Economic research on the returns to R&D investment
Funding
Up to £308,000
Deadline
19 November 2026
Location
England
Applications
Deadline: 19 November 2026
Overview
This ESRC grant pays for research that helps measure the economic and social return on investment in research and development (R&D). It aims to fund rigorous, empirical studies that narrow the range of existing estimates and help public and private funders decide where to invest. Projects can look at how the return to R&D should be defined, how knowledge spillovers flow across firms, sectors and borders, how public policy such as tax incentives affects R&D, and why published estimates differ so widely. Quantitative work is encouraged. Qualitative and mixed methods are also welcome where they help fill evidence gaps. Researchers from all disciplines can apply. Your project should aim to give policymakers and public sector organisations insights they can act on. Proposals that are purely theoretical, or only loosely linked to estimating returns to R&D, are out of scope and will not be funded. The full economic cost of your project can be up to £308,000. UKRI will fund 80% of that cost, and your research organisation is expected to cover the other 20%. Projects last 24 months and must start by 1 April 2027. The opportunity is open now and closes on 19 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. One practical point to plan for: award holders join an international cohort and are invited to workshops in Washington DC and London. No extra money is provided for these, so you should budget for travel and accommodation in your project costs. Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/economic-research-on-the-returns-to-rd-investment/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- UKRI funds 80% of the full economic cost; the other 20% is expected from the project lead's research organisation.
- Projects last 24 months and must start by 1 April 2027.
- Applications that are purely theoretical or loosely related to estimating returns to R&D are out of scope.
- Award holders are invited to workshops in Washington DC (October 2027 and October 2028) and London (spring 2028 and spring 2029), with no extra funding, so budget for these costs.
- Applications go through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S, and cannot be changed once submitted.
- ESRC research data policy requirements are a condition of funding.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. The opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. International researchers can apply as project co-lead (international), and other international collaborators or UK partners not at approved organisations should be listed as project partners. Collaboration with international researchers is strongly encouraged. Only the lead research organisation can submit the application. Proposals that are purely theoretical or loosely related to estimating returns to R&D are not eligible.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
Researchers at UK research organisations, in any discipline, who want to improve how the return on R&D investment is measured.
Regions
No published award history for Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Some funders do not publish their grants data.
Full details from Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Apply for funding to support research that can help develop new measurements of the return on investments in research and development (R&D).You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.
Apply through the UKRI Funding Service, not Je-S. The project lead selects Start application on the funding page, confirms they are the lead, and signs in or creates an account. Answer the questions online, check the read-only view, then send it to your research office. Your research office submits the final application to UKRI.
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Create free accountLast updated: 15 October 2026