Objectives:
- Support collaborative research between UK arts and humanities researchers and US researchers in social, behavioural, and economic sciences (NSF-SBE).
- Enable establishment or enhancement of effective working relationships across disciplines and countries.
- Provide career development opportunities for less experienced researchers through collaboration with senior researchers.
- Maximise research impact by promoting communication, dissemination, and knowledge transfer beyond academia.
Target Beneficiaries:
- UK-based researchers at eligible research organisations with postdoctoral experience or equivalent.
- US-based researchers meeting NSF-SBE eligibility, collaborating as project co-leads.
- International project co-leads from non-UK institutions can be included and funded under specific policies.
- The program excludes funding for project studentships (PhD study).
Application Process:
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the NSF-SBE UKRI template, including research summary, objectives, methodologies, outputs, and funding estimates.
- EOIs are reviewed for eligibility and scope by the lead agency (AHRC or NSF-SBE).
- Upon EOI approval, submit a full application via the UKRI Funding Service (for AHRC lead) or NSF systems (if NSF-SBE lead).
- Applications undergo expert peer review, applicant response, and panel assessment involving both AHRC and NSF-SBE.
- Assessment criteria include vision, approach, team capability, ethics, and cost justification.
- The process aims for decisions within nine months of application submission.
Key Features:
- Funding covers full economic cost (FEC) of UK-hosted project elements between £300,000 and £1.5 million; AHRC funds 80% of FEC.
- Project duration up to five years, with start at least nine months post-application.
- Costs for international project co-leads funded at 100% FEC, capped at 30% of total FEC except for certain countries.
- Encourages equality, diversity, inclusion, and flexible working arrangements.
- Emphasizes trusted research and innovation principles to ensure ethical and secure international collaboration.
- No fixed application deadline; applications accepted continuously with regular decision points.
- Applicants must comply with UKRI and NSF-SBE policies and provide letters of support from US partners.
- Supports interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations, with arts and humanities leading research questions and methods.
This funding opportunity fosters high-quality, impactful international research partnerships between UK and US researchers in arts, humanities, and social sciences, promoting innovation and career development within a robust ethical framework.
