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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The grant aims to fund Rapid Evidence Reviews (RER) that will identify critical evidence gaps within the research and innovation ecosystem specifically related to gambling harms. These reviews are intended to inform future research priorities and policy development for the UKRI Research Programme on Gambling. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant, focused entirely on the field of gambling harms research. The target recipients are primarily UK-based research organizations, independent research organizations, and UK-registered businesses with the capacity to lead and manage significant research projects. Key filtering criteria for this opportunity include being a UK-based eligible organization and demonstrating expertise in interdisciplinary or cross-sectoral research relevant to gambling harms. The grant is part of a newly established, broader UKRI Research Programme on Gambling, funded by a new statutory levy, indicating a sustained, recurring program context for future funding opportunities.

Financial Structure

This grant covers the full economic cost (FEC) of your rapid evidence review (RER), with UKRI funding 100% of eligible costs.

Budget Range: The maximum full economic cost for a single RER is £50,000. The award range is specified as £30,000 - £50,000.
Total Program Fund: The overall program has a total fund of £1,500,000.
Funding Rate: 100% of the full economic cost (FEC) is covered.
Matching Fund Requirements: There are no matching fund requirements or co-financing obligations, as UKRI funds 100% of the FEC.

Eligible Costs: * Contribution to the salary of the project lead, co-leads, and other research/technical staff. * Travel costs. * Data preservation, data sharing, and dissemination costs. * Costs associated with evidence synthesis and secondary data analysis. * Knowledge synthesis and dissemination activities. * Estates and indirect costs (institutional overheads). * Professional enabling staff costs, specifically where they provide project-specific support beyond activities typically covered by estates and indirect costs. * Costs for work undertaken at international organizations by international project co-leads. Ineligible Costs: * Direct funding or co-authorship from Gambling Commission operating licence holders subject to the levy, or any other entities whose core business is associated with harm to public health or societal wellbeing (unless specific, approved exceptions apply). Financial Sustainability Expectations: * While not explicitly detailed as an assessment criterion for the RERs themselves, the broader program aims to establish a trusted, independent, and inclusive research ecosystem, implying long-term sustainability goals for the field of gambling harms research.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for this funding, your organization must fall into one of the following categories:

UK academic higher education institution
Independent research organisation recognized by UKRI
UK registered business that can demonstrate the capacity to lead and manage a significant research and innovation project.
- For UK registered businesses, you must have a Companies House registration number. Businesses with an 'FC' or 'BR' prefix on their registration number, or those registered in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man, are not eligible.

Ineligible Organizations to Host the Award: * Government and third sector organizations * Gambling Commission operating licence holders subject to the levy Restrictions on Funding: * Funding will not be provided to Gambling Commission licence holders subject to the levy. * Individual researchers are not expected to concurrently hold funding from licence holders subject to the levy whilst receiving funding from this programme. * UKRI generally does not permit engagement with industries whose core business is associated with harm to public health or societal wellbeing, in line with their ethical standards and harms-based exclusion principles. Exceptions may be made under strict conditions for time-limited, purpose-specific interactions deemed essential for legitimate research objectives (e.g., access to proprietary datasets), provided there's no direct funding or co-authorship from the excluded entity, robust ethical review, transparent declaration, and clear public benefit. Individual Requirements: * The project lead and any project co-leads must be employed and supported by an eligible organization for at least the duration of the UKRI support. A permanent employment contract is not required at application. * Applicants must have appropriate skills to lead the project. There are no specific qualification requirements (e.g., a PhD is not necessarily required). * Applicants must be primarily based and permitted to work in the UK during the project. * Applications are welcomed from archivists, curators, librarians, technicians, and practitioners. * Project co-leads are permitted and encouraged, especially for interdisciplinary applications or where specific technical expertise is needed. This includes international co-leads, though the project lead remains ultimately responsible.

Application Process

Application Process Overview Applications for this funding opportunity must be submitted through the UKRI Engagement Hub.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application, but all team members and project partners are expected to contribute.
Only the lead research organization can submit the application to UKRI.
Upon submission, you can opt to receive a PDF copy of your response via email. You will also receive an automated email acknowledgement.
Once submitted, applications cannot be changed or returned for amendment. Ensure all guidance is followed to avoid rejection.

Timeline and Deadlines

Opening Date: 8 July 2025, 9:00 AM UK time
Closing Date/Submission Deadline: 2 September 2025, 4:00 PM UK time
Project Duration: Each Rapid Evidence Review (RER) will be for six months.
Project Start Date: Projects must start by 1 November 2025.
Assessment Timeline: UKRI aims to complete the assessment process within one month of receiving your application.

