ESRC React Awards (Pilot)

ESRC React Awards Pilot

Supports United Kingdom policy-relevant social science through rapid-response grants for urgent knowledge innovation.

The ESRC React Awards are a 2026 pilot programme providing rapid-turnaround research funding for time-critical social science evidence needs. Awards range from £50,000 to £100,000 with a total pilot pool of £1,500,000. Projects run for a maximum of six months and must start within one month of receiving funding confirmation. ESRC funds 80% of full economic cost. The pilot window runs from 7 April 2026 to 8 October 2026 — applications are submitted when ready during this period rather than to a single deadline, and the programme may close early if the total pool is exhausted. Research must address social science questions within ESRC's remit where social sciences represent at least 51% of effort.

Eligibility is broad by career stage — all career stages are eligible, and applications from researchers new to ESRC and from diverse groups are explicitly encouraged. Eligible lead organisations include UK research organisations eligible for ESRC funding, UKRI institutes, NHS bodies, independent research organisations, public sector research establishments, and Catapult centres. For-profit companies cannot lead. Every application must include at least one UK public sector collaborator who has confirmed they can act on the research outputs within six months. International researchers may participate as project co-lead (international) but cannot be project lead.

The assessment process is two-stage: an outline application is assessed within 10 working days, and shortlisted teams are invited to submit a full application. This rapid outline review distinguishes React from ESRC's other responsive-mode calls and is designed to give applicants early go/no-go signals without committing to a full proposal. React Awards target evidence gaps that policymakers or practitioners have identified as urgent — where the six-month project window and one-month start requirement are a feature, not a constraint. As a pilot, the scheme's continuation beyond October 2026 has not been confirmed by ESRC.