Catalyst Grants – open for 2026/27 applications
Term 1 closing date for applications is Monday 4 January 2027 at midnight.
Term 2 closing date for applications is Monday 7 June 2027 at midnight.
MethodsNW has set aside a fund for collaborative projects events, initiatives, workshops and symposia to support cutting-edge developments in research methods across the North West. Catalyst Grants (formerly Collaborative Innovation Grants) are intended to support creative proposals that speak across disciplinary pathways and research fields and that evidence how the NWSSDTP is taking a lead in the application of cutting-edge methodology regionally, nationally and internationally. A successful proposal should be:
- genuinely collaborative
- persuasively innovative
- meaningfully inclusive of PGR students
Where researchers are developing new research methods or are refining, re-inventing or finding novel ways to apply existing methods, MethodsNW is keen to support that activity. Alternatively, funded projects may focus on contemporary research problems, questions or challenges and bring to bear participants’ expertise in a variety of research methods to develop innovative ways to address them.
This might include, for example, work on decolonising research methods to break free from the intellectual legacies of colonialism, work on connecting with people and the issues they face across diverse life circumstances as well as ways of harnessing the proliferation of digital data and digital analytical tools to reshape methodological possibilities.
Finally, we also support proposals which take qualitative, quantitative, digital/computational, investigative, creative/arts and interdisciplinary methods to new audiences. Proposals are invited from academic colleagues, early career and postgraduate researchers for funding to support activity in any of the following three areas:
- Research-focused workshops/events emphasising methodological and intellectual innovation;
- Practice- or impact-focused workshops/events seeking to engage people, communities and organisations;
- Methods/advanced methods workshop development.
We particularly encourage creative proposals that seek to work across disciplinary pathways and research fields and speak to emerging areas of interest. Applications are invited from staff and PGRs from across the five MNW contributing institutions and must include participants from at least two of those institutions. One institution must be named as the Lead institution for the project. Student-led initiatives are welcome, but there must be a named academic contact in the lead institution.
Catalyst Grants/CGs must be: genuinely collaborative, persuasively innovative and meaningfully inclusive of PGR students.
Applications are invited from staff and PGRs from across the five DTP institutions and must include participants from at least two of those institutions. One institution must be named as the lead institution for the project. Student-led initiatives are welcome, but there must be a named academic contact in the lead institution.
How much can I apply for?
Applications can normally be made for up to £6,000 per grant to cover all or part of the costs of a particular initiative. Costs should be justified, and applications for less are encouraged.
Eligible costs
Methods NW will cover costs related to working remotely; training or web development; speakers’ costs (fees, travel and accommodation); catering; venue booking; stationery costs (flip charts, pens etc.); travel costs for NWSSDTP students and other registered PGR students at the DTP institutions; specialist equipment and/or software.
Ineligible costs
Administrative costs (It is expected that institutions will utilise their administrative staff support on a reciprocal basis, or enlist the help of students for administrative tasks).
Costs will not be reimbursed if they are not part of the approved budget.
Who can be involved?
Projects funded through the Catalyst scheme must have potential benefit to NWSSDTP-funded PGR students and should be open to all PGR students with relevant interests in the NWSSDTP institutions. They can be led by academic staff in these institutions or by PGRs themselves. We encourage applicants to involve a wider audience, for example, academics and PGR students outside the North West, and/or non-academic partners.
Potential applicants should contact their institutional lead in the first instance with ‘Catalyst Grants’ in the subject line.
How should projects be organised?
MNW is not able to offer administrative support beyond publicising the project through its own and NWSSDTP networks. However, it is expected that institutions will utilise their administrative staff support on a reciprocal basis or enlist the help of students for administrative tasks. PGRs can be involved in the organisation of these events, but there must be a named academic contact in the lead institution.
What format should these projects take?
This is at the discretion of the organisers. You may opt to arrange a conference/workshop/colloquium or to run something more informal or interactive. Alternative and inclusive formats are welcome, and grants can be used to develop alternative strategies for collaborative working. Participants can be academic staff or students, or externals. Staff from institutions outside of the North West can be brought in to speak, and their costs may be funded from the Catalyst Grant.
Methods North West Seminar
All successful Catalyst Grant applicants will be required to contribute to the MNW Thursday lunchtime seminar series.
Post-event Report
After any events run as part of the Catalyst Grant, you must complete the MNW Post-Event Report. This details the programme, sign-ups, attendance and any feedback collected.
Feedback from participants
Following the events, organiser should disseminate feedback form to participants.
How to apply
Applications should be submitted online. The following information will be required. Institutional leads may be able to provide informal supportive feedback on draft applications before submission. You should discuss this with your institutional lead at least one month before the closing date for submissions, and only during term time.
Please use the headings below as a guide when preparing your application and seeking feedback from your institutional lead.
- Date and Time:
If the exact date and time are not yet known, please give an indication of when the activities will take place (e.g. the month or the term).
- Key Contact:
This will normally be the lead applicant and organiser(s) of the project. They can be staff or PGR students. However, one of the criteria for assessing Catalyst Grant applications is that they are ‘meaningfully inclusive of PGR students’ and a good way to do this is to include PGRs as organisers.
- Lead Institution:
Although we aim to encourage collaboration between HEIs and with non-HEI partners, for administrative purposes one of the NWSSDTP HEIs must be named as lead Institution.
- Institutional Contact:
For administrative purposes, it is important that each funded project has a named member of academic staff in the lead institution who is willing to act as a contact even if they are not actively involved in developing the initiative. Normally this will be the institutional lead for MNW in the lead institution. Please see Methods North West | Contact us.
- Collaborating Institutions:
Projects must include participants from at least two of the five NWSSDTP institutions, but need not be restricted to them. This list does not need to be exhaustive at this stage.
- Brief Project description up to 250 words (Elevator Pitch):
What is the problem or methodological innovation your project will address?
- Background and Rationale up to 250 words:
Give a concise description of why this project should be considered for a Collaborative Innovation Grant.
- Plan of activities:
Outline a plan of activities for which the Catalyst Grant funding will be used. Please detail here the structure the project will take, who will be involved (if known), a preliminary schedule (if known), if staff/students outside the NWSSDTP will be invited, if this fits into a wider programme of events.
- Target Audience:
Please give a rough indication of the audience the project is primarily aimed at. For example; researchers, PGR students, policy makers, etc.
- How are PGR students involved:
How will the project benefit PGR students? If possible please indicate the breakdown between NWSSDTP, (or NWDTC) students and non-ESRC funded students who will be involved. Priority will be given to projects that involve one or more NWSSDTP (or NWDTC) students.
- Amount budgeted for:
Please provide a detailed breakdown of the budget, which could include venue hire, catering, speaker costs (fees, travel, accommodation), stationary costs, specialist equipment, travel costs for PGRs. This can be up to £6,000 though smaller grants are also encouraged. All costs should be justified. Costs will not be reimbursed if they are not part of the approved budget.
If you have an idea that would require larger amounts of funding, please contact your institutional lead to discuss options.
Queries about the application process can be raised by emailing methods@manchester.ac.uk.
All publicity materials must carry the words ‘Supported by the ESRC through Methods North West and the NWSSDTP’.
Recent Catalyst Grants
30 January 2026 – Does AI threaten research integrity? (Liverpool)
7-8 November 2025 – What do “eclectic methods” mean in and for International/Global Political Economy? (Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster)
