PROTECTING CITIZENS ONLINE COMPLEMENTARY PROJECTS: OUTLINE STAGE – FUNDING

1. Title: PROTECTING CITIZENS ONLINE COMPLEMENTARY PROJECTS: OUTLINE STAGE – FUNDING2. Awarding Authority: UK Research and Innovation, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), GB Email: sonia.raikova@epsrc.ukri.org. (Sonia Raikova)3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: Apply for funding to research the needs of citizens online, help them control how their data is used and protect them from online harms.Projects should align with the National Research Centre on Privacy, Harm Reduction and Adversarial Influence Online (REPHRAIN) funded through the first phase of the programme.Projects must have a team of investigators from a mix of disciplines.You can apply if you are based in the UK.Your project’s full economic cost can be £3.44 million. We will fund 80% of this.We will support four projects.Your project must last three years. It must start in April 20225. CPV Code(s): 98000000, 73110000, 732100006. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK147. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: UK8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: Total fund: £11,000,00010. Closing Date: 6.7.2021 (16:00:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit:12. Other information: Opportunity status: OpenFunders: UK Research and Innovation, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)Funding type: GrantTotal fund: £11,000,000Award range: £2,750,000 – £2,750,000Opening date: 25 May 2021 16:00 UK timeAdditional infoBackgroundThis is a key component of the Protecting Citizens Online programme, funded through the Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF). It is a UKRI-funded programme, not attached to any particular research council’s remit, but administered by EPSRC in partnership with ESRC and AHRC.The need to tackle the negative consequences of being online for individuals, for social cohesion and for democratic society, has been recognised in the Online Harms White Paper published in April 2019.The mission is to reduce harms without inhibiting online innovation and the significant benefits it brings.The PCO programme aims to build world-leading and coherent UK critical mass of interdisciplinary research activity focused on the mission through two discrete but interdependent components: a central research ‘hub’ (REPHRAIN) and a cross-sectoral, challenge-driven research opportunity (this opportunity).Additional grant conditionsThe awards will be made on the terms and conditions of UKRI grants. Additional conditions required to meet the requirements of SPF on spending profile, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and extension will apply.These additional requirements will be reflected in specific grant conditions and those funded will need to comply with them.Before submission to UKRI, the completed financial template must be signed off by a host university finance member. For a grant value over £2 million per year in value, this should be the host university’s head of finance (faculty), or equivalent.Additional conditions will include, but are not limited to, the following points:Fixed start dateGrants will have a fixed start date of 1 April 2022. No slippage of this date will be permitted.ExtensionsGrant extensions will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (in line with the Equality Act 2010) and will require UK Research and Innovation agreement on a case-by-case basis.Non-standard profilingGrants will have a fixed start date of 1 April 2022 and end on 31 March 2025. Prior to commencement, final expenditure profiles for each grant holder will be agreed so that grant payments align with activity undertaken to deliver the grant.Project officer appointmentWe will nominate a member of UKRI staff (the project officer) who will be your primary point of contact.Advisory board appointmentThis grant must establish and run an independent advisory board, or equivalent body, to oversee the running of the project and provide advice on the strategic direction and activities of the project.ManagementAdequate resourcing to support an appropriate management structure should be costed within the grant. This includes employing a project manager on the grant.Please visit the website above for documentationTKR-2021525-EX-1619497# funding opportunity