New UKRI funding opportunities: Use ADR UK data for your project
Categories: Funding opportunities, ADR UK Partnership
15 April 2026
ADR UK flagship datasets enable innovative, policy-relevant research across a range of topics – which makes them a valuable asset for researchers applying for funding. Take a look at these two opportunities from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) where ADR UK data could support your project.
Future Leaders Fellowships: round 11
The Future Leaders Fellowships are designed to support exceptional researchers and innovators as they establish or transition to independence across the full UKRI remit. The scheme funds ambitious, high‑impact programmes to empower the next generation of research leaders to tackle major challenges, build world‑class careers, and drive UK innovation.
These fellowships are open to applicants based at eligible UK organisations. There is no minimum or maximum project cost; the scheme will cover 80% of the full economic cost of each project.
Opportunity details
- Award range: No limit
- Duration: Four years (with the option to apply for up to three additional years)
- Closing date: 16 June 2026
Use an ADR UK flagship dataset for your project
ADR UK flagship datasets are a national asset with the power to transform how we understand and address major societal issues. To realise their full potential, we need bold research leaders ready to push boundaries, shape new insights, and showcase what this data can do.
Accredited researchers can access these secure, high‑value datasets through trusted research environments, opening the door to impactful, data‑driven insights. Consider how ADR UK data could support your fellowship project.
ESRC React Awards (pilot)
ESRC has announced a new pilot award to generate time-critical research to support policymakers and practitioners delivering frontline services in the UK. Researchers must work with public sector partners to respond to emerging and urgent evidence needs and deliver impactful outputs within six months.
To facilitate this, the pilot will be open to applications on a responsive basis and use a streamlined decision process, allowing proposals to be assessed, funded and start delivering within weeks. Successful projects will be expected to start within a month of funding confirmation.
Applications will be required to include at least one collaborating partner from the UK public sector who needs and is able to action the planned project outputs within six months of them being produced. Partnerships must be confirmed at the time of application, fully aligned in terms of activity objectives, and able to begin the collaboration immediately from the start of an award.
Opportunity details
- Award range: Between £50,000 and £100,000
- Duration: Up to six months
- Closing date: 8 October
Use an ADR UK flagship dataset for your project
ADR UK flagship datasets have enormous potential to meet the evidence needs of public sector policymakers and practitioners. These datasets are securely available for accredited researchers to apply to access in trusted research environments.
Given the timescales for this funding, and the time taken to get secure data research projects approved, existing users of our data may be particularly well placed to respond. Potential applicants are encouraged to seek advice from dataset experts to assess the feasibility of using the data within the timeframe.
