British Academy Research Projects - 2007 Competition

The British Academy has a strong record in the promotion of collaborative, infrastructural, and often international research. The programme of Academy Research Projects currently gives academic recognition and modest financial support to about 40 projects, and the Academy is now looking to expand this programme with the adoption of a small number of new projects. This programme does not offer the kind of major funding currently available via the AHRC or ESRC, and it is expected that any project supported under the scheme will need to be able to demonstrate that it is independently financially viable.

Academy Research Projects typically share the characteristic of being infrastructural projects or research facilities, intended to produce fundamental works of scholarship, in most cases for the use of a variety of disciplines, rather than to produce interpretative works or monographs. Another typical feature is the contribution made by the voluntary work of many scholars, whether as organizers or participants. A full list of the current portfolio of ARPs is available on the Academy’s website, while successful projects adopted in response to the last Call for Proposals in 2003 are listed at http://www.britac.ac.uk/funding/awards/posts/arp2003.html.

The Academy does not, however, have preconceived ideas about the type of project that may be proposed in response to this Call for Proposals, in terms of length of time required for completion, or organization. The onus is on project proposers to convince the Academy that their project is particularly suited to Academy support, benefiting from the academic recognition offered by Academy Research Project status, which may assist projects in appealing to a wide range of funding agencies both in the UK and abroad, both public and private. The Academy will also make available to projects small-scale research expenses, normally up to a ceiling of £5,000pa (on a competitive basis), to meet certain kinds of costs that can be difficult to cover through other funding applications.

Application forms and further details for the 2007 competition are now available from the links below. Please note that the application process involves two stages. In the first instance the Outline Stage form only should be completed. Only those project directors invited to do so should complete the Second Stage Application Form.

• Level of award: Up to £5,000pa.
• Period of award: Once adopted into the ARP programme, the project will be required to submit an annual progress report, together with a bid for financial support (if needed) for the following year. Projects are subject to thorough review, normally every five years, where the case for continuing Academy support is assessed. Given satisfactory progress, there is no specific limit on the length of time the project may expect to continue its association with the Academy. Projects performing unsatisfactorily will be given time to try to resolve any short-term difficulties, but the Academy reserves the right to terminate the association after a due period of notice.
• Suitable Projects: Directors of projects of the kind described more fully in the Call for Proposals, whether existing or new, in any field or fields of the humanities and social sciences, may approach the Academy for support through this scheme. The project director need not be in a permanent full-time academic post in the UK. As indicated in the Call for Proposals, however, other things being equal, the Academy will expect to use this opportunity to broaden the current portfolio of projects into a wider subject base. Accordingly, the Projects Committee has identified three broad generic areas from which new proposals will be particularly welcome. These are:
  • Social Sciences
  • The Modern World, post-1800
  • The World outside Europe
• Number of awards: It is anticipated that up to 5 awards may be available to be taken up in the autumn of 2007. The Academy reserves the right to determine that none of the proposals submitted should be adopted into the ARP programme.
• Closing date: For Outline applications, 5pm on 15 June 2007. Applications received after this date will be excluded from the competition. Applicants may expect to be informed of the result of their Outline application in mid-July. Those invited to submit a Second Stage Application will have until 21 September 2007 to do so.
• Further information: follow links to Call for Proposals and Notes for Applicants below.
• Method of application: On the ARP form
• See: past awards made under this scheme
• Contact: projects@britac.ac.uk for further information

Call for Proposals>
Outline Stage Notes for Applicants>
Outline Stage Application Form>