ESRC React Awards (pilot): outline
The ESRC React Awards (pilot) from UK Research and Innovation fund urgent, co-produced social science research to address immediate evidence needs of UK public sector partners with rapid, actionable outputs.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: October 8, 2026 (Outline application closing date — final submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: £50,000–£100,000 per project (ESRC funds 80% FEC); projects last up to 6 months; total fund £1.5M.
Summary: Rapid funding for urgent, co-produced social science research to meet immediate needs of UK public sector partners, with outputs delivered within six months.
Key Information: Requires a confirmed UK public sector partner with actionable plans; applications assessed on a rolling basis until deadline.
Description
This opportunity supports time-critical, high-quality social science research that addresses urgent evidence needs of UK policymakers or frontline public service practitioners. Projects must be co-produced with at least one UK public sector organisation that has clear, immediate plans to act on the research findings. The scheme is designed for applicant-led, impactful projects that can deliver outputs within six months, with a focus on addressing emergent societal or economic challenges that cannot be funded through standard or existing ESRC/UKRI routes. This pilot aims to facilitate swift decision-making and project initiation, ensuring research is timely, relevant, and actionable for public sector partners.
