Innovative research funding: targeting transformative research Explorer grant applications open 1October 2015
Scientific progress is made through both step-wise research that builds on previous knowledge and through revolutionary step-change advances that result in disruptive change. The HRC has a clear responsibility and intent to support both ways of research. The Explorer grant scheme seeks to attract and fund transformative research ideas with the potential for major impact. Applications must advance ideas, methodologies, tools or technologies considered to be transformative. The HRC applies the USA National Science Board definition of transformative research:
“a range of endeavors which promise extraordinary outcomes, such as: revolutionizing entire disciplines; creating entirely new fields; or disrupting accepted theories and perspectives – in other words, those endeavors which have the potential to change the way we address challenges in science, engineering, and innovation. ”
Innovation in the assessment and funding of Explorer grants ensures the process is aligned with the nature of research being solicited. Applications are short and anonymised to the assessors; thus directing the focus of assessment to the ‘big picture’ and removing potential bias associated with investigator reputation, while also reducing transaction costs for all involved. Furthermore, all applications that are assessed as being transformative and viable are equally eligible to receive funding, and a random process is used to select successful proposals. Random funding allocation eliminates some biases linked to traditional peer review and is particularly suited to Explorer grants where it may not be appropriate to rank or score high risk applications with less predictable outcomes.
Explorer Grants are available in any health research discipline and are of fixed value - $150,000 (research working expenses only) for a term of up to 24 months. Applicants are required to explain the transformative nature of the research, the approach and methodology, and the research impact with respect to one of the HRC’s Investment Signals.
Explorer grant applications open on 1 October 2015 and close on 4 November 2015.