Required Documentation and Materials While a comprehensive list of specific documents is not provided, the application will require details on: * Your proposed research area and the specific evidence gaps the RER will address. * Your proposed methodology. * Expected deliverables. * A detailed timeline for the six-month project. * Information demonstrating your team's expertise and capacity to carry out the RER. Submission Format and Content Guidelines

References: Must be included within the word count of the relevant question sections. Use discretion for pertinence, proper formatting, and persistent identifiers (where possible).
Hyperlinks: Should only be used to link directly to reference information. Do not use hyperlinks to extend the application's content, as assessors are not required to access them.
Generative AI: Permitted for application preparation, but caution is advised.

Support Availability

For help with costings and application writing, first contact your organization's research office.
For specific funding opportunity questions, email [email protected].
For system or submission queries, email [email protected].
UKRI offers support for flexible working patterns, caring responsibilities, and disability/accessibility during the application and assessment process.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed by experts who will review and rank them, with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) making the final funding decision. The assessment process aims to be completed within one month of receiving the application. The key assessment areas are:

Proposed Research Area and Evidence Gaps: How well the proposed rapid evidence review (RER) addresses identified evidence gaps within gambling harms research.
Proposed Methodology: The robustness, clarity, and suitability of the research methodology for conducting the RER.
Deliverables: The quality and relevance of the expected outputs from the RER.
Timeline: The feasibility and realism of the proposed project timeline for a six-month duration.
Expertise and Capacity: The demonstrated ability of the project team and organization to effectively carry out the RER, including necessary skills and resources.

Cross-cutting Themes and Considerations: * Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): UKRI is committed to achieving equality of opportunity and encourages applications from a diverse range of researchers, supporting flexible working and accommodating personal circumstances (e.g., career breaks, caring responsibilities, disability support). * Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I): Applicants are expected to identify potential risks and mitigation controls related to international collaboration, ensuring integrity and ethical frameworks. This includes compliance with relevant UK legislation like the National Security and Investment Act, ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme), and export controls. * Impact Expectations: The RERs are expected to support a 'step change' in high-quality, independent research on gambling harms, inform research prioritization, and contribute to policy development. The outputs will form an integral part of the early stages of UKRI's Research Programme on Gambling. * COVID-19 Disruption: Reviewers will consider any career disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic when assessing an applicant's capability.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Standard UKRI Eligibility Requirements: All applicants and organizations must meet the standard UKRI eligibility criteria.
Data Protection and Privacy: Personal data collected during the application process will be handled in line with UK data protection legislation. Information may be shared with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for assessment purposes.
Ethical Standards: Adherence to UKRI's ethical standards and 'harms-based exclusion principles' is mandatory. This includes strict limitations on engagement or funding from organizations whose core business is associated with harm to public health or societal wellbeing (e.g., Gambling Commission operating licence holders subject to the levy).

Trusted Research & Innovation (TR&I)

Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects comply with UKRI's TR&I principles. This involves identifying potential risks in international collaborations and implementing proportionate mitigation measures.
Compliance with relevant UK legislation, including the National Security and Investment Act (2021), Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS), strategic export controls, and the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), is expected.

Intellectual Property (IP) and Open Access

While specific IP policies are not detailed, outputs arising from the award must comply with the UKRI open access policy.
Outputs may be referenced or featured on a UKRI-hosted website, requiring accessibility and appropriate licensing.

Generative AI Use

The use of generative AI tools for preparing funding applications is permitted, but applicants should exercise caution.
Reviewers and panellists are not permitted to use generative AI tools for assessment purposes to maintain confidentiality and integrity.

Sensitive Information

If you need to disclose confidential information (e.g., unavailability, declaration of interest, eligibility concerns, conflict of interest, invited resubmission status), email [email protected] with the funding opportunity title and 'sensitive information' in the subject line.

Post-Award Requirements

Expected outputs will integrate into the wider UKRI Research Programme on Gambling, including the Gambling Harms Research Coordination Centre and Gambling Harms Research and Innovation Partnerships (GHRIPs), which will incorporate RER outputs into their workplans.

Unique Considerations

The grant explicitly welcomes applications from researchers at any career stage and encourages interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral approaches.
Emphasis on identifying evidence gaps within gambling harms research to inform future prioritization and policy, indicating a foundational role within a new, significant research program.
Flexibility in considering the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on an applicant's career and ability to deliver research.

Grant Details