Research funding - Call for Expressions of Interest - James Martin 21st Century Research Foundation
Funds bold interdisciplinary research at Oxford Martin School to address major global challenges through high-risk, high-reward projects with real-world impact.
Funder: James Martin 21st Century Research Foundation
Due Dates: February 10, 2026 (Expression of Interest) | May 15, 2026 (Full Proposal)
Funding Amounts: £250,000–£1,000,000 per project | Duration: 2–5 years
Summary: Funds bold, interdisciplinary research projects with high potential for global impact, supporting innovative solutions to major 21st-century challenges through partnership with the Oxford Martin School.
Key Information: Open only to University of Oxford staff with contracts extending beyond project duration; interdisciplinary teams from multiple departments required.
Description
This opportunity supports solutions-focused, high-risk, high-reward research programmes aligned with the Oxford Martin School’s mission to address major global challenges. The School seeks adventurous projects that would not typically be fundable through standard research council or related routes. Proposals should demonstrate a clear pathway to real-world impact and are expected to foster novel interdisciplinary collaborations, especially those bridging previously unsupported fields at Oxford. In addition to funding, the School offers partnership support in interdisciplinary research, fundraising, and communications, expecting active engagement from researchers within its community. Selection is based on the scale, excellence, impact, and novelty of the proposed work.
