your work, although reflections and comments are welcome as an addendum/appendix; for our records we require a short (no more than 500 words) report on the main features of your work: a short recap/outline of research aims and work plan; changes in research plans with reasons; new or surprising findings or results; what was achieved and how; outputs (presentations, publications etc); lessons learned; collaborations, partnerships, networks that have resulted; further plans/projects that arise from research.

The competition is open to individual researchers who wish to bring together and to cooperate with others (to be named in the proposal), on a specific project: this may be at the pilot stage. There will normally be one principal applicant but joint applications by two or more colleagues are acceptable.

In such cases, the application should be submitted by one of the PI’s, and the other(s) should be clearly labelled as co-PI(s) when details of collaborators are entered in the application form. CVs for all PIs must be submitted. Applications to Other Funding Bodies Applicants may apply without prejudice to other funding bodies.

If applications for identical projects were successful it would be expected that only one award (i.e. either the ISRF or another) would be accepted. If applications for either wholly or partly different projects are successful there should be no duplication in the budget headings funded by the ISRF and another body. All awards are conditional upon acceptance of our Standard Award Terms & Cond itions .

All applicants will be expected to provide the following details as part of their proposal: An Abstract of the research’s aims, methods, contribution to knowledge, and value in realising the goals of ISRF (300 words) The Research Focus: The project’s topic, problem, or question (250 words) Background: Established theses or paradigms in the field and their limitations in relation to the Research Focus (250 words) Project Thesis: In contrast to established theses, your hypotheses or innovative claims that the research will enable you to support (250 words) Methodology: Methods and procedures your research will employ, with description of your main disciplinary technique(s), including interactions across disciplines as required (250 words) Work Plan: How your methods and procedures will be structured over the period of the award (250 words) Outcomes: Describe project contribution, dissemination, and any further steps and longer-term goals (250 words) Ethics & Access: If applicable, describe (i) how access to relevant data/participants will be secured (relating to, e.g., language skills, positionality, access restrictions) and (ii) any measures required for ethical conduct of the research, including needed regulatory compliance (300 words) The Submitted Application This will be read by academic evaluators who are social scientists but not necessarily in the applicant’s own field; applicants should bear this in mind when writing their application.

Our Assessment Procedure is set out online .

In order to be considered for the award, all applications must comprise the following: A Completed Application Form, To Include: A completed, anonymised Research Project Proposal form (2100 words total) - section headings as listed above Samples of previously awarded projects are available to view - please note, however, that the precise wording of proposal section headings may have changed: - The Evolution of Economic Power in the Age of Globalization - Crossing Visionary Boundaries - Henri Lefebvre's Writings On Rural Sociology, Ground Rent And The Politics Of Land - Layers in the Landscape An anonymised (i.e. not naming the applicant) Bibliography in support of the proposal, limited to two sides of A4 (this should be uploaded as an additional attachment) An anonymised (i.e. not naming the applicant) Budget comprising a full outline of eligible costs.

Including a list of relevant publications. Where there are co-applicants (Co-PIs), CVs for all PIs should be included. Applicants must confirm that their home institution is aware of their application, and should provide the contact details for the relevant Administrative Officer.

Applicants are expected to submit their complete application electronically via the online application system, in English. Completed applications must arrive – via the online application system – no later than 5:00pm (GMT) on 13th March 2026. A candidate may submit only one application.

Applicants can expect to be informed of the result of their applications by email by the end of July 2026. Please consult the Frequently Asked Questions page before contacting Stuart Wilson at stuart. wilson@isrf.

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