The ESRC provides a range of funding opportunities, from smaller awards that support early career researchers to larger awards for established individual researchers and teams.
Applicant-led funding supports any topic that falls with ESRC’s remit via multiple schemes that are always open, meaning researchers can apply anytime with no submission deadlines. These include:
A further five opportunities are being launched in a phased approach to refreshing the applicant-led mode in line with the following key changes:
- more outcome-focused funding opportunities
- more strategic management and curation of our applicant-led portfolio
- greater support for novelty, disruption and responsible risk taking
- faster funding for the best ideas
Two pilots have already launched, and detailed pre-call announcements for the remaining opportunities are expected from September 2026.
The new opportunities are as follows:
React
React offers a fast route to fund projects that help address time-critical public-sector challenges. With rolling decisions and short-term support, it is designed to make a practical difference within six months.
- launched spring 2026
- six-month pilot awards
- award range £50,000 to £100,000
Connect
Connect provides funding to test new or high-risk ideas and build collaborations in emerging areas. It helps researchers from different disciplines come together early, explore what is possible, and lay the foundations for future groundbreaking research.
- launched spring 2026
- six-month pilot awards
- award range £50,000 to £150,000
Grow
Grow helps researchers build the skills, experience and confidence to take the next step in their career or move into a new area. It supports early career development and bold career pivots that can open up fresh directions for social science.
- launching autumn 2026
- 18-month to five-year awards
- award value £100,000 to £500,000
Explore
Explore backs individuals or small teams to advance knowledge with innovative and disruptive ideas. It gives researchers the freedom to use the approach that best achieves their aims, whether that means a research project, data initiative, or another route to push disciplinary, methodological or conceptual boundaries.
- launching autumn 2026
- up to five-year awards
- award value £300,000 to £2 million
Challenge
Challenge enables collaborations that tackle complex economic, societal or scientific problems that need work at scale. It supports ambitious programmes of research, innovation and infrastructure that bring people, expertise and ideas together to advance knowledge and improve lives.
- launching early 2027
- up to five-year awards
- award value £2 million to £10 million