Opportunity status: Upcoming
Funders: UK Research and Innovation, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC)
Co-funders: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST)
Funding type: Grant
Total fund: £2,000,000
Publication date: 20 October 2026
Opening date: 27 October 2026 9:00am UK time
Closing date: 24 November 2026 4:00pm UK time
Apply to attend a five-day interactive sandpit to develop novel projects that can address multi-faceted metascience questions related to research and development (R&D) funding and inform R&D policymaking.
The sandpit will take place on the 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 March 2027. The first three days will be in-person and the final two days will be online. Attendance for the full five days will be mandatory for selected participants.
To apply for the sandpit, please complete an expression of interest form.
We expect to fund up to £2 million at 80% full economic cost (FEC) for all research projects arising from the sandpit.