Seed Grants

Applications for the 2025/2026 round are now open!

Browse the 2024/2025 Seed Grants Recipients

Overview

Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the second round of IGL Seed Grants will support researchers in developing and piloting innovative experimental research ideas. These grants aim to lower the barriers to conducting high-impact experimental research, enabling researchers to implement activities that could lead to the design and implementation of rigorous Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs). The ultimate goal is to generate high-quality evidence on science, innovation, and productivity.

The grants are open to researchers worldwide, but the lessons and insights must be applicable to the U.S. context or other OECD countries. We seek experiments that will produce actionable insights, potentially leading to improved programmes, policies, and practices.

Funding awards typically vary depending on project needs, with most grants falling within the range of up to £5,000 GBP.

Find more information on this webinar recording.

Who are we looking to fund

IGL welcomes proposals from researchers at any university. A maximum of 8 grants will be awarded, with a minimum of 2 specifically reserved for junior or early-career researchers. Additionally, priority will be given to researchers conducting studies in the U.S. and other OECD countries (or that would be relevant in these contexts even if conducted elsewhere).

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants must be members of or must have applied to the IGL Research Network. If you are not a member, please apply here.
Proposals must be submitted by a Principal Investigator (PI) affiliated with an academic institution.

What we are looking for

We are particularly interested in activities that could lead to an RCT, aiming to generate evidence on effective approaches to advance science, innovation, and productivity. The focus is on early-stage empirical research and trial designs that explore and scope potential interventions, with an emphasis on the foundational steps that lead up to conducting full RCTs. These grants are not designed to fund RCTs that are already fully designed, planned, or underway.

Examples of such activities include (but are not limited to):

Pilot Studies: Small-scale experiments to test the feasibility of a future full-scale RCT. For example, testing new methods for fostering innovation in scientific teams or improving productivity in research environments.
Intervention Design: Developing and refining interventions that aim to improve science, innovation, or productivity, such as new training programs, incentives for collaboration, or changes in organisational structure.
Feasibility Assessments: Evaluating the practicality of implementing a large-scale RCT, such as assessing stakeholder willingness, logistical needs, or identifying key intervention points.
Partnership Building: Engaging with industry, government, or academic partners to develop collaboration agreements and align objectives for future trials.
Data and Methodology: Identifying potential research questions and hypotheses or identify and explore the use of datasets or specific methodologies
Data Collection Methods Development: Testing and validating new approaches for measuring productivity, innovation output, or scientific impact in preparation for an RCT.
Preliminary Data Analysis: Conducting initial data collection and analysis to identify trends, bottlenecks, or baseline conditions that will inform the design of an RCT.
Formative research: Understanding whether there is a specific need or research gap on a challenge / problem

Expenses covered by the grant

The grant funds may be used to support a variety of research-related activities to support the implementation of a potential future RCT, including but not limited to:

Hiring research assistants
Data collection and analysis
Access to proprietary data sources or databases
Travel directly related to activities conducted prior to the RCT, such as experiment preparation or fieldwork.
Software or licences necessary for research

Application timeline

Call Opens: 19 September 2025

Deadline for Proposals: 20 October 2025, 9 am CEST

Applicants Notified: Week of December 15th

Funds to be utilised by: 31 January 2027

Application Process

To apply, researchers must submit their proposals by October 20, 2025 at 9am CEST, via email to [email protected], using the Narrative and Budget templates provided below. Find more information on this webinar recording.

Narrative Template

Budget Template

RFP