UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept

UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept

Supports arts and humanities teams in the United Kingdom translating scholarly research into practical social applications.

The UKRI Translation: AHRC Proof of Concept scheme is a continuously open, rolling grant program operated by the Arts and Humanities Research Council providing awards of up to £150,000 at full economic cost, with AHRC funding 80 percent and the host institution contributing the remaining 20 percent. The scheme opened on January 27, 2026 with no closing date; submissions are assessed on a continuous basis as they are received. Eligible projects must translate previously funded AHRC or UKRI arts and humanities research into real-world economic, societal, cultural, or policy impact. Supported activities include knowledge exchange, licensing and commercialisation pathways, social venture formation, spinout development, stakeholder capacity-building, and engagement with non-academic audiences. Projects can run for up to five years from the date of award.

The lead applicant must be the principal investigator, co-investigator, or a former team member of a previous AHRC- or UKRI-funded project, or must work at an institution that has previously received Impact Acceleration Account support from AHRC. UK research organizations eligible for AHRC funding include higher education institutions, UKRI institutes, independent research organizations, public sector research establishments, and NHS bodies. The scheme explicitly excludes grant extensions, continued academic research, production of academic outputs such as papers or conference presentations, development of websites or data resources, and staff leave or sabbaticals.

For arts and humanities researchers who have completed a funded AHRC or UKRI project and identified a clear pathway to non-academic impact, the Proof of Concept scheme is the primary AHRC mechanism to resource that translation phase without needing to wait for a competitive call window. The rolling acceptance model means strong applications can be submitted immediately upon identifying the translation opportunity. Applicants are advised to contact the AHRC translation team before submission to confirm scope alignment, and should budget carefully for the 20 percent institutional contribution that is required from the host organization's own resources.