Scheme 1 – Proof of Concept (PoC)

Proof of Concept Funding to Support Early Career Researchers at the Transition to Independent Academic Careers by enabling short, focused proof-of-concept projects that generate critical preliminary data. The aim is to de-risk new ideas, build confidence and evidence, and directly support future fellowship or first-grant applications aligned with UK Catalysis Hub III priorities.

Timing

  • Scheme 1 (Proof of Concept)
    Opens May, closes end of September, with awards made by end of November. Please email your application as a word document to  Josie Goodall with any additional documentation  Please use the email subject ‘Flexible Fund applications Scheme 1’

Applicant Eligibility

  • Applicants must be employed by a UKRI-eligible institution at the time of application.
  • Applicants must be PDRAs i.e. they cannot have held/or hold an independent position.
    • be within 8 years of the end of their PhD at the time of application, (career breaks and time away from research will be taken into account).
  • Visa costs are not covered by this scheme.

  • A letter of institutional approval must confirm that appropriate facilities and financial arrangements are in place.

What We Fund

The Flexible Fund supports investigator salary, travel, and consumables only.
Indirect costs are not included and the award will be funded at 80% fEC.

Scheme 1 – Proof of Concept

  • Fixed-cost awards associated with 1–6 months investigator salary plus consumables up to: 80% total £26,000.00. Use of this budget must be detailed in the application, and must be approved by your institution prior to application.

  • The funding is designed to support ECRs transitioning to an independent research career, and can be used to support  fellowships of 5 or more years such as ECR starting grants Future leader fellowships and Royal Society University Research Fellowship.

Application

 

 

FAQs

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Applicants must:

  • Be a PDRA (not hold an independent position)
  • Be within 8 years of PhD (career breaks allowed)
  • Be employed at a UKRI-eligible institution
  • Demonstrate a clear pathway to independence

It is intended to support applications to 5-year or longer fellowships or major starting grants, such as:

  • UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship
  • Royal Society URF
  • ERC Starting Grant
  • RAEng Research Fellowship

It is not intended to support 2-year postdoctoral fellowship applications

Yes. A Head of Department letter must confirm hosting arrangements and name a mentor or supervisor.

1–6 months investigator salary plus consumables.