Design Generators

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service

Application Sections: Summary, vision, approach, applicant and team capability to deliver, ethics and responsible research and innovation, research involving human participation, resources and cost justification, project partners and data management and sharing.

Assessment Process: Applications are assessed by expert reviewers and an assessment panel which ranks proposals and recommends projects for funding.

Co-Funders: Not specified

Collaboration Rules: Projects must include a non-academic partner contributing to the project and supporting delivery of impact.

Competitiveness: Not specified

Consortium Requirements: Each project must involve a non-academic partner such as a business, public sector organisation, third sector organisation or community organisation.

Decision Risks: Applications may be rejected if they fall outside the design discipline scope, do not meet eligibility requirements or do not follow application guidance.

Decision Timeline: AHRC aims to complete the assessment process within approximately three months after the application deadline.

Eligible Expenses: Costs related to research activities including design research, prototyping, stakeholder engagement, training activities, outreach and participant engagement costs where justified.

Eligible Scope: Projects must develop design-led interventions within existing systems using arts and humanities methodologies to address sustainability and environmental transition challenges.

Funding Intensity: AHRC funds 80% of the full economic cost of the project.

Important Notes: Each eligible research organisation may submit a maximum of two applications to this funding round and each project team member may participate in only one application.

Ineligible Projects: Projects not rooted within the design discipline, projects lacking at least 50% design discipline coverage, projects outside the green transition theme, and projects involving organisations or activities based outside the UK.

International Collaboration Requirement: Not specified

Interview Stage: Not specified

Key Requirements: Projects must be design-led, include a non-academic partner and align with green transition objectives within arts and humanities research.

Lead Organisation Requirement: The application must be submitted by a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding.

Match Funding Requirement: No institutional matched funding required beyond the standard 20% full economic cost contribution.

Project Duration: 9 to 12 months

Project End Date: Determined by project duration (maximum 12 months)

Project Start Date: Projects must start by 1 September 2026

Publication Date: 2025-11-27 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Not specified

Research Category: Design-led research within arts and humanities disciplines.

Research Organisation Funding: Research organisations receive funding at 80% of the full economic cost model.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors and research and innovation associates are not supported under this funding opportunity.

Total Fund Available: £1,000,000