Design Exchange Partnerships: design the green transition round three

Each project must involve:

• one early career arts and humanities design research associate (including those undertaking doctoral studies in an arts and humanities design-led discipline). For this funding opportunity we are taking a flexible approach to defining early career and will accept applications including research associates at other career stages who can justify the value of this project to their own development. This position is open to job share arrangements
• at least one academic supervisor who will be named as project lead for the purposes of administering the award
• at least one non-academic organisation with a specific challenge relevant to the overarching theme of Design the Green Transition, which can be addressed through the ongoing application of design-led research carried out by the research associate

The research associate and supervisor must be based at a UK research organisation that is eligible for UKRI funding.

Non-academic partners must be either a:

• micro or small and medium-sized enterprise, UK registered business, charity or not-for-profit
• similarly sized department of a public sector organisation

Part-time applicants (minimum of 0.6 full-time equivalent) are welcome. Job share applications for the research associate will be considered.

The lead research organisation may make a total of two applications for this programme, but each application must be substantively different in both partnership team and project objectives.

The named research associate(s), supervisor(s) and non-academic partner may participate in only one application for this programme.

The duration of this award is either six months or 12 months depending on the level of funding.

Projects must start by 1 February 2025. All projects must be concluded no later than 31 January 2026.

The full economic cost of your project can be either up to £62,500 for six months or £125,000 for 12 months. You must apply for either six or 12 months duration for your project.

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC).

In addition to the above, the non-academic partner is required to provide a minimum contribution of 10% of the FEC (5% for micro-organisations, defined in the GOV.UK Department for International Trade small and medium-sized enterprises action plan.). Part of this contribution can be in-kind, up to 5% of the FEC.

If you intend to have more than one non-academic partner, each of their contributions individually will need to meet the requirements above and be detailed in your application.

DEPs aim to:

• stimulate strategic partnerships that support career development and the development of hybrid skills
• increase the diversity of voices and actors consulted in and contributing to addressing the climate crisis
• enable the development of new products and services that have a positive impact in the real-world

For this round, we are focusing on the theme of more-than-human to develop solutions to address the UK’s green transition. While design is being used to transform the planet, often to great benefit, the consequences of design are not always positive for the environment.

Design has long been ‘human centred’ by definition, serving the needs of people, businesses and societies. But human centrism has come at a great environmental cost, in externalising the effects of extractivism or pollution on natural ecosystems and other species. One of the challenges of design in the 21st century is to move beyond exclusively human interests and factor in non-human perspectives. More-than-human design understands the interdependence of all human activities on the health of natural systems. It seeks not just to reduce its impact on the biosphere but to support and regenerate landscapes and biodiversity.

The project should demonstrate human-centred design research processes and thinking. You can include activities to:

• develop high-value innovation opportunities and define what makes a desirable, fit-for-purpose solution
• create ideas for new or significantly improved products or services
• test and improve ideas by using fast, low-cost visuals, prototypes or simulations
• clearly communicate ideas ready for further investment, and research and development activity
• understand human motivations and behaviour through, for example, observation, interviews, role-play and workshops

Projects should demonstrate clear pathways to measurable outcomes of benefit to all partners both within the project period and beyond.

We welcome broad interpretations of the theme of more-than-human, including but not limited to one or more of the following areas:

• the natural world
• materials
• health and wellbeing
• urban environments
• technology and AI

Projects may focus on any challenges or areas that will support progress towards green transition goals, including but not limited to any combination of:

• green initiatives and policies, such as improving the design and delivery of green policies and initiatives to more effectively support behaviour change
• technical, such as design and testing of new prototypes or other interventions that advance technology readiness levels (TRLs)
• economic or commercial, such as design of new business models or interventions that advance market readiness levels (MRLs)
• structural, such as infrastructure planning and decarbonisation provision

Find out more about TRLs and MRLs from Innovate UK.

If you are a non-academic organisation with a specific challenge relevant to the overarching theme of Design the Green Transition, and would like help to find a project partner, contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Design team.