Organisation eligibility
Research grants are open to UK organisations normally eligible for funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) research councils, including:
- UK higher education providers
- research council institutes
- UKRI approved independent research organisations (IROs)
- public sector research establishments (PSREs)
For full details, visit Eligibility of your organisation. If you are unsure, please contact the Interdisciplinary Responsive Mode (IRM) team at ukrirm@ukri.org for advice.
Organisations not eligible to apply
The following organisations are not eligible to apply to this scheme:
- research and technology organisations unless they are listed as eligible
- non-academic organisations, such as businesses, charities or other third-sector organisations that are not UKRI approved IROs or PSREs. These organisations can contribute as project partners. For more information see ‘Collaborators’ section below
Current co-funding arrangements via international lead agency agreements with individual research councils, do not apply to this pilot funding opportunity.
UKRI will make minimal checks on eligibility at the outline submission stage of this scheme (lead organisation only). It is the responsibility of the UK lead research organisation to check eligibility of all collaborating organisations (UK and international) and the eligibility of individuals for their proposed roles. Applications submitted with ineligible applicants could be at risk of being rejected at the full stage.
Person eligibility and grant roles
You can apply as an individual or team, from a single organisation or across a number of organisations. For teams with multiple organisations involved, the organisation of the project lead should submit the application, and it will count towards that lead organisation’s allocation of applications that they are permitted to submit (see the ‘What we are looking for’ section for further details).
UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.
For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual and guidance on role eligibility, responsibilities and costings. For specific eligibility rules for this scheme, refer to the CRCRM round 2 – Guidance for applicants and research organisations document.
You may be involved in any number of applications provided you have the capacity to meet these commitments. You may be the project lead on only one application to this round of the pilot scheme.
International applicants
This funding opportunity is primarily to support interdisciplinary ideas emerging from the UK research community, but in specific circumstances we will allow international project co-leads.
A project co-lead (international) is an individual employed by a research organisation (RO) in an overseas country, who would otherwise fit the normal definition for a project co-lead. That is, they are a member of the project leadership and management team. However, a project co-lead (international) cannot take over the leadership of a project as they do not meet the residency criteria for a project lead.
To be a project co-lead (international):
- you would be expected to make a significant intellectual contribution to the design and conduct of the project
- your contribution and added value to the research collaboration should be clearly explained and justified in the application
The international RO would be expected to meet the general equivalent requirements for being eligible to receive UKRI funding taking into account the national context of the international RO. This means the international RO should meet the relevant equivalent criteria specified in the guidance applicable for:
- registered Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
- research institutes receiving long term investments through relevant national funders
- independent research organisations with existing in-house capacity to carry out and lead research, including but not limited to approved charitable or non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
Further information on the eligibility criteria for international research organisations is provided in the CRCRM round 2 – Guidance for applicants and research organisations document and in the UKRI project co-lead (international) policy and guidance.
The UK research organisation which hosts the project lead will be responsible for the due diligence and confirming that the international research organisation and project co-lead meets the eligibility criteria.
Collaborators
Project partners
A project partner is defined as a third-party person or organisation (including international or non-academic collaborations) who provides specific contributions to the team and project.
Organisations that are applicants on the project, including any named applicants’ organisations, cannot also be a project partner. UKRI Head Office Staff acting in their capacity as a UKRI employee are not eligible to be project partners.
Project partners are expected to provide contributions to the delivery of the project, either in cash or in kind, and should not therefore be seeking to claim funds from UKRI. However, where there are specific circumstances where project partners require funding for minor directly incurred costs such as travel and subsistence. These costs will need to be outlined and fully justified in your full application and will be subject to peer review.
Project subcontractor
A project subcontractor is defined as a third-party individual who is not employed as staff on the grant, who is subcontracted by a participating organisation to deliver a specific piece of work. Subcontractors will be allowed in line with UKRI terms and conditions for research grants.
Collaborators entitlement to project outputs and intellectual property
Under UKRI terms and conditions for research grants you must ensure at all times that the grant funding awarded to you is compliant with the Subsidy Control Act 2022. Ensure you have obtained prior agreement from collaborators that, should you be offered funding, they will support your project. Details of how to be compliant can be found in the CRCRM round 2 – Guidance for applicants and research organisations document.
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:
- career breaks
- support for people with caring responsibilities
- flexible working
- alternative working patterns
Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI.
