Funding for collaborative research projects that examine the development and utilisation of digital technology in social care.
This call offers researchers considerable flexibility to focus on any subject area or topic providing that it falls within the remits of the Research Programme for Social Care and the Technology-Enabled Social Care Highlight Notice.
‘Digital technology’ can encompass a variety of subjects including:
- use of the internet
- technology enabled care
- social media
- digital care applications
- consumer or mainstream technology
- cyber-security
- machine learning
- artificial intelligence
The research scope is broad, and therefore includes identification of barriers to the take up and utilisation of digital technology, AI and devices, and strategies to address these barriers. It also includes ways to reduce inequalities in care access using digital technologies, as well as studies looking at AI and devices in new / little used settings.
The call is open to both existing and new digital technologies, AI and devices, but research proposals into ambitious and novel uses of technology and particularly encouraged. This includes addressing new concepts and techniques and those with the potential for bringing significant improvement to the lives of people with social care needs and/or economic impact, as well as developmental work potentially leading to such research.
Applications can include both exploratory and more experiential studies.
Collaborations with a range of organisations including small or medium enterprises (SMEs) are also encouraged.
Ideas from new researchers (including those with limited research experience such as early career researchers) are welcome, but they must be supported by an experienced, strong, and multi-disciplinary team.
The amount awarded and the length of the funding period depends on the nature of the proposed work.
Stage one deadline: 30 October 2024
Further details on scope, requirements and themes of interest can be found on the call webpage.
A virtual Q&A webinar for this call will take place on Tuesday 23 July from 10am to 11am (register via Eventbrite).