Metascience Research Grants Rou

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service

Application Sections: Summary. Vision. Approach. Applicant and team capability. Ethics and RRI. Resources and cost justification. Data management. Facilities. TR&I. International collaboration.

Assessment Process: Eligibility check. Distributed peer review. Final funding decision by UKRI. Portfolio approach may be applied.

Co-Funders: DSIT. Coefficient Giving

Collaboration Rules: Collaboration encouraged but not mandatory.

Competitiveness: Not specified

Data Management Requirement: Must comply with UKRI research data policy. Data management plan required. Data to be archived where applicable.

Decision Risks: Applications outside scope will be rejected. Failure to complete distributed peer review leads to automatic rejection. Funding subject to portfolio balance.

Decision Timeline: Assessment expected within three months of submission.

Eligible Expenses: Costs compliant with ESRC Research Funding Guide. Resources justified under FEC rules.

Eligible Scope: Projects must fit one of three themes. Science of AI for Science. Effective design and leadership of research organisations. Scientometric approaches to research excellence and equity.

Ethics Requirement: Must comply with UKRI Framework for Research Ethics. Responsible research and innovation considerations required.

Funding Rate: 80% of full economic cost

Funding Structure: Grant funding at 80% FEC. Host institution funds remaining 20%.

Important Notes: By applying, applicant agrees to review up to 10 other proposals. Application cannot be amended after submission. International partner costs above £250,000 must relate only to international elements.

Ineligible Projects: Projects outside the three stated themes. AI projects focused on industrial application such as clinical medicine or fintech. Frontier computer science research. General AI ethics or safety research not aligned to metascience.

International Eligibility: International researchers may apply as project co lead international. International collaborators allowed.

Key Requirements: Must clearly state theme. Must participate in distributed peer review. Failure to submit required reviews results in automatic rejection. Must attend cohort events if funded.

Match Funding Requirement: No matched funding beyond standard 20% FEC contribution from host organisation.

Project Duration: 6 to 24 months

Project Partner Documentation: Project partner details required if applicable. Single PDF of letters of support required.

Publication Date: 2026-02-12 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Not specified

Total Fund Available: £6,000,000

Trusted Research Requirement: Must address Trusted Research and Innovation principles if applicable.