The Economic and Social Research Council is set to announce changes to its funding schemes, according to the blog Research Fundermentals. Reporting on an ESRC event in London on 2 June, Phil Ward, research funding manager at the University of Kent, said the council would introduce a mechanism for funding innovative or risky research. This would involve a pilot stage, which, if successful, would be followed by a second stage of funding, said Ward.
According the blog, the council announced that its Centres and Large Grants schemes would have a strong steer towards areas of priority, such as analysing economic performance, influencing behaviour and social mobility. According to Ward, full details of the changes will be made available on the council’s website in the next few weeks.