Sage Concept Grants 2024 Application Information
At Sage, we're committed to fostering innovation in social science education and research through our Concept Grants program. This initiative has evolved over the years to adapt to the changing landscape of technological advancements and the needs of the social science community. Our aim is to support the development of innovative software solutions that enhance teaching, learning, and research in the social sciences.
Evolution of the Concept Grants Program
Previously, our Concept Grants program was tailored to fund innovative software solutions specifically designed to support research in the social sciences. We sought proposals for technological solutions that facilitated the adoption, development, and application of established and emerging research methods. The focus was on empowering social scientists by reducing the time spent on non-publishable aspects of research and enabling them to analyze data efficiently, regardless of their programming skills.
As we progressed into 2024, we recognized the growing need for technology-driven tools in social science education, particularly those that enhance teaching and learning experiences. Responding to this demand, we expanded the scope of our Concept Grant program to include three distinct areas: tools for professors and lecturers, tools for student learning, and advanced research software tailored for academic research in the social sciences.
Funding Structure
We have updated our funding structure to offer three awards, each valued at £8,000 or its equivalent in other currencies. The program remains open to applicants from nearly all countries.
Award Categories
The three awards are designed to support innovative solutions across these areas:
Enhancing the role of professors and lecturers in teaching social sciences by providing support and facilitation tools.
Improving the learning experience of students in social science courses and throughout their social science degree programs.
Developing advanced research software tailored for academic research in the social sciences.
Application Guidelines
Before applying, please review the past winners for inspiration. While previous winners primarily focused on research software in the social sciences, this year's scope also includes projects that enhance teaching and learning within the social sciences.
Application Criteria
To qualify for the awards, your proposal must meet the following criteria:
You must have identified a problem or challenge area within social science teaching, learning, or research, supported by evidence from market research, surveys, or similar methodologies. Clearly define this problem in your pitch.
You must have a prototype of your tool that works and can be tested. If your grant request includes making your prototype available outside a local host, please include a link to a 3-minute recorded demo.
Additional Information
We will give preference to ideas with wide-scale applicability within the social sciences. Proposals that do not align with the teaching, learning, and research remit will not be considered. If you are unsure whether your proposal qualifies, please contact us at researchmethodscommunity@sagepub.com.
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is 16 June 2023, 11:59 pm PST.
Timeline for Applicants
Interviews for shortlisted applications will take place in the week commencing the 8th of July 2024.
Winners will be notified in August 2024.
Sage Concept Grants are available to fund direct project costs, but not overheads. Direct project costs include software development, market research, workshops, server/ hosting costs, and equipment. There is no requirement on the license, we accept both open source and commercial applications. Applications are open to all, regardless of country of residence.