Responsible Digital – Developing Digital Responsibility in an Uncertain World

UKAIS requests proposals for cutting-edge practice orientated reports on current IS/IT issues of interest to academic and practitioner communities regarding innovation in and with IS/IT. For example, a report could consider the evidence for impact on productivity while working online from home.

The purpose of the Research Grant is to support UKAIS members with their research projects. Grants of up to £2,000 per proposal are available on a merit-based system – ½ of the sum issued upon awarding of the grant and ½ upon completion of the project. Grant holders will be expected to present their report either at the UKAIS 2025 conference or in a separate UKAIS webinar event. UKAIS are anticipating making up to three grant awards.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, current IS/IT issues:

  • AI and robotics to automate work
  • Big data
  • Changes in remote working
  • IS and global higher education
  • Responsible AI

Additional topics pertaining to the understanding, use, and manipulation of IS by people and organisations will also be considered.

Requirements

  • Proposals should be for defined research only projects (not related to teaching, note there is a separate fund to support teaching activities) presented in 5-6 pages (double-spaced and 12pt. font) excluding diagrams and references, plus a short CV (max 2 pages) for the lead applicant and any co-investigators.
  • A sample outline for a proposal would be:
    • Project description and objectives, clearly defined use of the funds
    • Methodology/approach to the research (including viable alternatives/backups)
    • Project plan/timeline of activities, including deliverables
    • Contribution of the research outcomes to the wider IS field
    • Budget breakdown
  • All publications resulting from funded research must provide a recognition citation that the work was funded (at least in part) by UKAIS.
  • The proposal includes a clear statement about how the grant will be used, for research activities (i.e., not for use to attend conferences, including UKAIS).
  • Applications where the lead researcher is outside the UK and Ireland will be accepted so long as the project team includes at least one academic member based in a UK or Ireland academic institution.
  • Projects can be up to 12 months in duration (but can be extended if there are relevant extenuating circumstances).
  • The proposal includes a clear timeline and plan for the proposed activities including milestones and deliverables.

Selection Criteria

  • The proposal argues clear contributions to practice and current debates that are relevant for society and the UKAIS community.
  • The proposal provides benchmarks for progress and specifies at least one clear deliverable.
  • Proposals should not normally include a team member drawn from the UKAIS board.
  • Priority will be given to proposals that show benefit broadly or have applicability across the whole UKAIS community relative to those targeted to a narrower audience.
  • Should no proposal rise above an acceptable threshold for funding, the committee is not obligated to recommend any projects for that funding cycle.

The committee will provide feedback regarding the selection decision.

Submissions

Submission Deadline: June 01, 2025

Award Announcement: July 31, 2025

Proposals should be submitted by email to Professor Laurence Brooks (UKAIS Board Member – Research Funding): contactus@ukais.org

Please mark the email title as: UKAIS grant proposal 2025 and your attached file as: [PI last name] UKAIS grant proposal 2025.

For information or to ask any questions, please contact us at contactus@ukais.org